This episode we talk to Dr. Travis Seifman about his work translating the Edo-Bakumatsu database Ishin Shiryo for the Tokyo Historiographical Institute. The link to the database is here: https://www.hi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ On the upper right, chan

What is a Sengoku Daimyo? - The Lost Episode!

Nov 25th, 2021 38m 40s

About 7 years ago, back in 2014, Forest Seal and myself did a bunch of episodes discussing various themes in Japanese history, and one episode that was never finished was this episode on the Sengoku Daimyo. The battery died while recording, and

Historians Discuss Netflix's Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan P2

May 27th, 2021 1h 22m

In February 2021, Netflix released a docuseries on Sengoku era Japan entitled Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan. We continue our discussion on the docuseries with the two historians who were featured on the series, Dr. Elijah Bender and Nate Le

Historians Discuss Netflix's Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan P1

Apr 12th, 2021 1h 42m

In February 2021, Netflix released a docuseries on Sengoku era Japan entitled Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan. We have two historians who were featured on the series, Dr. Elijah Bender and Nate Ledbetter, along with Megan Gilbert of Princeton

EP164 Dr. Elijah Bender Talks Ghost of Tsushima P2

Dec 1st, 2020 30m 31s

In this episode, we continue our discussion with Dr. Elijah Bender about the new Playstation game Ghost of Tsushima from the perspective of a professional historian. Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Prod

Dr. Elijah Bender Talks Ghost of Tsushima P1

Nov 12th, 2020 33m 1s

In this episode, Dr. Elijah Bender talks about the new Playstation game Ghost of Tsushima from the perspective of a professional historian. Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by S

The 2019 Shuri Castle Fire P2

May 18th, 2020 34m 12s

Welcome back to our coverage of the fire at Shuri castle in Okinawa in 2019. Dr. Travs Seifman continues his discussion of the fire, its implications, and its impact on Okinawa. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samuraiarc

The 2019 Shuri Castle Fire P1

Mar 31st, 2020 38m 1s

In late 2019, Shuri Castle in Okinawa burned down in a fire. Multiple buildings were burned, as well as a whole host of irreplaceable cultural artifacts. Dr. Travis Seifman talks about the history of the castle, what was lost, and what the ca

The Origin of the One-Eyed Dragon: Date Masamune - Tales of the Samurai #8

Jan 30th, 2020 37m 29s

In far Northern Japan on the peripheries of the known world, an aggressive and moody child with one eye and a bad temper would come to prominence almost despite himself. Date Masamune, AKA the "One-Eyed Dragon" would eventually become a powerfu

Interview with Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan Podcast host Joshua Badgley

Dec 24th, 2019 58m 46s

Today I'm talking to Joshua Badgley, the host of Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan podcast. Get the inside scoop on this new podcast narrating the chronological history of Japan. Podcast link: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast Podcast Twitt

Travel and Tourism in Premodern Japan P2

Nov 20th, 2019 44m 41s

This episode, Marky Star, Dr. Travis Seifman, and I continue our discussion of travel and tourism in premodern Japan. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samuraiarchives Shopping on Amazon.com? Use our link: http://www.amaz

Travel and Tourism in Premodern Japan P1

Oct 24th, 2019 59m 6s

This episode I'm joined by Marky Star of the JapanThis blog, and Dr. Travis Seifman to talk about travel and tourism in premodern Japan. We have a very wide ranging conversation that includes modern Japanese tourism, where to go to find the his

Japan and the Chinese Tributary System P2

Sep 27th, 2019 30m 32s

In this episode we continue our discussion of Japan's place in the "Chinese World Order". For thousands of years China was the center of culture and commerce in East Asia, and disseminated trade and political systems and ideology through a trib

Japan and the Chinese Tributary System P1

Aug 27th, 2019 40m 32s

In this episode we discuss Japan's place in the "Chinese World Order". For thousands of years China was the center of culture and commerce in East Asia, and disseminated trade and political systems and ideology through a tribute system, which J

Sengoku Daimyo Mori Motonari - All Out War - Tales of the Samurai #7

Jul 22nd, 2019 43m 6s

By the mid-1550's, Mori Motonari had expanded and consolidated his power base considerably. But with the Ouchi, Otomo, and Amako threats ever present, it was only a matter of time before the Mori clan would be thrust into an all out war for th

The Rise of Sengoku Daimyo Mori Motonari - Tales of the Samurai #6

Jun 20th, 2019 45m 42s

Early in the Sengoku period in 1523, Mori Motonari became the unexpected head of a scrappy little warrior house in Aki province, caught between two powerful warring clans. Motonari would eventually parlay his small holdings into one of the most

An Introduction to Daimyo Alternate Attendance – Sankin Kotai P2

Apr 29th, 2019 50m 2s

This episode we continue our discussion of the Edo-period concept of "Sankin Kotai" - Daimyo alternate attendance. The system of Sankin Kotai developed by the Tokugawa Shogunate required that Daimyo reside in the Tokugawa castle at Edo for peri

An Introduction to Daimyo Alternate Attendance – Sankin Kotai P1

Mar 31st, 2019 47m 59s

This episode we introduce the Edo-period concept of "Sankin Kotai" - Daimyo alternate attendance. The system of Sankin Kotai developed by the Tokugawa Shogunate required that Daimyo reside in the Tokugawa castle at Edo for periods of time, alt

The Samurai and the Evolutionary Psychology of Violence and Warfare - Tales of the Samurai #5

Feb 25th, 2019 1h 7m

Have you ever wondered where our human propensity for violence and history of warfare comes from? Why there is such an established history of violence among humans, and why are we so good at killing and conducting war? In this episode, we loo

Weird Weapons of the Samurai

Dec 31st, 2018 25m 35s

This episode guest host Jaredd Wilson, the host of the "Martial Thoughts Podcast" introduces you to the Weird Weapons of the Samurai. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samuraiarchives Shopping on Amazon.com? Use our link:

The Shimazu Clan, Ryukyu, and the Bakufu P2

Nov 29th, 2018 35m 55s

This episode we continue our look at the relations between Ryukyu (Okinawa), the Shimazu clan, and the Bakufu, and Okinawa's eventual invasion in 1609. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samuraiarchives Shopping on Amazon.c

The Shimazu Clan, Ryukyu, and the Bakufu P1

Oct 30th, 2018 46m 17s

This episode we look at the relations between Ryukyu (Okinawa), the Shimazu clan of Satsuma province, and the Bakufu, and Okinawa's eventual invasion in 1609. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samuraiarchives Shopping on A

The Medieval History of Japanese Tea - Tales of the Samurai #4

Sep 28th, 2018 49m 12s

This episode we talk about the development of tea culture and the tea ceremony during the 15th and 16th century. Tea as an art began to develop throughout the late 15th and early 16th century into an activity that brought commoners, aristocrat

The Top Ten Samurai Films of All Time P2

Aug 27th, 2018 1h 25m

We're back with part two of our picks for the top 10 Samurai films of all time, finishing up with our top five, as well as the listener top five. If you're inclined to pick up some of these movies on amazon.com, please use our link, and help ou

The Top Ten Samurai Films of All Time P1

Jul 24th, 2018 1h 11m

You wanted it, we provided it - our list of the top ten Samurai films of all time. In this episode, myself, Mike Baker, and Michael Reid give you our top Samurai film picks. We cover number ten through number six in this episode, and we'll re