Oleg Benesch

Simon Dixon, an expert in Russian history, Naoko Shimazu, a specialist in Japanese society, and Oleg Benesch, a reader in modern history, delve into the tumultuous Russo-Japanese War. They discuss Japan's audacious attack on Port Arthur, igniting global tensions, and how rapid modernization transformed its military and society. The conversation highlights Russia's naval mishaps, the clash of honor and duty among Japanese soldiers, and the war's lasting impact on national identity and anti-colonial sentiment in Japan.

Oleg Benesch, a historian of samurai, and Rosina Buckland, British Museum curator of Japanese collections, discuss how samurai imagery evolved from medieval warriors to global pop culture icons. They explore museum curation, visual culture, myths versus reality, diplomacy and display, gendered roles, and controversies over representation in games and media.