537 episodes

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.

History of Japan Isaac Meyer

    • History
    • 4.5 • 85 Ratings

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.

    Episode 528 - Bakumatsu, Part 1

    Episode 528 - Bakumatsu, Part 1

    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.

    • 39 min
    Episode 527 - The Beginning of the End

    Episode 527 - The Beginning of the End

    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. 

    • 38 min
    Episode 526 - The Outside World and Tokugawa Japan

    Episode 526 - The Outside World and Tokugawa Japan

    This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: "closed country" isn't quite the full story. How did Japan maintain its connections to the outside world during the Edo Period? And how do some of those connections, particularly in the Ryukyus and Hokkaido, lay the groundwork for future imperial expansion?
    Show notes here. 

    • 36 min
    Episode 525 - A Day in the Life of Tokugawa Japan

    Episode 525 - A Day in the Life of Tokugawa Japan

    This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: what was life in the Edo period like? We cover everything from food to school to entertainment as we talk through daily life in Tokugawa-ruled Japan. 
    Show notes here.

    • 37 min
    Episode 524 - The Tokugawa System

    Episode 524 - The Tokugawa System

    This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: how did the Tokugawa bakufu operate? What did the political structure of the shoguns look like? And what makes the Tokugawa era unique in the history of warrior rule in Japan?
    Show notes here.

    • 35 min
    Episode 523 - Reunification, Part 3

    Episode 523 - Reunification, Part 3

    This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: Hideyoshi may have brought peace, but Tokugawa Ieyasu would be the one to make it lasting. How did Ieyasu seize power from Hideyoshi, and what did he do to secure it?
    Show notes here. 

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
85 Ratings

85 Ratings

pckyoto ,

Excellent

It is quite simply the best podcast on Japanese history in the English language. Isaac Meyer keeps on getting better. The level of detail and scholarship is truly impressive. Very grateful for this podcast as I am a huge fan of Japanese history

T Kikuchi ,

Perfect Podcast to Spark Your Interest

This is a great series that perfectly condensed important topics in all aspects of Japanese history. It really is a great gateway to start researching further on certain subjects. It even cover topics that average Japanese tend to ignore, or fails to teach in school!
Thank you very much!

奈堊ちゃと。 ,

Great podcast!

Simply great. How he keeps it up week after week is amazing.

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