Best Imperial Japan Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 534 - The Imperial Democracy 37:36

7d ago37:36

37:36

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: during the 1920s, Japan's political system became more democratic and representative--an "imperial democracy" that evolved out of the Meiji system. How did this happen, and why did those democratic gains prove to be so unstable in the long term? Show notes here.…

1
Kyoto: Japan's Imperial City 45:40

11d ago45:40

45:40

During the Onin Wars of the early Sengoku period, Kyoto was razed as civil war struck the Imperial capital. Only with unification did the city begin to rebuild. This episode will explore the rise and fall and rise again of Kyoto, what life in the city might have looked like, and why it held such significance to unification in the 16th century. In t…

1
Peter Wetzler, "Imperial Japan and Defeat in the Second World War: The Collapse of an Empire" (Bloomsbury, 2020) 1:30:15

1M ago1:30:15

1:30:15

Informed Western understanding of Imperial Japan still often conjures up images of militarism, blind devotion to leaders, and fanatical pride in the country. But, as Imperial Japan and Defeat in the Second World War: The Collapse of an Empire (Bloomsbury, 2020)reveals, Western imagination is often reductive in its explanation of the Japanese Empire…

1
Episode 535 - The Road to Disaster 41:18

6h ago41:18

41:18

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the descent towards the Second World War. Why did the leadership of imperial Japan start a war many of them were aware they were unlikely to win? And how did the failures of the Meiji system enable the descent into militarism and defeat? Show notes here.…

1
The Battle for Manila with John McManus-Episode 402 1:34:23

3d ago1:34:23

1:34:23

This week, Seth, Bill and good friend John McManus take a look at the the battle for the Filipino capital of Manila. The team dissects the incredibly violent and horrific fight for General Douglas MacArthur's beloved Pearl of the Orient. The fighting in Manila was one fo the most violent combat areas of the entire war and the team breaks the fighti…

101
229 - D-Day Legacy 1:08:17

4d ago1:08:17

1:08:17

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I attended a special event at the Green Howards Museum. We started at the regimental war memorial in Richmond (Yorkshire) at 6.30 a.m., which was when the Green Howards landed on Gold Beach. The day was packed with discussion about the regiment and their role on D-Day. It closed with us having the privi…

1
How To Fit In: Feudal Japan 37:40

4d ago37:40

37:40

What was life like in feudal Japan? If you were born into the chaos of the Warring States period, would you have been a farmer, a merchant or a samurai? Or perhaps even an Emperor? Delving into the history behind the latest Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Matt Lewis and Dr Tomoko Kate Kitagawa shed light on the customs, culture and…

1
Judith Vitale et al., "Drugs and the Politics of Consumption in Japan" (Brill, 2023) 1:13:15

6d ago1:13:15

1:13:15

In early modern Japan, upper status groups coveted pills and powders made of exotic foreign ingredients such as mummy and rhinoceros horn. By the early twentieth century, over-the-counter-patent medicines, and, more alarmingly, morphine, had become mass commodities, fueling debates over opiates in Japan's expanding imperial territories. The fall of…

1
Episode 534 – The Imperial Democracy

7d ago

—

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: during the 1920s, Japan’s political system became more democratic and representative–an “imperial democracy” that evolved out of the Meiji system. How did this happen, and why did those democratic gains prove to be so unstable in the long term? Sources Jansen, Marius. The Making of Modern J…

1
Jorge Almazán et al., "Emergent Tokyo:: Designing the Spontaneous City" (Oro Editions, 2024) 36:14

9d ago36:14

36:14

If ancient Kyoto stands for orderly elegance, then Tokyo, within the world’s most populated metropolitan area, calls to mind–– jam-packed chaos. But in Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City (Oro Editions, 2022), Professor Jorge Almazán of Keio University and his Studio Lab colleagues ask us to look again—at the shops, markets, restaurants …

1
The Liberation of Luzon with John McManus - Episode 401 1:57:51

10d ago1:57:51

1:57:51

In the first episode of Season 4, Seth and Bill welcome good buddy John McManus as the trio takes on the topic of the Liberation of Luzon in 1945. The guys discuss the initial landings and successes while also getting into Douglas MacArthur's personal feelings and courage displayed on the island during the campaign. The guys then dig into some of t…

1
228 - D-Day Landing Craft 1:09:03

13d ago1:09:03

1:09:03

More than 132,000 Allied troops landed on the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944. Through their efforts, the tide of the war turned for the final time to favour the Allies. But how did the Allied army get to the shores of Normandy? The contribution of Landing Craft to D-Day is often overlooked. Andrew Whitmarsh joins me to correct this oversight. Andr…

