Podcasts about chichibu

Last time we spoke about Operation Chahar. In the turbulent year of 1935, tensions surged in North China as the Kwantung Army defied Tokyo's orders, encroaching deeper into Chahar province. This period was marked by widespread anti-Japanese sentiments, fueled by local revolts and the assassination of pro-Japanese figures, which infuriated Japanese authorities. On May 20, the Kwantung Army launched an offensive against a bandit group led by Sun Yungqin, seeking to exert control over the demilitarized regions established by earlier agreements. Their swift victory forced the resignation of local officials opposing Japanese interests. As chaos escalated, the Chinese government, under pressure to appease Japan, dismantled anti-Japanese factions and dismissed key leaders. The climax in this saga came with the signing of the He-Umezu Agreement, stripping China of authority in Hubei and Chahar, signaling Japan's increasing dominance and setting the stage for further exploitation of the region.   #150 The February 26 Incident Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. While this podcast is supposed to be given through the Chinese perspective, I apologize but yet again I need to jump over to the Japanese side. You see, a very pivotal moment during the Showa era would occur in the year of 1936. I think it's crucial to understand it, and the underlying issues of it, to better understand what we will be stuck in for the unforeseeable future, the Second Sino-Japanese War. I've briefly mentioned the two factions within the Japanese military at this time, but now I'd really like to jump into them, and a major incident that made them collide. In the aftermath of WW1, 2 prominent factions emerged during this tumultuous period: the Kodoha, or Imperial Way Faction, and the Toseiha, or Control Faction. Each faction represented distinct visions for Japan's future, deeply influencing the nation's course leading up to World War II. The Kodoha rose to prominence in the 1920s, driven by a fervent belief in Japan's divine destiny and its right to expand its imperial reach across Asia. This faction was characterized by its adherence to traditional Japanese values, rooted in the samurai ethos. They viewed the Emperor as the embodiment of Japan's spirit and sought to return to the moral foundations they believed had been eroded by “Western influence”. The Kodoha was often critical of the West, perceiving the encroachment of Western thought and culture as a threat to Japan's unique identity. Their ideology emphasized a robust military force, advocating for aggressive campaigns in regions like Manchuria and China to assert Japan's dominance. Contrasting sharply with the Kodoha, the Toseiha began to emerge as a more dominant political force in the late 1930s. The Toseiha embraced a pragmatic approach, advocating for a disciplined military that could engage effectively with the complexities of modern warfare. They recognized the importance of retaining some traditional values while also integrating Western military techniques. Rather than rejecting Western influence entirely, the Toseiha believed in adapting to global shifts to ensure Japan's strength and security. The Toseiha's moderation extended to their governance strategies, as they prioritized political stability and control over radical ideology. They saw this approach as crucial for creating a robust state capable of managing Japan's expansionist ambitions without provoking the backlash that Kodoha tactics elicited. Their more calculated approach to military expansion included securing partnerships and pursuing diplomatic solutions alongside military action, thereby presenting a less confrontational image to the world. Now after Manchuria was seized and Manchukuo was ushered in, many in the Japanese military saw a crisis emerge, that required a “showa restoration' to solve. Both factions aimed to create military dictatorships under the emperor. The Kodoha saw the USSR as the number one threat to Japan and advocated an invasion of them, aka the Hokushin-ron doctrine, but the Toseiha faction prioritized a national defense state built on the idea they must build Japans industrial capabilities to face multiple enemies in the future. What really separated the two, was the Kodoha sought to use a violent coup d'etat to make ends meet, whereas the Toseiha were unwilling to go so far. The Kodoha faction was made up mostly of junior and youthful officers, typically country boys as we would call them. These were young men whose families were not the blue bloods, farmer types. They viewed the dramatic changes of Japan in light of their own family experiences, many were impoverished by the dramatic changes. A very specific thing these Kodoha boys hated were the Zaibatsu. The Zaibatsu were large Japanese business conglomerates, primarily active from the Meiji period until WW2. They combined various industries, including banking, manufacturing, and trading. Prominent examples included Mitsubishi and Sumitomo. The reason they hated the Zaibatsu was because they believed they were influenced by western thought and that they super succeeded the authority of the emperor. More or less you can think of it as “we hate the fat cats who are really running things”.   