Samurai Archives Japanese History Podcast

Jaredd Wilson is back again to talk about the state and place of traditional martial arts in today's world of the internet, cage fighting, and the UFC.  We talk about how things have changed in the martial arts in the past few decades, and also address other issues in the contemporary martial arts - some new, some old, and some that need to go away but don't. Follow Jaredd on Twitter: @MartialThoughts Mentioned in this podcast: Mann, Jeffery. When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts&nbsp Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with Jacket edition (October 10, 2012)   http://www.amazon.com/WhenBuddhistsAttack Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com

In part two of our episode on sex in medieval Japan, your hosts look at gender roles and relations, including the tradition of same sex relations among the Samurai. Mentioned in this podcast: Morinaga, Maki. The Gender of Onnagata As the Imitating Imitated: Its Historicity, Performativity, and Involvement in the Circulation of Femininity positions: east asia cultures critique Volume 10, Number 2, Fall 2002  https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/positions/v010/10.2morinaga.html Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc

In part one of our look at women in feudal Japan, Nate and Travis look at the tales of seduction of Genji and his ilk during the Hiean period, and discuss how issues of inheritance, property rights and politics changed for women during the medieval age.  Mentioned in this podcast: Tonomura, Hitomi. Black Hair and Red Trousers: Gendering the Flesh in Medieval Japan The American Historical Review Vol. 99, No. 1 (Feb., 1994), pp. 129-154 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2166165 Morris, Ivan. The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan Kodansha USA (June 15, 1994) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/1568360290 Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8

When a sengoku daimyo died, even the best laid plans for succession often went awry.  Chris and Forest talk about Samurai inheritance and succession issues in the Sengoku period - how it worked, succession order, and inheritance disputes, in the cases of Oda Nobunaga, Mori Motonari, Uesugi Kenshin, and the complexities surrounding Takeda Katsuyori's succession to the head of the Takeda clan. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#!/samuraiarchives

In part two, we continue our discussion with Trevor Absolon about the Soma Noma Oi - a festival in Fukushima, Japan that has a history going back 1,000 years.  Trevor produced a documentary on the festival, and we discuss the events and history of the festival, his personal involvement, and the impact of the 2011 tsunami that devastated the region. Trevor's website: Toraba.com Trailer for Ritual: The Samurai of the Soma Noma Oi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIooma4pIpc Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiar

This episode, we talk to Trevor Absolon about the Soma Noma Oi - a festival in Fukushima, Japan that has a history going back 1,000 years.  Trevor produced a documentary on the festival, and we discuss the events and history of the festival, his personal involvement, and the impact of the 2011 tsunami that devastated the region.  Part one of two. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#!/samuraiarchives Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samur

This episode covers part two of our discussion of the economics and finance of the Edo period. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#!/samuraiarchives Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samurai-Archives/104533213984 Samurai Archives podcast blog: http://www.samuraipodcast.com

As part of our ongoing series looking at the Edo period of Japanese history, we look at the economics and finance of the Edo period. Part one of two. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Mentioned in this podcast: Vaporis, Constantine. Tour of Duty: Samurai, Military Service in Edo, and the Culture of Early Modern Japan Univ of Hawaii Pr (July 31, 2008) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0824832051 Katsu, Kokichi. Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai University of Arizona Press; Reprint edition (July 1, 1991) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0816512566 Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/sa

For our 100th episode (and 7th bonus episode) we take it live to Mifune restaurant in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.  Chris (Twitter: @samuraiarchives), Marky Star (Twitter: @JapanThis) and Lonny (Twitter: @Rekishinotabi) get into the epic life of Tokugawa Ienari, why Kondo Isami raises his sake cup with his left hand, the burial location of Kondo Isami's father, an impromptu review of the new book "Samurai Revolution", a foriegn exchange student named Yoshi, and other completely random topics connected only by beer, sake, and giant onigiri. Hotteoite Kudasai (Watashi wa Nihonjin Dakara) by Awesome Rocket https://archive.org/details/AwesomeRocketsJapaneseSongs Mentioned in this podcast: Hillsborough, Romulus. Samurai Revolution Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with Jacket edition (March 25, 2014) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/4805312351 Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samura

In this episode we talk about the development of castle towns during the medieval period of Japanese history, the whys and hows, and how the structure of castle towns affected urban planning through to the modern era. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#!/samuraiarchives Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samurai-Archives/104533213984 Samurai Archives podcast blog: http://www.samuraipodcast.com

In part two of our philosophical musings on Samurai, Bushido, and death, Chris and Forest look at how one's perception of reality constrains and shapes thier outlook and actions, and would have surely shaped the views and actions of the Samurai.  The intent in going off to battle as a Samurai wasn't to valiantly seek death, but to survive and prosper.  However, since death was always on the table, the goal was to, if nothing else, gain utility from their death - furthering their name, their family, and thier clan - because cowardice in battle was a sure way to get your family put to the sword during the Sengoku period.  But, above all, Samurai were human, and whatever their personal plans were for combat, as Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face", and snap decisions ruled the day in the heat of battle - some men rose up and brought glory, and others folded in a messy heap. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Sa