1
Episode 533 - At the Table or On the Table 37:59

14d ago37:59

37:59

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: Japan joins the ranks of the great powers by building its own colonial empire. How did Japan come to be a great colonial power, what made its empire different from the others of the age, and more importantly: what made it the same? Show notes here.…

1
The Battle off Samar with Jon Parshall (both episodes combined) 3:00:33

14d ago3:00:33

3:00:33

Again, due to popular request, we have combined both Samar episodes with Jon Parshall into this long-form version. This is both parts 1 and part 2 combined. Hope you enjoy.This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, E…

1
Sidney Xu Lu, "The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism" (Cambridge UP, 2019) 1:17:26

14d ago1:17:26

1:17:26

Sidney Lu’s The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism: Malthusianism and Trans-Pacific Migration, 1868-1961 (Cambridge 2019) places the concept of “Malthusian expansionism” at the center of Japanese settler colonialism around the Pacific. For Japan’s imperial apologists and the discursive architecture they disseminated, alleged overpopulation―or m…

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully (Both Episodes Combined) 3:15:26

17d ago3:15:26

3:15:26

Due to popular request, I have combined both parts of the Surigao Strait shows and released them as one, here. As Bill and I prepare for Season 4, please enjoy the long-form version of Surigao Strait with our buddies Jon Parshall and Tony Tully.By Jon parshall, William toti, Seth paridon

1
The Searchers w/ Andy Beckett 1:01:42

17d ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Andy Beckett joins PTO to talk about his new book, The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies. The five rebels in question being Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, and Ken Livingstone. We talked about the role of the global tumult of 1968 in the development of the politics of the five…

1
The Tensho Iga War 35:17

18d ago35:17

35:17

In the sixth episode delving into the history behind the latest Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Matt Lewis and Nathan Ledbetter follow the sound of marching footsteps and clashing blades into Japan’s mountainous Iga province, to learn about the fearsome conflict between samurai armies and guerrilla shinobi, or ninja, that was the T…

1
Want to help an active duty person transition to civilian industry? 6:22

21d ago6:22

6:22

Captain Bill Toti talks about what led him to write his book, "From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership." The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/CO-CEO-Practical-Transitioning-Leadership/dp/1637630638/ref=sr_1_1?crid=323AAEQTQ2XJZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hpvYz2JpfclBGK_hqITNxCgAXH0a7JJFfYxQNXVDWy…

1
Aaron Fischman, "A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back" (Sports Publishing, 2024) 1:06:32

21d ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Like many American boys, Tony Barnette yearned to one day make it to “The Show,” playing baseball professionally. The Arizona State pitcher was drafted in 2006 by the in-state Diamondbacks. Gradually ascending the minor-league ladder, it looked like this was the beginning of a blessed life, where he could play the game he loved on the grandest of s…

1
PTO Live! w/ Gargi Bhattacharyya, Richard Seymour, and Eleanor Penny 1:09:34

22d ago1:09:34

1:09:34

This week's episode is the recording of our recent live event. Gargi Bhattacharyya, Richard Seymour, and Eleanor Penny were joined by an audience in Finsbury Park, London to discuss the fascism debate, disaster nationalism, and the relationship between fascism and racial capitalism.By Politics Theory Other

1
We Answer MORE of Your Questions-Episode 335 1:51:15

24d ago1:51:15

1:51:15

This week, Seth, Bill and new guest, retired US Army Major Shawn Bergstrom return to answer another round of your questions. In this final episode of season 3, we get into some cool topics that include, the fate of battleships, the morality and necessity of liberating the Philippines, and more. Tune in and see if your question is one of the ones we…

1
Oda Nobunaga 49:12

25d ago49:12

49:12

Oda Nobunaga. He’s one of feudal Japan’s most infamous and consequential figures, known to many as Japan’s first ‘Great Unifier’. From humble beginnings as the daimyo of Owari province, he embarked on a mission to unite all of Japan under his sole control. But how did he emerge as Japan’s dominant warlord in an era of incessant social upheaval and …

1
Thersa Matsuura, "The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth" (Adams Media, 2024) 30:36

27d ago30:36

30:36

Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (…

1
227 - D-Day: Sword Beach 1:05:21

27d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

6th June 1944 saw the largest seaborne assault in human history: D-Day. While much has been written about the operation as a whole, little detailed attention has been paid to the battle for Sword Beach itself, the easternmost of the amphibious attack areas. For this episode, I am joined by Stephen Fisher. Stephen is a historian and archaeologist wh…

