History

Saigo Takamori: The Making of a Legend

Saigo Takamori would ultimately tear down the samurai system he so dearly loved. But first, he had to survive an ordeal that nearly killed him.

The Indigenous Ryukyu People of Okinawa

Discover the history of the indigenous Ryukyu people, the culture that inhabited Okinawa before it was ever even a part of Japan.

Shuri Castle: The History of a Cultural Landmark

A look at the history of Shuri Castle and its significance as a cultural landmark following its tragic destruction in a massive fire.

Japanese Red Army: End of a Global Reign of Terror

September 25, 2019
History, History, Patreon, Video

How a string of violent attacks and a shifting political landscape spelled the end for the Japanese Red Army.

The Unique History of Japan’s Postal System

How the Japan Post's unique development and services improved the economy of a nation - its successes, its controversies, and the origin of that famous "T" symbol.

Ninja in Japan: The Reality Behind The Popular Depiction

How accurately do movies, cartoons, and games portray the ninja of Japan? Not very. Learn about the true tradition of the ninja.

Cataclysm: The 1888 Eruption of Fukushima’s Mount Bandai

In 1888, "the Mount Fuji of the North" erupted so fiercely that it remade the local landscape. The incredible story of how Meiji Japan suffered - and recovered - from the worst volcanic disaster in modern Japanese history.

Blood Oaths and Seppuku: The “Beautiful Death” of Author Mishima Yukio

What drove one of Japan's most acclaimed authors to raise a personal militia, and take a high-ranking general hostage in an attempted nationalist coup d'état?

Man of Masks: The Strange Life of Author Mishima Yukio

A youth who found excitement only in books, Mishima Yukio became a brilliant author who challenged his country's sexual mores - until the day his life became stranger than fiction.

History

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