History of Japan

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: The US Occupation of Japan after World War II represented a truly massive undertaking. American military and civilian personnel spent just over a decade rebuilding Japan's government, economy, and society from the ground up. What did that look like in practice, and how does the legacy of the Occupation era remain with Japan today? Show notes here. 

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the descent towards the Second World War. Why did the leadership of imperial Japan start a war many of them were aware they were unlikely to win? And how did the failures of the Meiji system enable the descent into militarism and defeat? Show notes here. 

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: during the 1920s, Japan's political system became more democratic and representative--an "imperial democracy" that evolved out of the Meiji system. How did this happen, and why did those democratic gains prove to be so unstable in the long term? Show notes here. 

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: Japan joins the ranks of the great powers by building its own colonial empire. How did Japan come to be a great colonial power, what made its empire different from the others of the age, and more importantly: what made it the same? Show notes here. 

The podcast dives into Japan's swift economic transformation during the Meiji era. It explores how the country shifted from isolation to a significant player in the world economy, altering its national identity. The discussion includes the tension between modernization and traditional values, highlighting influential figures like Fukuzawa Yukichi. Additionally, it covers the emergence of new religious movements during this period, blending local beliefs with Western ideologies. The complexities of trade imbalances and social unrest add depth to this fascinating historical narrative.

Exploring the political reforms and power struggles during the Meiji era in Japan, including the challenges faced by the Shinto Nationalists. Internal divisions within Japan's ruling coalition, debates over Westernization, and conflicts over the adoption of Western political models. Establishment of a national diet parliament, conflicts between political parties, and opposition to government policies leading to protests in Tokyo.

This podcast delves into the dramatic downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate in just two years, showcasing the power struggles, alliances, and pivotal battles that shaped the transition from feudalism to imperial rule in Japan. From unequal treaties to the rise of loyalist movements, listeners are taken on a journey through the complexities and uncertainties of the Bakumatsu period.

Explore the rise and fall of Imperial Loyalism in early 1860s Japan, triggered by the assassination of Ii Naosuke. From failed coups to diplomatic standoffs, witness the strategic shifts and resilience of loyalists in their quest for change. Discover the tumultuous political landscape and the clash of ideologies in a pivotal moment of Japanese history.

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the beginning of the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Commodore Perry's expedition to Edo will begin a process of radical political change as a teetering Tokugawa shogunate is forced to confront a challenge of Western imperialism that it will not prove equal to resisting. Show notes here.

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: crises about during the late Edo period. A crisis of samurai identity! Questions around vengeance, honor, and duty! And of course, the most confounding subject of them all: macroeconomics. But hey, I'm sure we can figure this all out as long as no pesky Americans show up to ruin things, right? Show notes here.