1
Gary J. Bass, "Judgement at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia" (Knopf, 2023) 49:21

29d ago49:21

49:21

In December 1948, a panel of 12 judges sentenced 23 Japanese officials for war crimes. Seven, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, were sentenced to death. The sentencing ended the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, an over-two-year-long trial over Imperial Japan’s atrocities in China and its decision to attack the U.S. But u…

1
Rebecca Copeland, "Handbook of Modern and Contemporary Japanese Women Writers" (Amsterdam UP, 2023) 44:39

1M ago44:39

44:39

The Handbook of Modern and Contemporary Japanese Women Writers (MHM Limited and Amsterdam University Press, 2022) offers a comprehensive overview of women writers in Japan, from the late 19th century to the early 21st. Featuring 24 newly written contributions from scholars in the field—representing expertise from North America, Europe, Japan, and A…

1
We answer your questions about the Pacific War-Episode 334 1:53:21

1M ago1:53:21

1:53:21

This week Seth and Bill answer your questions in this first part of our Q&A session. The team welcomes new guest retired Army Major Shawn Betgstrom to the crew to moderate the questions and lead the team as we go through the many fantastic questions sent in by our audience. We hope you guys enjoy this episode, and we will definitely do this again.…

1
Captain Toti's Memorial Day Remarks, May 27, 2024 13:13

1M ago13:13

13:13

From Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, Florida.By william Toți

1
226 - D-Day and the Great Deception 52:37

1M ago52:37

52:37

As the Allied forces prepared for the monumental invasion of Normandy, concealing the massive build-up of troops in Britain from the Germans became increasingly challenging. To mislead German intelligence about the timing and location of the invasion, the Allies devised a series of elaborate deception plans. The most audacious of these schemes aime…

1
Yasuke: The First African Samurai 29:30

1M ago29:30

29:30

Yasuke is one of the most captivating and yet mysterious figures within Japanese history. In 1581, at the height of the civil war, he crossed paths with the country’s most powerful warlord, Oda Nobunaga. Their meeting bound the two men together and set Yasuke on a path to becoming the first known samurai of African descent in Japan. Delving into th…

1
Episode 532 – Cash Rules Everything Around Me

1M ago

—

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the economics of Meiji Japan, and a brief foray into social attitudes towards Westernization. How did Japan transform itself from being largely cut off from the world economy to central to it within half a century, and what impact did all this change have on the national self-image and cult…

1
Episode 532 - Cash Rules Everything Around Me 38:37

1M ago38:37

38:37

This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the economics of Meiji Japan, and a brief foray into social attitudes towards Westernization. How did Japan transform itself from being largely cut off from the world economy to central to it within half a century, and what impact did all this change have on the national self-image and cult…

1
Sunak calls the election and where now for the UK left w/ James Schneider 1:06:11

1M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

James Schneider joins the show to discuss Rishi Sunak's announcement that the UK general election will take place on July 4th, and to talk about his book 'Our Bloc: How We Win' in which James argues for a left bloc - a federated alliance of socialist forces comprising social movements, unions, and the residual left in parliament. In the interview w…

1
Peter Harmsen, "Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing" (Casemate, 2024) 36:39

1M ago36:39

36:39

In December 1937, Bernhard Sindberg arrives at a cement factory outside of Nanjing. He’s one of just two foreigners, and he gets there just weeks before the Japanese invade and commit the now infamous atrocities in the Chinese city. As the writer Peter Harmsen notes, Bernhard’s background isn’t particularly compelling: He’s bounced from job to job,…

1
Wrapping up 1944 in the Pacific-Episode 333 1:21:15

1M ago1:21:15

1:21:15

This week Seth and Bill wrap up 1944 in the Pacific as we near the end of Season 3. The guys go through the reasons why 1944 was the tipping point in the war in the Pacific with Bill's Top 4 List. We discuss leadership, training, logistics, industrial base and much more. Tune in as we wrap up the most pivotal year in World War II in the Pacific.#ww…

1
Robert Lyman, "A War of Empires: Japan, India, Burma, and Britain: 1941–45" (Osprey, 2021) 1:40:00

1M ago1:40:00

1:40:00

In 1941 and 1942 the British and Indian Armies were brutally defeated and Japan reigned supreme in its newly conquered territories throughout Asia. But change was coming. New commanders were appointed, significant training together with restructuring took place, and new tactics were developed. A War of Empires: Japan, India, Burma, and Britain: 194…

1
Camp Toccoa: One Camp's Big Impact on World War II 24:41

1M ago24:41

24:41

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm for this special presentation originally given during the dinner banquet for Toccoa, Georgia's famous 2023 World War II Weekend. Jeremy was invited to speak on the impact that Camp Toccoa had on both the airborne and the outcome of the war. Attending the dinner were several Children of Currahee, …

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