History of Japan
Isaac Meyer
This podcast, assembled by a former PhD student in History at the University of Washington, covers the entire span of Japanese history. Each week we'll tackle a new topic, ranging from prehistoric Japan to the modern day.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 5, 2018 • 29min
Episode 238 - Hell is Empty
This week, we tackle the evils of Unit 731 -- its history, its experiments, and its ultimate escape from any real justice.
Apr 28, 2018 • 31min
Episode 237 - Princess, Lover, Soldier, Spy
This week, we take on the scintillating story of the Manchurian princess Kawashima Yoshiko, who grew up in Japan before becoming an agent for Japanese intelligence.
Apr 21, 2018 • 35min
Episode 236 - Never Look Away
This week, we discuss the career of Japan's most legendary director, Kurosawa Akira. From humble, middle class beginnings, our story will take us through some of his most notable films, and include detours into the lives of Mifune Toshiro, George Lucas, and even Francis Ford Coppola!
Apr 14, 2018 • 28min
Episode 235 - Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
This week: the story of a relatively unimportant man who appears briefly and dies spectacularly, and the long chain of events that led to those moments. Politics, betrayal, war, and a dog -- what's not to love?
Apr 7, 2018 • 31min
Episode 234 - The Oldest Profession
Note: Since this week we're talking about the sex trade, I've taken the precaution of giving this episode an explicit tag. However, it does not include any more language than usual; it's just a precaution because iTunes can get pretty finicky about this stuff. So with that in mind, let's get down and dirty into the world of prostitution!
Mar 24, 2018 • 28min
Episode 233 - A People Apart
This week, we tackle the history of the Burakumin. Where did this outcast group come from? Why does discrimination against them remain an issue? What steps has the government taken to protect them, and what steps have they taken to get organized and push back? AMA link here.
Mar 17, 2018 • 27min
Episode 232 - A Thief in the Night
This week, we spend an entire history podcast talking about someone who may not even have actually existed -- the legendary thief Ishikawa Goemon. The live link for the AMA is: https://whatpods.com/ama/history-of-japan/.
Mar 10, 2018 • 32min
Episode 231 - The Measure of an Emperor, Part 6
This week, we wrap up the life of Japan's 124th Emperor. What, in the end, did it all mean?
Mar 3, 2018 • 30min
Episode 230 - The Measure of an Emperor, Part 5
How does a man raised to be a military autocrat become a democratic emperor in just a few short years? Or is that even possible?
Feb 24, 2018 • 30min
Episode 229 - The Measure of an Emperor, Part 4
This week: Hirohito goes to war. What did he know, how much did he direct things himself, and ultimately, how much responsibility does he bear for the greatest cataclysm in the history of East Asia?
