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Episode 283 – Rags to Riches, Part 1

April 6, 2019 Isaac Meyer

This week, we start a series on one of the also-rans of the Sengoku period: the Latter Hojo clan. Who…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Hojo, Japan, Samurai, Sengoku

Episode 282 – The Brothers Soga

March 30, 2019 Isaac Meyer

This week, we cover one of the most famous tales of revenge in Japanese history: that of the two Soga…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, revenge, Samurai, Soga

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

March 29, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

This week, Isaac and Demetria investigate the case that grabbed headlines across 1920s America. We’ll talk about the intersection of xenophobia, violent anarchism, and the American legal system, and how all of them manifested in a bungled case that remains divisive to this day.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast

Episode 281 – The Fool of Owari, Part 2

March 23, 2019 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we cover the remainder of Oda Nobunaga’s rise to power: his wars for control of central Japan in…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, nobunaga, oda, Samurai, Sengoku

Episode 280 – The Fool of Owari, Part 1

March 16, 2019 Isaac Meyer 5 Comments

This week, we turn to the life and legacy of the first of Japan’s three unifiers: the warlord Oda Nobunaga,…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, nobunaga, oda, Samurai, Sengoku

The Dead Body of Pope Formosus

March 14, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

This episode has it all: Pope-on-pope legal drama! Corpse desecration! 3 separate French kings named Charles! Come for an explanation of the Corpse Synod, stay to find out how why it’s not easy being pope.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast

Episode 279 – The Prince of Thieves

March 9, 2019 Isaac Meyer

This week, we consider a figure who appears in two stories from the ancient collection of tales known as the…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: crime, Hakamadare, Heian, History, Japan

Episode 278 – The Men Who Stayed Behind

March 2, 2019 Isaac Meyer 3 Comments

This week we investigate the role of Japan in laying the groundwork for Vietnam’s wars against France and the United…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, vietnam, WW2

Benedict Arnold

February 28, 2019 Demetria Spinrad

This week, Demetria and Isaac tackle America’s great traitor! Who was Arnold, and what did his trial for a series of ridiculous charges have to do with his decision to betray his country?

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast

Episode 277 – The House of Cards, Part 5

February 23, 2019 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we arrive at the end of the Ashikaga. What were the final 100 years of Ashikaga “rule” like,…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Ashikaga, History, Japan, Muromachi, Samurai, Sengoku

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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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