Now the Toseiha faction were willing to work with the Zaibatsu to make Japan stronger. Basically they believed them to just be a necessary evil, you had to play ball to get things rolling. Random note, Hirohito's brother Prince Chichibu sympathized with the Kodoha faction and repeatedly counseled his brother that he should implement direct imperial rule even if it meant suspending the constitution, aka a show restoration. Hirohito believed his brother who was active in the IJA at the time was being radicalized. Now I cant go through the entire history of it, but this time period is known as the “government by assassination” period for Japan. Military leaders in the IJA, IJN and from within the Kodoha and Toseiha factions kept assassinating politicians and senior officers to push envelopes forward. Stating all of that, I now want to talk about the February 26th incident and I will add I am using a specific source, simply because it's my favorite. That is Herbert P Bix's Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan. In late 1934, several officers from the Imperial Way faction at the Army Cadet School were arrested for plotting a coup. Although there were no immediate repercussions, the following year, two of the same Kodoha officers, named Isobe Asaichi and Muranaka Takaji were arrested again for distributing a document accusing Toseiha faction officers, like Major General Nagata Tetsuzan, of previously drafting coup plans against the government. This time, the army's upper echelons responded firmly, condemning Isobe and Muranaka's accusations as acts of disloyalty, resulting in both officers losing their commissions. Meanwhile, other Imperial Way officers sought retaliation against Nagata, who was rumored to be planning a major purge to eliminate factionalism within the army. Tatsukichi Minobe was a Japanese statesman and scholar of constitutional law and in the 1930s he began a movement bringing up the very real issue with the Meiji constitution in relation to the role of the emperor. In August 1935, amid a populist movement denouncing Minobe's interpretation of the constitution, Lt colonel Aizawa Saburo from Kodoha faction entered Nagata's office and fatally attacked him with his katana. This marked a significant escalation in the military struggle over state reform and the push for increased military funding, which was intertwined with the movement against Minobe. Meanwhile anti- Prime Minister Okada factions within the army, continuing to use slogans like “kokutai clarification” and “denounce the organ theory,” intensified their attacks on the emperor's advisers and hereditary peers. Senior generals from the Kodoha faction arranged a public court-martial for Aizawa, held by the 1st Division, a group heavily populated by Kodoha officers based in Tokyo. When Aizawa's trial commenced on January 12, 1936, his defense team transformed it into an emotional condemnation of the Okada cabinet, the court entourage, and Minobe's constitutional theories. This strategy garnered support across the nation, even reaching unexpected places like the imperial palace, where Dowager Empress Teimei Kogo, a staunch rightist, expressed sympathy for Aizawa. However, before the trial could progress, a military mutiny disrupted proceedings in the capital. Shockwaves rippled through the army after Army Minister Hayashi dismissed Kodoha member General Mazaki from his position overseeing military education and ordered the transfer of the 1st Division to Manchuria, which ignited the largest army uprising in modern Japanese history. The uprising was orchestrated through a series of meetings held from February 18 to 22 by key individuals including Nishida, Yasuhide Kurihara, Teruzō Andō, Hisashi Kōno, Takaji Muranaka, and Asaichi Isobe. Their plan was relatively straightforward: the officers would assassinate the most prominent adversaries of the kokutai, seize control of the administrative center of the capital and the Imperial Palace, and present their demands, which included the dismissal of certain officials and the establishment of a new cabinet led by Mazaki. They did not establish long-term goals, believing that those should be determined by the Emperor. However, it is suspected that they were prepared to replace Hirohito with Prince Chichibu if necessary. The young Kodoha officers felt they had at least implicit support from several influential Imperial Japanese Army officers after making informal inquiries. This group included figures such as Araki, Minister of War Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Jinzaburō Mazaki, Tomoyuki Yamashita, Kanji Ishiwara, Shigeru Honjō, as well as their immediate superiors, Kōhei Kashii and Takeo Hori. Later, Kawashima's successor as Minister of War remarked that if all the officers who had endorsed the rebellion were forced to resign, there would not have been enough high-ranking officers left to replace them. To articulate their intentions and grievances, the young officers prepared a document titled "Manifesto of the Uprising" “Kekki Shuisho”, which they intended to present to the Emperor. Although the document was authored by Muranaka, it was written under the name of Shirō Nonaka, the highest-ranking officer involved in the plot. The document aligned with Kokutai Genri-ha ideals, criticizing the genrō, political leaders, military factions, zaibatsu, bureaucrats, and political parties for jeopardizing the kokutai with their selfishness and disregard for the Emperor, and emphasized the need for direct action: “Now, as we face immense foreign and domestic challenges, if we do not eliminate the disloyal and unjust who threaten the kokutai, if we do not remove the villains obstructing the Emperor's authority and hindering the Restoration, the Imperial vision for our nation will come to naught [...] Our duty is to purge the malevolent ministers and military factions surrounding the Emperor and eradicate their influence; we shall fulfill this mission.” Seven targets were selected for assassination for "threatening the kokutai". Keisuke Okada served as Prime Minister, where he notably advocated for the London Naval Treaty and supported the "organ theory" of the kokutai. His actions reflect a commitment to international agreements and specific ideological principles at the time. Saionji Kinmochi, a Genrō and former Prime Minister, also supported the London Naval Treaty. However, his influence extended further, as he played a role in prompting the Emperor to establish inappropriate cabinets, impacting political stability. Makino Nobuaki, the former Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and Foreign Minister, was another key figure who supported the London