Skip to content
Facing Backward Podcasts
By Isaac Meyer and Demetria Spinrad
  • Home
  • The History of Japan Podcast
    • Listen to the show
    • See all show notes
    • Maps
    • Glossary
  • Criminal Records Podcast
  • Watching Backward
  • Support Our Shows
  • About Us
    • Press and Projects
    • Social Media & Contact Information

Tag: Meiji

Episode 310 – Freedom and People’s Rights, Part 1

October 18, 2019 Isaac Meyer

This week, we’re starting a look at the Jiyu Minken Undo — the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement — by…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 301 – Stand Up For Your Rights, Part 1

August 16, 2019 Isaac Meyer

While the Meiji Restoration was going on, where was everybody else? We’ll start trying to answer that question today with…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: bakufu, Edo, History, Japan, Meiji, shindatsu, Tokugawa

Episode 298 – The Ghost of Japan Past

July 26, 2019 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week, we profile one of the great Western interpreters of Japan: Lafcadio Hearn. How did some Anglo-Greek kid end…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 248 – Family Matters

July 14, 2018 Isaac Meyer

This week we take on the history of the von Siebold family — father Philip Franz, son Alexander, and daughter…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 192 – No Country for Young Women, Part 1

May 6, 2017 Isaac Meyer 2 Comments

This week: the beginning of a two parter on Japan’s first ever female exchange students. Listen to the episode here.…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: Meiji, Women

Episode 136 – The Fall of the Samurai, Part 19

February 13, 2016 Isaac Meyer

This week, Saigo Takamori is going to sidetrack the whole government by pulling the idea of invading Korea off the…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 135 – The Fall of the Samurai, Part 18

February 6, 2016 Isaac Meyer 5 Comments

This week, we cover the major issues of the new government. Who’s in charge? What do they want to do?…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 134 – The Fall of the Samurai, Part 17

January 30, 2016 Isaac Meyer

  This week, we take a look at the new balance of power now that the Tokugawa are gone. Who’s…

Continue Reading →

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

Episode 133 – The Fall of the Samurai, Part 16

January 23, 2016 Isaac Meyer 1 Comment

This week: the “short-lived” part of “the short-lived Ezo Republic” comes to fruition, and what is now Meiji Japan begins…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: Bakumatsu, Meiji, Tokugawa

Episode 45 – The Emperor’s Own, Part 1

March 14, 2014 Isaac Meyer

his week, we’ll be beginning our first four-part series as we look at the rise to power of the Imperial…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Uncategorized Filed under: IJA, IJN, Imperial Army, Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Military, Imperial Navy, Meiji

Post navigation

Page 5 of 6
← Previous 1 … 4 5 6 Next →

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.

Search This Site

Recent Posts

  • Episode 624 – An Ocean Between Us, Part 2
  • Episode 623 – The Great Peace, Part 2
  • Episode 622 – The Great Peace, Part 1
  • Episode 621 – The Manga Revolution, Part 3
  • Episode 620 – The Manga Revolution, Part 2
Copyright © 2026 Facing Backward Podcasts — Primer WordPress theme by GoDaddy