History of Japan

This week: after the Russo-Japanese War, Japan inherited a rather unusual arrangement in Manchuria, which would become the basis of its empire in the region. But how, exactly, would that new empire function? And why, precisely, did it come attached to a corporation, of all things? Show notes here.

This week, we're turning our attention to possibly the most unique of Japan's colonial ventures during the imperial era: Manchuria. Most know about Manchuria because of its role in the turbulent politics of the 1930s, but Japanese involvement in the region goes back quite a bit further. But first, what even is Manchuria in the first place? Show notes here.

For a long time, the bureaucracy--in all its elitist, meritocratic glory--has taken a great deal of the credit for Japan's postwar economic miracle. But how much of that credit does it actually deserve? Plus, some ruminations on the post-1990s fate of the bureaucracy and its general history. Show notes here.

This week: the Meiji Bureaucracy, in all its glory. How did the system actually work? What sorts of people did it attract? And what happened when the United States tried to reform the system after 1945? Show notes here.

Explore Japan's unique bureaucratic history, shaped by Chinese influences and centralization efforts. Discover the contrast between American views and Japan's enduring system. Learn about the rise of meritocracy amid warrior governments and the fall of the Tokugawa era. Delve into the complexities of administrative reforms and how early Meiji leaders envisioned a merit-based bureaucracy. The narrative is rich with historical insights and highlights the tension between aristocratic power and central governance, setting the stage for modern bureaucratic evolution.

In this enlightening discussion, Charlotte Lai, a recent Oxford history graduate, dives into her experiences applying to graduate programs in the U.S. and U.K. She shares her unique research focus on Tokugawa whaling and valuable insights on choosing the right program, like Columbia’s deferred master's. Charlotte emphasizes the importance of matching with supervisors and securing strong references. She also provides encouragement for aspiring grad students about balancing ambition with practical backup plans—ideal for anyone curious about academia!

Here we are again, my friends! It's been two years since our last Q and A, and now it's time for a new one. Thank you all for your questions, and here's to another 100. Show notes here.

This week, we're talking about one of the oddest moments of the final years of feudalism: a spontaneous outbreak of dancing and religious worship collectively referred to as the "Ee Ja Nai Ka" movement. What was it, what motivated it, and how much can we even answer those questions to begin with? Show notes here.

This week, we're finishing our time with Kawai Koume by looking at how life in Wakayama had changed by the mid-1870s. Feudalism is no more, Confucianism is a historical relic, and the samurai class are in the midst of being consigned to the dustbin of history; so what is Koume thinking and doing as she's watching the world she grew up with vanish in the final years of her life? Show notes here.

This week, the Kawai family has finally made good in the world of feudal Wakayama--just in time for that world to come down around their ears. How did the family finally make it to the top, and what was it like for them to watch the shogunate and the samurai class itself implode? Show notes here.