494 episodes
History of Japan Isaac Meyer
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- History
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4.7 • 559 Ratings
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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.
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Episode 486 - The Nation's Kitchen, Part 1
This week: the start of our multi-part series on the history of Osaka! Supposedly the site where Japan's first emperor began his conquests, the city has a long history stretching back well before it even got its current name. This week is all about the first 1000-ish years of Osaka's history, and how it became one of the country's most important port cities.
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Episode 485 - Outfoxed!
This week: how did Japan's most popular god develop a following around the country, and why is that god--Inari--associated with everything from farming to fire prevention? How come you see Inari worship in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines alike? And what does all of this have to do with foxes, anyway?
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Episode 484 - Passion and Prejudice, Part 2
This week: the Pal dissent becomes the Pal myth. How did an obscure document from the Tokyo Trials end up front and center in nationalist discourse in Japan today?
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Episode 483 - Passion and Prejudice, Part 1
This week, we're starting a look into how an Indian lawyer and judge from a relatively obscure background became a focal point of right-wing Japanese nationalism. Who was Radhabinod Pal, how did he end up a judge in the Tokyo Trials, and what led him to claim that there were no grounds to convict Japan's leaders of any crime after World War II?
Note: this episode does contain indirect discussion of war crimes. Listener discretion is advised.
Show notes here.
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Episode 483 - Japan, the Beautiful, the Ambiguous, Part 2
Oe Kenzaburo is about as different a writer as you can think of from Kawabata Yasunari, and yet he's Japan's second ever Nobel laureate in literature. What sort of concerns defined his work, and what can we learn from looking at him in conjunction with Kawabata?
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Episode 482 - Japan, the Beautiful, the Ambiguous, Part 1
Apologies for the delay, folks. Something went wrong in the Libsyn backend. Here's our episode on Kawabata Yasunari!
Customer Reviews
Poetry, Politicals, And Everything In-Between
Explains nearly everything from the feudal era to the modern period, from intricacies of the Shinto religion to major political scandals, providing a comprehensive overview of Japan. The channel usually runs with multi-part series, broken up with pieces about important literature and poetry. Meyer handles subjects with care, offering all sides but without sacrificing objectivity, something sorely needed for exploring the history of the LDP, and calls out exceptionally foolish people with a wry sense of humor.
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A true gem.
This unassuming podcast serves as an incredible and in-depth survey of (literally) all of Japanese history. Don’t let it’s simple delivery deceive you: this is in substance a Hardcore History of Japan, but with infinitely greater frequency. I look forward to being a supporting listener. If you’re interested in Japan or Japanese history—DO NOT skip this podcast.
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