Erica Baffelli

Satona Suzuki, a Lecturer in Japanese History, and Erica Baffelli, a Professor of Japanese Studies, delve into the Shimabara Rebellion of the 1630s. They discuss the uprising's roots in poverty and heavy taxation, driven by predominantly Christian peasants. The guests highlight the brutal response from the Tokugawa shogunate, which deployed a massive army to quash the rebellion. The ensuing crackdown on Christianity ultimately led to Japan's 250-year isolation from the outside world, reshaping its socio-political landscape forever.