Welcome to our sixth bonus episode, which we'll be splitting into two parts. In part one, Chris and Forest look at the self-serving nature of Bushido and the spectre of death that stalked the Samurai on the battlefield.  It is often claimed that not only did Samurai not fear death, they embraced it, if not actively sought it out on the battlefield, and that Samurai acheived this Zen state both by the nature of being a Samurai, and by incorporating the ideology of Bushido into their Samurai souls.  If you take a step back and actually look at that with a critical eye, it quickly becomes clear that this is patently ridiculous.  Obviously Samurai lords had to rely on their Samurai, and their position and success depended upon convincing men to march out and potentially die on the business end of a sharp spear, so they'd use whatever ploy they could come up with, be it "Bushido" or anything else to accomplish this. So, with this in mind, what was was actually going on?  What the heck was everyone thinking? Shoppi

In this episode we speak to Jesse Workman, Philosophy and Religious studies PhD candidate, about the interchange of ideas and religions in the ancient world, and how the early religions of Europe affected Asian thought and religion and vice versa by way of the Silk Road.  Also discussed are the insane distances ideas travelled long before international travel was available to most of the human population, the difficulty in tracing the sources and influences on ideas, and intentional and accidental biases that result when translating an idea, document, or religious work from one language into another. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Recommended Reading: Campbell, Joseph. The Masks of God, Vol. 3: Occidental Mythology Penguin Books (November 1, 1991)  E

This episode, Nate continues his talk about the history of Japan's self defense force, the JSDF.  Nate, who worked directly with the JSDF in Japan, addresses questions about how the JSDF has evolved over the past 60 years, what its stated purpose and objectives are today, and in what specific situations and to what extent and capacity the JSDF is allowed to participate in military and wartime situations. Part two of two. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Mentioned in this episode: Creation of Tough & Resilient Japan Ground Self-Defense Force https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXpeXQTojjk Midford, Paul. Rethinking Japanese Public Opinion and Security: From Pacifism to Realism? Stanford University Press (January 24, 2011) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai

This episode, Nate talks about the history of Japan's self defense force, the JSDF.  Nate, who worked directly with the JSDF in Japan, addresses questions about how the JSDF has evolved over the past 60 years, what its stated purpose and objectives are today, and in what specific situations and to what extent and capacity the JSDF is allowed to participate in military and wartime situations. Part one of two. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#

In this episode we talk with Jaredd Wilson, Martial Artist and insructor and host of the Martial Thoughts podcast.  We talk to Jaredd about what makes a martial art, the difference between traditional martial arts and "combat sports", the challenges of simulating the stress of a dangerous encounter, "Ki" and other bits of oriental mysticism. We also discuss training in Aikido and Karate, and touch on combat sports such as boxing, MMA, and the UFC. Follow Jaredd on Twitter: @martialthoughts https://twitter.com/martialthoughts The Martial Thoughts podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/martial-thoughts-podcast/id783977606 The Martial Thoughts Blog: http://www.thinkingmartial.blogspot.com/ The Martial Thoughts podcast site: http://www.podcastgarden.com/podcast/martialthoughts Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Mentioned in this episode: Martial Arts Categories: http://www.thinkingmartial.blogspot.com/2014/05/martial-arts-categories-part-i.html

In part 2 of our look at Japan during World War Two, we look at the aftermath of the battle of Midway, the questionable strategy of MacArthur's island hopping campaign, the overlooked Russian contribution to the Pacific war, and speculate on the necessity of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Bookstore: http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20 Samurai Archives Shop (T-Shirts, etc) http://www.cafepress.com/samuraiarchives Contact Us: Twitter @SamuraiArchives https://twitter.com/#!/samuraiarchives Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samurai-Archives/104533213984 Samurai Archives podcast blog

In this episode, Forest leads a talk on Japan's thinking going into World War Two.  With the benefit of hindsight, it becomes apparent that Japan's plan going into WWII was based on a collection of flawed assumptions, and was tied to the misguided hope that the US will to fight could be broken in a reasonably short period of time with a "decisive battle" - before the tremendous industrial and military potential of America could be fully brought to bear.  In part one, we follow the Japanese from the start of the war to Japan's devastating defeat at the battle of Midway. Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Mentioned in this episode: Ugaki, Matome. Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki Naval Institute Press; Reprint edition (March 17, 2008) Suppo

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Cameron Foster, the creator of "A Short History of Japan", and discuss some of the nuts and bolts of podcasting, and the direction Cameron intends to go with his podcast, including his proposed next episode. We also discuss a few other podcasts worth listening to.  Follow Cameron on Twitter: @frugcam Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Mentioned in this episode: A Short History of Japan: http://frug.podbean.com/ An Interview with Romulus Hillsborough: http://www.theshogunshouse.com/2014/03/katsu-kaishu-navigator-of-chaos.html Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: http://www.dancarlin.com/disp.php/hh Hillsborough, Romulus. Samurai Revolution Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with Jacket edition (March 25, 2014) http:/

In this episode, we talk to the creator of the "A Short History of Japan" podcast, Cameron Foster.  We talk about his podcast, travelling in Japan, interesting aspects of japanese history, and about not seeing the recent movie "47 Ronin". Part one of two. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @frugcam Shopping on Amazon.com?  Use our link: http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=samurai-20 Samurai Archives Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/samurai-archives-japanese/id430277324 Samurai Archives Podcast on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=41397&refid=stpr Mentioned in this episode: A Short History of Japan: http://frug.podbean.com/ My History Can Beat Up Your Politics:http://myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.blogspot.com/ Yoshikawa, Eiji. Musashi Kodansha USA (July 14, 1995) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/4770019572 Yoshikawa, Eiji. Taiko Kodansha USA; Reprint edition (August 3, 2012) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/1568364288 Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com,