Naval Treaty. He notably prevented Prince Fushimi from voicing protests to the Emperor during this period, and he established a court faction in collaboration with Saitō, further entrenching political alliances. In his capacity as Grand Chamberlain, Kantarō Suzuki supported the London Naval Treaty but faced criticism for "obstructing the Imperial virtue," suggesting tensions between political decisions and traditional values. Saitō Makoto, who served as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and former Prime Minister, was involved in advocating for the London Naval Treaty and played a significant role in Mazaki's dismissal. He, too, formed a court faction with Makino, indicating the intricacies of court politics. Takahashi Korekiyo, as Finance Minister and former Prime Minister, engaged in party politics with the aim of diminishing military influence. His approach was focused on maintaining the existing economic structure amid the shifting political landscape. Finally, Jōtarō Watanabe, who replaced Mazaki as Inspector General of Military Education, supported the "organ theory" of the kokutai yet faced criticism for refusing to resign, despite being considered unsuitable for his position. On the night of February 25, Tokyo experienced a heavy snowfall, which uplifted the rebel officers as it evoked memories of the 1860 Sakuradamon Incident. During this event, political activists known as shishi assassinated Ii Naosuke, the chief advisor to the Shōgun, in the name of the Emperor. The rebel forces, organized into six groups, began mobilizing their troops and departing from their barracks between 3:30 and 4:00 AM. At 5:00 AM, they launched simultaneous attacks on key targets, including Okada, Takahashi, Suzuki, Saito, the Ministry of War, and the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. At around five o'clock on the morning of February 26, 1936, a rebellion erupted, fueled by the long-standing tensions surrounding the kokutai issues that had plagued 1935. Twenty-two junior officers led over 1,400 armed soldiers and non-commissioned officers from three regiments of the 1st Division and an infantry unit of the Imperial Guards in a mutiny in snow-covered Tokyo. The attack on Okada involved a contingent of 280 men from the 1st Infantry Regiment, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Yasuhide Kurihara. The troops encircled the Prime Minister's Residence and compelled its guards to open the gates. Upon entering the compound, they attempted to locate Prime Minister Okada but were met with gunfire from four policemen stationed there. All four policemen were killed, wounding six rebel soldiers in the process. However, the shots served as a warning for Okada, prompting his brother-in-law, Colonel Denzō Matsuo, to help him find refuge. Matsuo, who closely resembled Okada, was eventually discovered by the soldiers and killed. After comparing Matsuo's wounded face to a photograph of the prime minister, the attackers mistakenly believed they had accomplished their mission. Okada managed to escape the following day, but this information was kept confidential, and he did not play any further role in the events. After Matsuo's death, Kurihara's men took up guard positions around the compound, reinforced by sixty soldiers from the 3rd Imperial Guard. In another key operation, Captain Kiyosada Kōda led a group of 160 men to seize control of the Minister of War's residence, the Ministry of War, and the General Staff Office. Upon entering the Minister's residence at 6:30 AM, they demanded to see Minister Kawashima. Once admitted, they read their manifesto aloud and presented a document detailing several demands, including: A prompt resolution to the situation that would further "advance the cause of the Restoration." A call to prevent the use of force against the Righteous Army. The arrest of Kazushige Ugaki (Governor-General of Korea), Jirō Minami (commander of the Kwantung Army), Kuniaki Koiso (commander of the Korean Army), and Yoshitsugu Tatekawa for their roles in undermining military command. The immediate dismissal of Lieutenant Colonel Akira Mutō, Colonel Hiroshi Nemoto, and Major Tadashi Katakura from the Imperial Japanese Army for promoting "factionalism." The appointment of Araki as the new commander of the Kwantung Army. Ugaki, who served as Minister of War during two separate terms, had overseen significant reductions and modernization efforts within the army. He had also failed to support the March Incident plotters, who had hoped to install him as Prime Minister. Minami, Mutō, Nemoto, and Katakura were all influential members of the Tōsei-ha faction; Katakura had been partly responsible for reporting on the Military Academy Incident. Later that morning, Isobe encountered Katakura outside the Ministry of War and shot him non-fatally in the head. During this tumultuous period, several officers sympathetic to the rebels, including General Mazaki, General Tomoyuki Yamashita, and General Ryū Saitō, joined the uprising. Saitō praised the young officers' spirit and encouraged Kawashima to accept their demands. Shortly before 9:00 am, Kawashima indicated he needed to speak with the Emperor and left for the Imperial Palace. Meanwhile, Captain Hisashi Kōno led a team of seven, comprised mostly of civilians, to attack Makino Nobuaki, who was staying at Kōfūsō, part of the ryokan Itōya in Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, with his family. Arriving at 5:45 am, they stationed two men outside while entering the inn with weapons drawn. Inside, policemen opened fire, leading to a lengthy exchange of gunfire. A policeman managed to alert Makino and his party of the danger, guiding them to a rear exit. Although the assassins fired at the escaping group, Makino successfully evaded capture. Kōno sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, and one policeman, Yoshitaka Minagawa, was killed. As Kōno was evacuated from the scene, the assailants set fire to the