nearly 1500 years and the Japanese people have managed 2 cities, 2 total population points, 1.5 farms, a mine, one road, and 2 fishing boats. Although there was a small setback in population in the capital from a random event... and slavery has been used of course.
It is funny how slow things go, although it makes farms and other small improvements seem more significant, lots of work(turns) put into them, and they speed everything up. Later on I'll hardly pay attention to most of the farms and improvements. Not to mention tech choices.
And fish are very nice early tiles... that 2 commerce from the start adds up to a good amount, along with being such a good food source.