In this episode, Allison Alexy talks with Prof. Morgan Pitelka, whose research examines late medieval and early modern Japan, with a focus on the samurai, tea culture, ceramics, cities, and material culture. The conversation centers on a new book he is writing centered on Ichijōdani, the headquarters of the Asakura warlord family. Topics of discussion include: the Sengoku or Warring States period; the destruction of Ichijōdani; material culture and political history; kawarake, simple pinched bowls; collaboration and archaeology and history; ceramics and everyday culture; lacuna surrounding violence in Japanese history; students' interests in Japanese Studies; and popular culture and video games about history. 

Content warning: This episode includes a brief, general description of sexual violence at minute 33 of the recording.

If you're interested in learning more about this work, please watch his presentation at the Center for Japanese Studies.

Dr. Pitelka is professor of History and Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina. He is the chair of the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and co-editor of the Journal of Japanese Studies. You can find him on twitter @mpitelka. 

Michigan Talks Japan is produced by Robin Griffin, Justin Schell, and Allison Alexy and is supported by the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Michigan.