29 episodes

Discover Japanese culture, history, food, crafts, architecture, people and more one topic at a time.
Made by a former tour guide tired of old myths overstaying their welcome.
I believe in research. And if you do too, we have a lot to talk about ;)

Japan Explained Stray Toki

    • History
    • 4.3 • 3 Ratings

Discover Japanese culture, history, food, crafts, architecture, people and more one topic at a time.
Made by a former tour guide tired of old myths overstaying their welcome.
I believe in research. And if you do too, we have a lot to talk about ;)

    Hakkenden Explained. The Past and Present of Eight Dog Warriors with Glynne Walley

    Hakkenden Explained. The Past and Present of Eight Dog Warriors with Glynne Walley

    Nanso Satomi Hakkenden or Eight Dog Warriors of the Satomi Clan is a masterpiece of Edo period literature. The book was not only hugely popular in its own time but has gone on to become one of the most influential Japanese novels ever written. And today, together with scholar and translator of Hakkenden Glynne Walley we'll try to find out how that happened.

    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support

    More info on https://japanexplained.com/hakkenden-en/

    Instagram: @japanexplained

    Cover design: @justlavi

    • 50 min
    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 3 - The Last Samurai

    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 3 - The Last Samurai

    This time, let's take a look at what Saigo did, aspired to and dreamed of in the new era. And what he regretted or was angry about. And, most importantly, what earned him the title of the last samurai, which still inspires not only the Japanese but people all over the world.

    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support

    More info on https://japanexplained.com/saigo-takamori-en/

    Instagram: @japanexplained

    Cover design: @justlavi

    • 47 min
    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 2 - Satsuma-Choshu Alliance and the Fall of the Shogunate

    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 2 - Satsuma-Choshu Alliance and the Fall of the Shogunate

    Saigo has returned from exile, and in Kyoto his lord, Hisamistu, fights daily with Hitoshubashi Keiki. How did Japan get into this mess, and how can it be saved? Let's take a step-by-step look at the Forbiden Gate incident, the SatCho alliance, the abdication of the last Shogun, the Battle of Toba'Fushimi and finally the arrival of the Meiji era.

    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support

    More info on https://japanexplained.com/saigo-takamori/

    Instagram: @japanexplained

    Cover design: @justlavi

    • 51 min
    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 1 – Childhood, early career and exile to Amami

    Saigo Takamori Explained. Part 1 – Childhood, early career and exile to Amami

    Saigo Takamori, the Great Saigo or the Last Samurai is the ideal Japanese man and one of Japan's most beloved historical characters. In popular imagination, Saigo is THE perfect samurai. His image is so heavily embellished that it is sometimes hard to see where reality meets fiction. But let's try to separate them anyway. 
    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support
    Cover art: @justlavi

    • 43 min
    Tanuki Explained

    Tanuki Explained

    Happy Halloween everyone!
    We started this October with kitsune, and I thought it would be great to finish it with tanuki. So let's see how tanuki and kitsune influenced each other, what tanuki has to do with the 150th anniversary of Japan Railways and how this powerful yokai ended up as a chubby sake-loving goody of today.
    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support
    More info on https://japanexplained.com/tanuki/
    Cover art: @justlavi

    • 26 min
    Kitsune Explained

    Kitsune Explained

    Kitsune – Japanese foxes, who are they? Multi-tailed shapeshifters, companions of the god Inari, animals that bring good luck or beasts that inflict madness?
    Let's find out!
    Bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/72879450
    Support the show: https://japanexplained.com/#support
    More info on https://japanexplained.com/kitsune/
    Cover art: @justlavi

    • 39 min

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