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Saigo Takamori

Saigo Takamori: Hero of the Meiji Restoration

How the "last samurai" Saigo Takamori escaped exile and changed Japan forever - before he rebelled against the new state he helped create.
Geisha and Maiko

Japanese Geisha and Maiko: From Past to Present

Dispelling some of the myths around traditional geisha and maiko, and understanding the training, history, and evolution of geisha from the past to today.
Sugihara Chiune's house

A Jewish Pilgrimage to Sugihara Chiune’s Consulate

Author Noah Oskow travels to Lithuania to connect with his own Jewish past at Sugihara Chiune's consulate, now a memorial to the savior of 6000 Jews.
Saigo Takamori at Ueno

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 view from Manzamou

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

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.
End of Japanese Red Army - picture of multiple terrorists from the Japanese Red Army in black and white. In the background, pictures of their symbols and of some of them in revolutionary poses

Japanese Red Army: End of a Global Reign of Terror

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

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

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.

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