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Tag: Japan

Episode 241 – All in the Family, Part 3

May 26, 2018 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we conclude our up close look at the Shimazu family and Satsuma domain with a consideration of how…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Samurai, Satsuma, shimazu

Episode 240 – All in the Family, Part 2

May 19, 2018 Isaac Meyer

This week, we cover the sengoku era history of the Shimazu clan, and their meteoric ascent from  minor lords to…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Samurai, Satsuma, shimazu

Episode 239 – All in the Family, Part 1

May 13, 2018 Isaac Meyer

This week, we start a short series on the history of one of the most influential fiefdoms in Japanese history…

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

Episode 238 – Hell is Empty

May 5, 2018 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we tackle the evils of Unit 731 — its history, its experiments, and its ultimate escape from any…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: biological weapons, chemical weapons, History, Japan, unit 731

Episode 237 – Princess, Lover, Soldier, Spy

April 28, 2018 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week, we take on the scintillating story of the Manchurian princess Kawashima Yoshiko, who grew up in Japan before…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Manchu, Manchuria

Episode 236 – Never Look Away

April 21, 2018 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week, we discuss the career of Japan’s most legendary director, Kurosawa Akira. From humble, middle class beginnings, our story…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: cinema, Film, History, Japan, Kurosawa

Episode 235 – Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

April 14, 2018 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week: the story of a relatively unimportant man who appears briefly and dies spectacularly, and the long chain of…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, mononobe, Soga, yorozu

Episode 234 – The Oldest Profession

April 7, 2018 Isaac Meyer 10 Comments

Note: Since this week we’re talking about the sex trade, I’ve taken the precaution of giving this episode an explicit…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Prostitution

Episode 233 – A People Apart

March 24, 2018 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week, we tackle the history of the Burakumin. Where did this outcast group come from? Why does discrimination against…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: Burakumin, History, Japan

Episode 232 – A Thief in the Night

March 17, 2018 Isaac Meyer

This week, we spend an entire history podcast talking about someone who may not even have actually existed — the…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Ishikawa Goemon, Japan, Kabuki, Ninja

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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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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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