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Episode 317 – Separate Ways

December 13, 2019 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we explore the career of the first woman to make a big splash in modern Japanese literature: Higuchi…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Higuchi, History, Japan, literature, Meiji

Episode 316 – The Entrepreneur

December 6, 2019 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, it’s time to talk backroom deals and business trickery, because we’re chronicling the rise of Mitsubishi and the…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: economics, History, Japan, Meiji, mitsubishi

The Nippur Murder Case

December 5, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

Is this the oldest case ever covered on a true crime podcast? PROBABLY! In this episode, we discuss the oldest known recorded murder trial and try to read between the lines of cuneiform to get the real story of one victim, three killers, and a wife who didn’t snitch.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast, Highlight post

Episode 315 – The World Cast Aside

November 22, 2019 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week, we trace the evolution of Noh theater over the course of the careers of its famous founders: the…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Ashikaga, History, Japan, Noh, Theater

The Amistad Case

November 21, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

It’s time for our first case on the history of American slavery, featuring the bizarre legal and moral mess that allowed black Africans fighting for their freedom to be accused of kidnapping themselves.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast

Episode 314 – Responsibility, Accountability, and the Imperial Throne

November 15, 2019 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

Since Japan just got itself a new emperor, this is a good time to go back and look at an…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Akihito, Hirohito, History, Japan, Motoshima

Episode 313 – The Doctor is In

November 8, 2019 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week, we’re going to zoom in on the kind of life that doesn’t usually make the big picture history…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Edo, History, Japan, medicine, rangaku, study

The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

November 7, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

Come celebrate the big 3-0 with a con for the ages as Jeanne de Valois will try to get her hands on a 2 million livre necklace, and end up implicating — and slandering — one of the world’s most famous and powerful monarchies.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast

Episode 312 – Freedom and People’s Rights, Part 3

November 1, 2019 Isaac Meyer

This week, we look at the violent incidents that eventually undermined the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement, and the legacies…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: democracy, freedom, History, Japan, Meiji

Episode 311 – Freedom and People’s Rights, Part 2

October 25, 2019 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

How do you talk about a movement without clear leaders? By breaking down its different levels. Plus, a look at…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: freedom, History, Japan, jiyu, Jiyuto, Meiji, minken, rights

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About Me

My name is Isaac Meyer, and I’m a  former PhD student at the University of Washington, specializing in modern Japan (with sub-specializations in modern China, modern Europe, and international relations). Today, I work as a teacher at an independent school in the Seattle area.

I also have a tendency to go off on random historical tangents. One day, I decided to combine these two traits in podcast form, and thus was born the History of Japan Podcast!

In 2018, I decided start the Criminal Records Podcast with my wife, Demetria Spinrad. This podcast gives me the chance to talk about world history–and the weird, wonderful world of historical crime and punishment.

Support the Show

Support the Facing Backward network on Patreon to get access to our bonus features, including our bonus episodes about historical fiction.

The History of Japan Patreon is still live, and subscribers will be able to get the weekly newsletter there as well.

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Recent Posts

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