Essay

Video: The Colonization of Hokkaido

May 7, 2020
History, History, Video

Watch our latest video - a reading by author Noah Oskow of his original essay on the history of Hokkaido and how it came to be part of Japan.

The Otsu Incident: Tsar Nicholas II’s Near-Assassination in Japan

May 6, 2020
History, History, Video

In 1891 Japan, history was nearly changed when a Japanese policeman took aim at Russian Crown Prince Nicholas II - the future czar of Russia.

The Feminist Movement in Japan: WWII to the 1970s

How the feminist movement in Japan worked after World War II to free women from the traditionally assigned role of the "good wife and wise mother."

Japanese Writing: The Birth of Kana in the Heian Period

How did the hiragana and katakana writing systems come to exist in Japanese? What purpose did they serve? A history of writing in Japan's Heian period.

Three Lesser-Known Subgenres of Japanese Pop Music

These three subgenres of Japanese pop combined Western and Japanese musical traditions to produce unique sounds that captured the spirit of their times.

Video: Husband Management – Women in Japan and the Struggle at Home

"How do you protect your daughter when you can't even convince your own husband?" A discussion of a challenge facing many Japanese women.

Taisho Era: Five Facts About Japan’s Shortest Modern Period

The Taisho Era may have been short, but it was anything but uneventful. Learn more about this short but tumultuous era in Japanese history.

The Historical Periods of Japan

How well do you know your Japanese history? Join us for a sweeping overview of the historical periods of Japan - from the Jomon all the way up to Reiwa.

Japan and Controlled Substances: A Short History

Learn about Japan's history with controlled substances - from the use of marijuana in the Jomon era to the Japanese chemist who created crystal meth.

Essay

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