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History of Japan

History of Japan

By: Isaac Meyer
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About this listen

 This podcast, assembled by a former PhD student in History at the University of Washington, covers the entire span of Japanese history. Each week we'll tackle a new topic, ranging from prehistoric Japan to the modern day. World
Episodes
  • Episode 617 - I am Legend, Part 4

    Episode 617 - I am Legend, Part 4
    Feb 27 2026

    This week, we cover how the legend of Yoshitsune as told in Gikeiki describes his demise. Which is how his tale ends, unless of course you know the truth: that Yoshitsune actually escaped to Hokkaido, became a god, and then left for the mainland to become Genghis Khan.

    Wait, what?

    Show notes here.
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    39 mins
  • Episode 616 - I am Legend, Part 3

    Episode 616 - I am Legend, Part 3
    Feb 20 2026

    This week, we come to the text that more than any other helps build the Yoshitsune legend: Gikeiki. Here, at long last, we see the legend of Yoshitsune taking a form that a modern audience might recognize--and in the process, beginning to diverge pretty substantially (though not entirely) from the historical record.

    Show notes here.

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    34 mins
  • Episode 615 - I am Legend, Part 2

    Episode 615 - I am Legend, Part 2
    Feb 13 2026

    This week, the Yoshitsune legend finds its legs with Heike Monogatari--one of the most epic works in Japanese history. Except that while Yoshitsune is a bigger deal here than he is in Azuma Kagami, he's still far from the main character....so where does he show up, what changes does Heike make from the Azuma Kagami version, and what's still missing from our hero's story?

    Show notes here.

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    34 mins
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