building. Hearing a gunshot, Kōno assumed that Makino had shot himself inside. After his recovery at a nearby military hospital, Kōno and his team were arrested by military police. Around 10:00 am, Kurihara and Nakahashi loaded a fleet of three trucks with sixty men and drove from the Prime Minister's Residence to the offices of the Asahi Shimbun, a significant liberal newspaper. They stormed the building, ordering the evacuation of employees and declaring their actions as "divine retribution for being an un-Japanese newspaper." The rebels then overturned and scattered the newspaper's type trays, containing 4,000 different characters, temporarily halting its publication. Following this attack, the men distributed copies of the uprising's manifesto to nearby newspapers before returning to the Prime Minister's Residence. On another front, 1st Lieutenant Motoaki Nakahashi of the 3rd Imperial Guard gathered 135 men and, under the pretext of paying respects at Yasukuni Shrine, marched to Takahashi Korekiyo's residence. There, he divided his forces, sending one group to attack while the other remained to guard the entrance. After breaking into the compound, Nakahashi and Lieutenant Kanji Nakajima found Takahashi in bed, where Nakahashi shot him while Nakajima delivered a fatal sword strike. Takahashi died without waking. Once his target was eliminated, Nakahashi regrouped with the soldiers and proceeded to the Imperial Palace, aiming to secure it. Entering through the western Hanzō Gate at 6:00 am, Nakahashi informed Major Kentarō Honma, the palace guard commander, that he had been dispatched to reinforce the gates due to earlier attacks. Honma, already aware of the uprisings, accepted Nakahashi's arrival. He was assigned to help secure the Sakashita Gate, the primary entrance to the Emperor's residence. Nakahashi planned to signal nearby rebel troops at police headquarters once he controlled access to the Emperor. However, he struggled to contact his allies, and by 8:00 am, Honma learned of his involvement in the uprising and ordered him, at gunpoint, to vacate the palace grounds. Nakahashi complied and returned to join Kurihara at the Prime Minister's Residence, while his soldiers remained at the gate until relieved later that day, preventing their inclusion in the government's official count of rebel forces. Elsewhere, 1st Lieutenant Naoshi Sakai led a detachment of 120 men from the 3rd Infantry Regiment to Saitō Makoto's home in Yotsuya. After surrounding the policemen on guard, five soldiers entered the residence and found Saitō and his wife, Haruko, in their bedroom. They shot Saitō dead, prompting Haruko to plead for her life, saying, "Please kill me instead!" While they pulled her away, she was unwittingly wounded by stray gunfire. Following Saitō's assassination, two officers directed another group to target General Watanabe, while the remaining men moved to strategically position themselves northeast of the Ministry of War. In Kōjimachi, Captain Teruzō Andō commanded 200 men from the 3rd Infantry Regiment to assault Suzuki's residence across from the Imperial Palace. After disarming the police on duty, they located Suzuki in his bedroom and shot him twice. When Andō moved to deliver the coup de grâce with his sword, Suzuki's wife implored to be allowed to do it herself, believing her husband to be fatally wounded. Andō obliged and, apologizing for the act, explained it was for the nation's sake. After saluting Suzuki, the soldiers left to guard the Miyakezaka junction north of the Ministry of War. Following the assault on Saitō, a party of twenty men, led by 2nd Lieutenants Tarō Takahashi and Yutaka Yasuda, headed to Watanabe's residence in Ogikubo after 7:00 AM. Despite the two-hour delay since previous attacks, no measures had been taken to alert Watanabe. As they attempted to storm the front entrance, military police inside opened fire, wounding Yasuda and another soldier. The troops then gained entry through the rear, confronting Watanabe's wife outside their bedroom. After shoving her aside, they found Watanabe using a futon as cover. He opened fire, prompting one soldier to retaliate with a light machine gun. Takahashi then rushed in and fatally stabbed Watanabe, witnessed by his nine-year-old daughter, Kazuko, who hid nearby. The soldiers departed, taking their wounded to a hospital before positioning themselves in northern Nagatachō. In a significant move, Captain Shirō Nonaka led nearly a third of the rebel forces, comprising 500 men from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, to assault the Tokyo Metropolitan Police headquarters. Their objective was to secure communication equipment and prevent dispatch of the police's Emergency Service Unit. Meeting no resistance, they quickly occupied the building, possibly due to a strategic decision to leave the situation in the military's hands. After securing the police headquarters, 2nd Lieutenant Kinjirō Suzuki led a small group to attack Fumio Gotō's residence, the Home Minister's, but found that Gotō was not home, thus allowing him to escape. This attack appeared to result from Suzuki's independent decision, rather than a coordinated effort among the officers. Despite all of these actions, the Kodoha boys had failed to secure the Sakashita Gate to the palace, which allowed the palace to maintain communication with the outside world, and they neglected to address potential naval interventions. At the Yokosuka naval base, Rear Adm. Yonai Mitsumasa and his chief of staff, Inoue Shigeyoshi, positioned marines to defend the Navy Ministry and prepared warships in Tokyo Bay to suppress the rebellion. By the morning of February 28, after unsuccessful negotiations through sympathetic officers at army headquarters, the commander under martial law transmitted an imperial order to disperse. Most troops returned to their barracks, one officer committed suicide, and the remaining leaders surrendered, resulting in the uprising ending with minimal