History of Japan

This week: the manga industry during World War II. Plus some thoughts on the development of shojo manga, and finally a look at Tezuka Osamu and the ways in which his work helped create the manga market that exists today. Show notes here.

Histories of manga tend to skip from the colorful woodblocks of the Edo period directly to the post-WWII industry we'd recognize today. But what do we lose when we do that? And what do we gain when we do investigate the century or so that lies between those two moments? Show notes here.

This week: manga is today one of the most ubiquitous forms of entertainment in Japan. But the idea of comics as we might understand them has a much longer history. So how did we get from there to here--what, in other words, is the origin of Japanese manga/ We'll look today at the earliest known examples as we try to understand the origins of manga as a form. Show notes here.

A deep dive into Miyamoto Musashi's life and the gap between myth and sources. How a novelist shaped Musashi's modern legend and the inventions added for drama. A look at conflicting primary accounts and famous confrontations like the Yoshioka feud and the duel with Sasaki Kojiro. Exploration of how stories moved from local memory to kabuki and bestselling fiction.

A deep dive into how Gikeiki shapes Yoshitsune into a tragic hero and compresses his life. Tales of Benkei’s cunning escapes and dramatic last stand feature strongly. The show traces survival legends linking Yoshitsune to Hokkaido and even a sensational Yoshitsune‑to‑Genghis Khan theory. It also explores how myths were used to justify claims over northern lands.

The story of how a medieval chronicle shaped the legendary image of Yoshitsune. It traces the growth of fan-driven retellings, theatrical adaptations, and youthful origin tales that cemented his myth. The episode highlights the rise of a devoted warrior companion and the personal rifts that turn loyalty into tragedy.

The episode explores how Heike Monogatari reshaped the Yoshitsune legend into romantic tragedy. It highlights dramatic set pieces like the Uji river stratagem and Ichinotani descent. It covers invented characters such as Lady Shizuka and storytelling choices that transformed history into enduring performance art.

A three-part look at how Minamoto no Yoshitsune morphed from a historical samurai into a national legend. Discussion covers his mysterious survival after a family purge, his rise during the Genpei War, and the political rivalries with Yoritomo that led to his rapid fall. Sources like the Azuma Kagami and imperial maneuvering are examined to trace how stories about him formed.

This week, we're covering one of the most titanic names in Japanese literature--Natsume Soseki--and the work that propelled him to fame. How did the tale of a sardonic, anonymous cat transform a relatively unknown literature professor into arguably the most famous writer in modern Japanese history? Show notes here.

Explore the rapid collapse of Japanese rule in Manchuria, driven by misguided colonial policies and escalating war. Discover the impact of Unit 731's atrocities and the myths surrounding settlers' experiences. Delve into the complex legal justifications for land seizures and the harsh realities of collectivization. Understand the violent settler responses and the eventual Soviet offensive that sealed Manchuria's fate. This intricate tale reveals profound lessons about empire, exploitation, and the fragility of power.