History of Japan

This week: just what sort of scandal sent Nakanoin Nakako to the far end of Japan, and how did fate intervene to set her on a new course once again? And what can we learn from trying to trace a life like this through a tangle of sources which touch on it largely indirectly?   Show notes here.

This week on the podcast, we're exploring the life of a woman whose story would normally be confined to the sidelines: an imperial concubine in the early 1600s by the name of Nakanoin Nakako? Who was this young woman and how did she become a part of the emperor's household? Show notes here. 

This week on the podcast, we're talking the tale of the iconoclastic monk Ikkyu Sojun. His fame is predicated on an odd combination of Zen austerity and the embrace of the wine shop and the brothel, rather than the temple, as the place to seek enlightenment. Show notes here

How can a man who was terrible as a ruler also be one of the most important tastemakers in Japanese history? Today we're unpacking the biography of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, more or less universally reviled as the worst man ever to lead Japan and yet one of the most important figures in developing much of what we think of as classical Japanese art and aesthetics. Show notes here.

Today, we're looking at a rather unusual scandal from early 20th century Japan, and what it shows us about the power of the democratic impulse in Japan even before the country could be called a democracy. Plus, political maneuvering and corruption galore! What's not to love? Show notes here.

Discover the intriguing lives of two Japanese Christians who became priests but later abandoned their faith. Unpack the complexities of faith and identity during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku and early Tokugawa periods. Learn about Chijiwa Miguel, a Christian samurai, and his harrowing journey influenced by personal loss and the Jesuits. Dive into the experiences of boys from the Tensho Embassy as they navigate their return from Europe amidst rising anti-Christian sentiment, revealing the struggle between belief and societal pressure.

Our final episode of this miniseries will detail the early decades of the Christian persecutions in Nagasaki. Once the religion was banned, how did the Tokugawa authorities go about rooting it out--and how was that attempt resisted by the city's Christians and the priests still hiding in the city? Show notes here.

Following Hideyoshi's death, Nagasaki's Christians initially feel a sense of hope for their future. However, the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu ushers in a wave of suspicion and competition from European merchants, casting a long shadow over the city. As Portuguese influence wanes, local Christian leaders face increasing pressure from the new political landscape. The tense struggle for survival unfolds as the community in Nagasaki clings to their faith amidst growing persecution.

The podcast dives into the political and religious turbulence of late 1500s Japan. It examines the strained ties between Jesuit missionaries and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose unexpected ban on Christianity shakes Nagasaki’s Christian community. Misjudgments by Jesuit leader Gaspar Coelho worsen the situation, revealing his naivety in navigating local politics. The arrival of new Franciscans further escalates tensions, highlighting the precarious standing of Christianity amidst trade interests and power struggles.

This week, Christian Nagasaki survives its early trials and tribulations to become a Jesuit fortress-town, and a centerpiece of some cutthroat religious diplomacy. But the same approaches that will make Nagasaki crucial to the regional economy will also make it the target of jealous neighboring warlords--and invite the scrutiny of Japan's most powerful leader. Show notes here.