further violence. Nevertheless, martial law in Tokyo continued for nearly five months. The rebel officers had initially planned for General Kawashima, a staunch ally of the Kodoha, to relay their intentions to the emperor, who they assumed would issue a decree for a “Showa restoration.” Despite their radical objectives of overthrowing the political order, the mutineers, like other military and civilian extremists of the 1930s, sought to operate within the imperial framework and maintain the kokutai. They believed the emperor was under the control of his advisers and lacked a genuine will of his own. Once the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and the Grand Chamberlain were removed, they expected the emperor to appoint General Mazaki as prime minister, a leader they believed would reinforce the military and effectively address the China issue. At the onset of the insurrection, they had a real chance of success. The Tokyo military police commander, General Kashii Kohei, sympathized with their cause, and the emperor's chief aide, General Honjo, was related to rebel officer Capain Yamaguchi Ichitaro. Support for the mutineers was present at military bases nationwide. Historian Hata Ikuhiko notes that the rebels contacted General Honjo by both phone and written message before attacking the Okada cabinet. As the first in the imperial entourage to learn of the mutiny, Honjo could have warned the intended targets but chose not to do so. By the time he arrived at court at 6:00 am. on the 26th, key advisors like Chief Secretary Kido, Imperial Household Minister Yuasa Kurahei, and Vice Grand Chamberlain Hirohata Tadakata were already aware of the potential danger. Suzuki was murdered, and the emperor was deeply affected, awakening to the news at 5:40 am from the chamberlain on night duty, Kanroji Osanaga. He learned that his old ministers had been attacked and a coup was underway. Upon receiving this information, Hirohito resolved to suppress the uprising. He was outraged by the killing of his ministers and feared that the rebels might use his brother, Prince Chichibu, to force him to abdicate. He donned his army uniform and summoned Honjo, ordering him to “end it immediately and turn this misfortune into a blessing.” Hirohito adopted a strategy proposed by Kido, who had acted swiftly earlier that morning, instructing Honjo to assess the Imperial Guard Division's potential actions if the mutineers advanced on the Palace. Kido aimed to prevent the establishment of a new provisional cabinet until the mutiny was fully quelled. At 9:30 am Army Minister Kawashima, who had previously met with one of the rebel officers, arrived at court. He urged the emperor to form a cabinet that would “clarify the kokutai, stabilize national life, and fulfill national defense.” Surprised by Kawashima's tone, Hirohito reprimanded him for not prioritizing the suppression of the mutiny. He also expressed his frustration to Chief of the Navy General Staff Prince Fushimi, dismissing him when he inquired about forming a new cabinet. Later that day, Kawashima met with the Supreme Military Council, consisting mainly of army officers sympathetic to the rebels. The council decided to attempt persuasion before relaying the emperor's orders a move contrary to Hirohito's directive. According to historian Otabe Yuji, an “instruction” was issued to the rebel officers at 10:50 am, acknowledging their motives and suggesting the emperor might show them leniency. This message was communicated to the ringleaders by martial law commander General Kashii. That evening, when members of the Okada cabinet came to submit their resignations, Hirohito insisted they remain in power until the mutiny was resolved. On February 27, the second day of the uprising, Hirohito announced “administrative martial law” based on Article 8 of the Imperial Constitution. This invoked his sovereign powers to address the crisis while freeing him from needing cabinet approval for his actions. Hirohito displayed remarkable energy throughout the subsequent days, sending chamberlains to summon Honjo for updates and threatening to lead the Imperial Guard Division himself when dissatisfied with the reports. Honjo, however, resisted the emperor's demands and exhibited sympathy for the rebels. During the uprising, Hirohito met with Prince Chichibu, who had recently returned from Hirosaki. Their discussions reportedly led Chichibu to distance himself from the rebels. However, rumors of his sympathy for them persisted, leading to concerns about potential conflicts within the imperial family. On the second day, Rear Admiral Yonai and his chief of staff demonstrated their loyalty to Hirohito. By February 29, the fourth day of the uprising, Hirohito had reasserted his authority, troops were returning to their barracks, and most rebel leaders were captured. Seventeen of these leaders were court-martialed and executed in July without legal representation. Shortly after, during the obon festival, Hirohito allegedly instructed a military aide to secure seventeen obon lanterns for the palace. This action, though secret, may have provided him some personal comfort amidst the turmoil. An investigation following the mutiny revealed that the rebels' sense of crisis was amplified by the recent general elections, which had shown an anti-military sentiment among voters. Despite their populist rhetoric, most ringleaders were not motivated by the agricultural depression; their goal was to support the kokutai by advocating for increased military rearmament. During this period, military spending steadily rose from 3.47% of GNP in 1931 to 5.63% in 1936. Intriguingly, the ringleaders and their senior commanders shared a desire for state control over production to mobilize resources fully for total war. While united in this goal, their ideas about how to achieve a “Showa restoration” varied greatly, with some leaders, like Isobe, calling for complete economic consolidation and a return to strong