Titans of the East

Larry Wang

Join me, a young psychiatrist, as I analyze the tales of history's most interesting and influential characters, with a focus on Asia. Email me: titansoftheworldpodcast@gmail.com

Episodes

  1. Tokugawa Ieyasu (とくがわいえやす): Path to Power

    11/11/2025

    Tokugawa Ieyasu (とくがわいえやす): Path to Power

    Welcome Back! Today we are discussing the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who unified Japan and established the Tokugawa Shogunate, which stood for over 250 years. Sources: Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu by A.L. Sadler  Tokugawa Ieyasu: Shogun, by Conrad Totman  Sekigahara 1600: The Final Struggle for Power by Anthony  Bryant A History of Japan 1334-1615 by George Bailey Sansom

    1h 8m
  2. Yasuke: The African Samurai?

    08/11/2025

    Yasuke: The African Samurai?

    Welcome back! Today I'm going to be talking about Yasuke, a mysterious African figure during the Sengoku Jidai period in Japan. Who was he? Where did he come from? And was he a samurai? Sources: African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan by Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard

    20 min
  3. The Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Syphilis - "The Great Imitator"

    08/03/2025

    The Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Syphilis - "The Great Imitator"

    Welcome back! Today, we will do a deeper dive on the signs and symptoms of Neurosyphilis. And was it responsible for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's behavioral changes in later life? Sources: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/neurosyphilis-when-an-antipsychotic-is-not-enough https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10560128/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318285728605 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9851570/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6493817/

    18 min
  4. The Taiko: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉) - Mania, Dementia, or Syphilis?

    07/27/2025

    The Taiko: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉) - Mania, Dementia, or Syphilis?

    Welcome back, we have another episode today on one of the three modern unifiers of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a true "rags to riches" story. Hideyoshi rose from a peasant upbringing to be the most powerful man in Japan until his death is 1598. Although known for restraint, caution, and diplomacy in his younger years, he became increasing erratic, impulsive and cruel in his later years. What was the cause of this? Did he have mania, dementia or syphilis? Listen to find out my thoughts. A History of Japan 1334-1615 by George Bailey Sansom Hideyoshi by Mary Elizabeth Berry The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by Walter Dening Methods in Madness: The Last Years of Toyotomi Hideyoshi by David Douglas Neilson.  A Narrative Review of the Many Psychiatric Manifestations of Neurosyphilis: The Great Imitator: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10560128/

    1h 8m
  5. The Fool of Owari: Oda Nobunaga (織田 信長) - Mad or Not?

    07/21/2025

    The Fool of Owari: Oda Nobunaga (織田 信長) - Mad or Not?

    Welcome back! Today I'm going to look at the life of one of Japan's three great modern unifiers: Oda Nobunaga. We're going to especially feature his most famous battle at Nagashino (1575), his forward-thinking with regards to firearm use, and the attributes that led to his success and downfall. Towards the end, I try to answer the question: Was Nobunaga mentally ill? Sources: The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga by Ôta Gyûichi, translated by J.S.A. Elisonas and J.P. Lamers.  A History of Japan by George Bailey Sansom Nagashino 1575: Slaughter at the Barricades by Stephen Turbull

    1h 1m
  6. The Last Stand of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin (이순신): Battle of Myeongnyang

    07/13/2025

    The Last Stand of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin (이순신): Battle of Myeongnyang

    Welcome back! Today we are continuing on with the story of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin, looking at the final years of his life. Specifically, I focus on his "last stand" at the Battle of Myeongnyang, as well as the Battle of Noryang. After the narrative, I spend time doing some character analysis and talk about the qualities that made him great. Sources: Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, the Turtle Ships, and Modern Asian History by Marc Jason Gilbert Admiral Yi Sun-sin: A Brief Overview of his Life and Achievements by The Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project  The War Diary of Yi Sun-Shin  Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of Korea by Jong Dae Kim, translated by Philip Rhyu

    53 min
  7. The Rise of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin (이순신) and the Turtle Ship

    07/10/2025

    The Rise of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin (이순신) and the Turtle Ship

    Welcome to the first episode! Today we will cover the rise of Korea's finest: Admiral Yi Sun-Sin. With a perfect battle record of 23-0, Admiral Yi repelled the Japanese Navy time and time again during the Imjin War (1592-1598) to save his country from destruction. Sources: Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, the Turtle Ships, and Modern Asian History by Marc Jason Gilbert Admiral Yi Sun-sin: A Brief Overview of his Life and Achievements by The Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project  The War Diary of Yi Sun-Shin  Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of Korea by Jong Dae Kim, translated by Philip Rhyu

    42 min
  • 7 Episodes

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About

Join me, a young psychiatrist, as I analyze the tales of history's most interesting and influential characters, with a focus on Asia. Email me: titansoftheworldpodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Larry Wang
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Larry Wang
  • Show Website
    Titans of the East