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Tag: sports

Episode 580 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 7

May 30, 2025 Isaac Meyer Leave a comment

This week: we wrap up the miniseries with the end of Akebono’s career, as the first gaijin yokozuna takes his…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 579 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 6

May 23, 2025 Isaac Meyer Leave a comment

This week: Akebono becomes a yokozuna, and finds himself burdened with new expectations on and off the dohyo. Plus, a…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 578 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 5

May 16, 2025 Isaac Meyer

This week: in the span of just a few years, Akebono goes from a rookie in sumo to one of…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 577 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 4

May 9, 2025 Isaac Meyer

This week: Chad Rowan, who will be the first non-Japanese yokozuna in history, is the subject for the rest of…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 576 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 3

May 2, 2025 Isaac Meyer

This week: after Taiho, the floodgates open as more non-Japanese rikishi begin to enter the sport. One of them, Takamiyama,…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 574 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 1

April 18, 2025 Isaac Meyer

This week, we’re beginning a new miniseries on the legends of Japan’s most ancient sport: sumo. What can we learn…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Postwar, sports, Sumo

Episode 342 – The Other Olympics

June 12, 2020 Isaac Meyer 3 Comments

This week, how did the 1964 Paralympics end up in Japan? Who made it happen? And why does 1964 represent…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: disability, History, Japan, Olympics, paralympics, sports, Tokyo

Episode 338 – Let the Games Begin, Part 3

May 15, 2020 Isaac Meyer 3 Comments

This week, we finish our look at the Olympic movement in Japan with a series of discussions on the legacy…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Olympics, sports, Tokyo

Episode 337 – Let the Games Begin, Part 2

May 8, 2020 Isaac Meyer 3 Comments

This week, Japan finally gets the Olympics; but what does that really mean for Japan? What does hosting really accomplish…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: 1964, History, Japan, Olympics, sports, Tokyo

Episode 336 – Let the Games Begin, Part 1

May 1, 2020 Isaac Meyer 4 Comments

This week, we’re starting a series on the history of the Olympic movement in Japan. How did Japan get involved…

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Posted in: History of Japan Podcast, Podcasts Filed under: History, Japan, Olympics, sports

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

  • Episode 580 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 7
  • Episode 579 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 6
  • Episode 578 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 5
  • Episode 577 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 4
  • Episode 576 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 3
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