state power. The February mutiny reinforced Hirohito's belief in the constitutional framework that underpinned his military authority. He became increasingly cautious about decisions that could compromise his command and developed closer ties to the army's Control faction, justifying military spending increases. Yet, the memory of the mutiny left him feeling uncertain about the throne's stability. Now you know me, whenever I can bring up Hirohito's involvement in the war related times I gotta do. After WW2, in an apparent effort to downplay his role as supreme commander, Hirohito provided a deliberately distorted account of the February events. “I issued an order at that time for the rebel force to be suppressed. This brings to mind Machida Chuji, the finance minister. He was very worried about the rebellion's adverse effect on the money market and warned me that a panic could occur unless I took firm measures. Therefore I issued a strong command to have [the uprising] put down. As a rule, because a suppression order also involves martial law, military circles, who cannot issue such an order on their own, need the mutual consent of the government. However, at the time, Okada's whereabouts were unknown. As the attitude of the Army Ministry seemed too lenient, I issued a strict order. Following my bitter experiences with the Tanaka cabinet, I had decided always to wait for the opinions of my advisers before making any decision, and not to go against their counsel. Only twice, on this occasion and at the time of the ending of the war, did I positively implement my own ideas. Ishiwara Kanji of the Army General Staff Office also asked me, through military aide Chojiri [Kazumoto], to issue a suppression order. I don't know what sort of a person Ishiwara is, but on this occasion he was correct, even though he had been the instigator of the Manchurian Incident. Further, my chief military aide, Honjo, brought me the plan drafted by Yamashita Hobun, in which Yamashita asked me to please send an examiner because the three leaders of the rebel army were likely to commit suicide. However, I thought that sending an examiner would imply that they had acted according to their moral convictions and were deserving of respect. . . . So I rejected Honjo's proposal, and [instead] issued the order to suppress them. I received no report that generals in charge of military affairs had gone and urged the rebels to surrender.”  On February 26, when Hirohito ordered the immediate suppression of the rebels, his anger was directed not only at the insurgents who had assassinated his closest advisors but also at senior army officers who were indecisive in executing the crackdown. The following day, in addition to his role as Minister of Commerce and Industry, Machida took on the responsibilities of finance minister. Concerns over economic panic and confusion contributed to the emperor's sense of urgency, despite not being the primary motivation for his actions. Hirohito believed that every hour of delay tarnished Japan's international reputation. Since the Manchurian Incident, the emperor had frequently clashed with the military regarding encroachments on his authority, though never about fundamental policy issues. At times, he had managed to assert his political views during policy discussions, similar to his earlier influence under the Hamaguchi cabinet. The February 26 mutiny highlighted to Hirohito and Yuasa his privy seal from March 1936 to June 1940, and the first lord keeper of the privy seal to attend court regularly the necessity of fully exercising the emperor's supreme command whenever the situation demanded it. Even when faced with opposition from Honjo, Hirohito managed to gain support and assert his authority through a decisive approach. His resolution marked the end of a period during which alienated “young officers” attempted to leverage his influence as a reformist figure to challenge a power structure they could not manipulate effectively. However, Hirohito learned how to adeptly manage that establishment in most situations. The decision-making process within the government was characterized by secrecy, indirect communication, vague policy drafting, and information manipulation, creating a landscape of confusion, misunderstanding, and constant intrigue aimed at achieving consensus among elites. This was the modus operandi in Tokyo and a reflection of how the emperor operated. Once again, Hirohito reminded the tightly-knit elite that he was essential to the functioning of the system. On May 4, 1936, during his address at the opening ceremony of the Sixty-ninth Imperial Diet, while Tokyo remained under martial law, Hirohito closed the chapter on the February mutiny. Initially, he contemplated sending a strong message of censure to the military, but after considerable deliberation over three months, he ultimately chose to issue a brief, innocuous statement: “We regret the recent incident that occurred in Tokyo.” The response from his audience of Diet members and military officials was one of startled awe, with some privately expressing disappointment. Once again, at a critical juncture, Hirohito avoided an opportunity to publicly rein in the military through his constitutional role. Nonetheless, due to his behind-the-scenes actions, the drift in domestic policy that had characterized Japan since the Manchurian Incident came to an end. In the following fourteen months, the emperor and his advisors largely aligned with the army and navy's demands for increased military expansion and state-driven industrial development. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. So some very unruly young Japanese officers got the bright idea of forcing a showa restoration by killing all the culprits they believed held their emperor hostage. Little did they know, this event spelt the end of the Kodoha faction and rise of the Toseiha faction. Henceforth the military was even more in charge and would get even more insane.   

