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Episode 438 – From the Deep, Part 1

May 20, 2022 ijmeyer 1 Comment

This week, we’re taking on whaling in Tokugawa Japan. What is ‘traditional’ whaling in Japan? How and why did people…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized

Lou Blonger

March 9, 2022 Demetria Spinrad

In a follow-up to our episode about one very slick criminal, we’re taking listeners through a tour of Denver’s seedy…

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast, Uncategorized

Episode 421 – In the Eye of the Beholder

January 14, 2022 ijmeyer 2 Comments

Today, we’re discussing the evolution of a unique form of modern Japanese art: shin hanga, or new woodblocks, which attempted…

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Posted in: Uncategorized Filed under: Art, hanga, History, Japan, nishiki-e, ukiyo-e

The Yakuza Rocket Launcher Case

November 30, 2021 Demetria Spinrad

Want to take your gang war to the next level? Try buying a rocket launcher! In this wild episode, we learn about the history of one of the world’s best-known criminal organizations, the split that launched a bloody turf war, and the linguistic complications of saying “yes” to arms dealers.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast, Uncategorized

Black Bart/Charles E. Boles/Charlie Bolton

June 9, 2021 Demetria Spinrad 1 Comment

One man’s quest for vengeance against Wells Fargo turned into a massive crime spree—with occasional poetry breaks. Returning guest Amanda Jean joins us to fall in love with Black Bart, the gentleman robber who bluffed his way through a criminal career with no horse, no accomplices, and no bullets.

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Posted in: Criminal Records Podcast, Uncategorized

Lynching in America

August 26, 2020 Demetria Spinrad

This week, we’re joined by Nikki Brueggeman for a discussion of two horrific hate crimes in early 20th century America.…

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Posted in: Uncategorized

Episode 207 – Across the Sea, Part 3

August 26, 2017 ijmeyer 1 Comment

This week, we’re headed south to take a look at Nikkei communities in Brazil and Peru. Listen to the episode…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: brazil, nikkeijin, peru

Episode 206 – Across the Sea, Part 2

August 19, 2017 ijmeyer 1 Comment

This week, we take a closer look at early communities of Nikkeijin — people of Japanese descent — in the…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: immigration, issei, nikkeijin, nisei

Episode 205 – Across the Sea, Part 5

August 12, 2017 ijmeyer

This week, we begin a new series on the history of the Japanese diaspora! Listen to the episode here. Sources…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: immigration, nikkeijin

Episode 204 – No Peace Without War

August 5, 2017 ijmeyer

This week we tackle the question of Japanese fascism by looking at one of Japan’s foremost fascists, the authoritarian scholar…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: Fascism

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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.

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Recent Posts

  • Episode 438 – From the Deep, Part 1
  • Introducing the podcast!
  • The Luddites
  • Episode 437 – The Fist of the Buddhas, Part 2
  • Episode 436 – Fist of the Buddhas, Part 1
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