Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Christian uprising in Japan and its profound and long-term consequences. In the 1630s, Japan was ruled by the Tokagawa Shoguns, a military dynasty who, 30 years earlier, had unified the country, ending around two centuries of civil war. In 1637 a rebellion broke out in the province of Shimabara, in the south of the country. It was a peasants’ revolt, following years of bad harvests in which the local lord had refused to lower taxes. Many of the rebels were Christians, and they fought under a Christian banner. The central government’s response was merciless. They met the rebels with an army of 150 000 men, possibly the largest force assembled anywhere in the world during the Early Modern period. Once the rebellion had been suppressed, the Shogun enforced a ban on Christianity and expelled nearly all foreigners from the country. Japan remained more or less completely sealed off from the rest of the world for the next 250 years. With Satona Suzuki Lecturer in Japanese and Modern Japanese History at SOAS, University of LondonErica Baffelli Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Manchester and Christopher Harding Senior Lecturer in Asian History at the University of EdinburghProducer Luke Mulhall

Join Dr. Satona Suzuki, an expert on the Edo period, and comedian Ahir Shah for a lively exploration of seventeenth-century Japan. Discover how Tokugawa Ieyasu transformed Edo into one of the world's largest cities. The discussion reveals the intriguing dynamics of samurai culture and the elaborate social structure of the time. Dive into Japan's rich theatrical heritage with insights on kabuki and Noh theater. Plus, learn about Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's unique policies on animal rights and the fascinating fashion that defined an era.

Dr. Satona Suzuki, a specialist in Japanese history from SOAS, joins comedian Ahir Shah to unravel the intricacies of the Edo period. They discuss the transformation of Edo into Tokyo under the Tokugawa shogunate, shedding light on the vibrant cultural scene, societal hierarchies, and the complexities of foreign relations. The conversation dives into the nuances of art, theater, and the era’s legacy, drawing parallels to modern Japanese culture, including the influence of manga. It's a fascinating journey through a pivotal era in Japan's history!