The Lions Squad Announcements is almost here, the Champions Cup is saved (hoo-RAH!), and rugby YouTube star Huw Griffin joins Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast to celebrate the best of British and forget about everything we hated before the semi-final stage. As all rugby podcasts are at the moment, we're contractually obliged to mention potential Lions Tour bolters amongst other educated guesswork for the make-up of Andy Farrell's squad, and we hold up out end of the deal with a bolter from the leftest of left fields. Also, we rejoice in what will be a cracking Champions Cup Final between Northampton and Bordeaux in Cardiff in a few weeks, plus contemplate some tricky runs home in the URC and Super Rugby Pacific. Games of the Week: • SRP Round 13: Crusaders v Chiefs, Christchurch • URC Round 17: Bulls v Cardiff, Pretoria • Premiership Round 16: Leicester v Sale, Welford Road • Top 14 Round 23: Toulon v Toulouse, Toulon • Japan Rugby League One Rd.18: Urayasu D-Rocks v Mitsubishi Dynaboars; the Chichibu, Tokyo • MLR Rd.13: New England Free Jacks v Chicago Hounds, Quincy MA #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #URC #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #HuwGriffin #HGRugby Check out Huw's YouTube channel, it's great! https://www.youtube.com/@huwgriffinrugby Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Part Two episode of our discussion of the Top Day Trips from Tokyo by Train, we're diving into four more incredible destinations you can easily reach from Tokyo by train, perfect for those looking to escape the city's hustle and bustle and immerse themselves in Japan's rich culture and natural beauty. The areas we discuss in part two include: Kawagoe, also known as "Little Edo," Mount Takao, a nature lover's paradise just an hour from Tokyo, Enoshima and its stunning sea views, and finally the less-traveled path to Chichibu, a haven for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This episode is the perfect companion to our recent blog post and is packed with insider knowledge, perfect for travelers who want to immerse themselves in Japan's diverse and rich cultural and natural wonders. Join us as we venture beyond Tokyo's skyscrapers to discover these unique and captivating destinations, each offering a perfect blend of culture, nature, and relaxation! Be sure to also check out our Destinations and Japan pages for more ideas on how to make the most of your Day Trips from Tokyo!

A small distillery in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, recently claimed its sixth whisky award at an international competition held in London. In Okinawa, a woman was arrested on Monday after approaching the U.S. consulate general brandishing what she claimed to be a pipe-bomb. Meanwhile, the American President Joe Biden is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Kishida tomorrow in Hiroshima, when Biden and other leaders including the newly appointed Brazilian President Lula da Silva descend on the city for this year's G7 summit taking place this weekend. Prior to that we head to the edge of Tokyo bay and wander through the outer market of Tsukiji, once the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. We arrive as it begins to wind down and talk with the owner of Mejicafe buried deep within the market along Yokocho-dori. — Substack: notebookpodcast.substack.com Instagram: @notebook_pod Twitter: @notebook_pod — Get in touch: notebook.podcast@gmail.com Leave a message: speakpipe.com/notebook — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L'inverno potrebbe non essere il periodo più gettonato per visitare il Giappone, ciononostante in questo episodio cercheremo di convincervi del contrario! Innanzitutto è meno affollato, i voli costano meno, inoltre ci sono alcuni eventi spettacolari che si tengono solo in questo periodo! Eventi 2&3 dicembre Chichibu Yomaturi : è un festival notturno che si tiene a Chichibu (Saitama), dove le persone trainano splendidi carri per le vie della la città, mentre il kabuki viene eseguito all'interno dei carri! Collegamento da Tokyo: prendendo la linea Seibu Ikebukuro da Ikebukuro si arriva alla stazione di Seibu Chichibu in circa 90 minuti. Oppure, da Kumagaya si può prendere la linea Chichibu e si raggiunge la stazione di Chichibu in circa 90 minuti. Vigilia di Capodanno Jyoya no Kane: si riferisce alla tradizione del suono delle campane durante la notte di Capodanno nei templi di tutto il Giappone.A Tokyo il Tsukiji Honganji è uno dei più famosi. Nel pomeriggio del 31 si tiene una messa e successivamente, verso le 23 inizia il coinvolgente suono delle campane. Nel pomeriggio del 31 ci sarà una messa poi verso le 23 inizierà il suono delle campane. A Kyoto invece il più conosciuto si tiene al Chionin (zona Higashiyama). Dopo la messa, tutti possono partecipare, quindi preparati per fare la fila. Hadaka Matsuri (Festa del nudo): ci sono vari Hadaka Matsuri durante l'inverno ma il più famoso è probabilmente quello di Saidaiji a Okayama. Circa 10.000 uomini nudi in mawashi  “combattono" per afferrare i due preziosi alberi i quali vengono fatti cadere dalla sala principale del tempio. Si tiene il 3° sabato di febbraio. Sapporo Snow Festival: il più grande festival invernale di Hokkaido con le sue varie sculture di neve. Periodo: 4-11 Feb 2024 Quello che abbiamo visitato noi questo inverno Snow monkey park (Nagano): il famoso parco nazionale al cui interno si trovano le vasche termali frequentate dai macachi giapponesi. Si può raggiungere in autobus dalla stazione di Yudanaka. Shirakawago (Gifu): sito patrimonio mondiale dell'Unesco noto per le tipiche case Gassho Zukuri, uniche nel loro genere. Raggiungibile in autobus da Kanazawa o da Nagoya Siti termali che vale la pena visitare in inverno Nyuto Onsen (Akita): conosciuta per l'unicità della sua acqua color latte. Da Tokyo si deve cambiare Shinkansen a Sendai e successivamente scendere alla stazione di Tazawako. Da lì dista circa un'ora di autobus. Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata): rinomata per le sue bellissime strutture in legno dallo stile retrò. Da Tokyo si deve prendere il Yamagata Shinkansen fino alla stazione di Oishida. Da lì un viaggio in autobus di circa 40 minuti. Echigoyuzawa Onsen (Niigata): una delle zone più innevate del Giappone ma le strutture sono molto facili da raggiungere. Da Tokyo si raggiunge con circa un'ora di Shinkansen. Siti sciistici Echigoyuzawa Onsen (Niigata): ha uno degli accessi più facili al sito termale nonché alle piste da sci! La maggior parte delle piste offre il bus navetta gratuito dalla stazione. Hakuba (Nagano): uno dei siti sciistici più famosi, conosciuto per le olimpiadi del 1998. Dalla stazione di Nagano ci sono vari autobus che portano alle piste in circa un'ora. Niseko(Hokkaido): sito sciistico molto popolare e alla moda. Particolarmente frequentato dagli stranieri. Dall'aeroporto di Shin Chitose si raggiunge con circa 2 ore di autobus. Cosa mangiare in inverno Per Natale il pollo fritto del KFC e la torta di fragole. Per Capodanno Soba (noodles di grano saraceno) Durante le vacanze di Capodanno l'Osechi (pietanze chevengono disposte all'interno di eleganti scatole) Pesce palla, granchi, ostriche e buri (ricciola giapponese) Yuzu Mochi e Oshiruko (zuppa dolce di fagioli rossi servita con mochi) Oden (composto da diversi ingredienti come: uova sode, daikon, konjac e fish cakes stufati in un brodo di dashi leggero e aromatizzato alla soia) Il mio posto preferito per mangiare Oden a Tokyo è: Nihonbashi Otako

En el podcast d’avuí, la Jayce farà gran part de l’actualitat al SAGA, el 1er saló del gaiming en català, i li farà una entrevista a en Roger Baldomà, membre de la comissió de videojocs de Plataforma per la Llengua. Avuí al parlem-ne, us farem 5 recomanacions d’animes curts i lleugers que podeu veure durant aquest proper pont. Posteriorment, a l’Espai Japó viatjarem fins a Chichibu, a la prefectura de Saitama, per a assistir al seu festival nocturn. Tot seguit, Xavi Omella ens parlarà d’un japonès, que va començar a escridassar a uns joves pel carrer per a que veiessin l’anime de Chainsaw Man. I finalment, al Tenkaichi Musical, torna Jerry Brown, versionant en exclusiva i en català, l’opening del nou anime de Bleach: “Scar”!

Robin and Adam proudly present Episode 230 of Scary(ish)! Robin tells of a national park where a mass murder took place while Adam digs back into the broader topic of prophecies with multiple examples. Listen, Share, Subscribe, and Review!

Today we will learn about the geography of Japan. Japan is made up of four large islands. From north to south, they are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Since Honshu is a large island, it is sometimes further divided into five parts: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions. Each region is further divided into 47 administrative units called prefectures. The Kanto region is the most populous region of Japan, centered on Tokyo. West of Tokyo in the Kanto region is Kanagawa Prefecture. Kanagawa is home to Japan's second most populous city, Yokohama, and famous tourist destinations such as Hakone and Kamakura. To the east of Tokyo is Chiba Prefecture, home to Narita Airport and Tokyo Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland is not located in Tokyo. To the north of Tokyo lies Saitama Prefecture. Chichibu is rich in nature with river rafting, Kawagoe is called "Little Edo" with its retro townscape, and the Saitama Super Arena is located in Saitama. Tochigi Prefecture has many hot springs, and Nikko, with its beautiful autumn foliage, is also a popular tourist spot for foreigners. The other two prefectures in the Kanto region are Gunma and Ibaraki. Gunma is famous for its Kusatsu Onsen hot springs, and Ibaraki is　 Ibaraki is home to Kairakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. Kairakuen is also famous for its beautiful plum blossoms, which are at their best now. What do you think? Did you understand a little about the geography of Japan? 今日は日本の地理を学んでいきましょう。 日本は大きな4つの島からできています。 それらは北から順に、北海道、本州、四国、九州と言われます。 また、本州は大きな島なのでさらに本州を5つに分けて、北海道、東北、関東、中部、関西、中国、四国、九州地方と分けることもあります。 さらにそれぞれの地方は、47の都道府県という行政単位に分かれています。 関東地方は、東京を中心に日本の最も人口が多い地域です。 関東には、東京の西側が神奈川県です。 神奈川には日本で二番目に人口の多い横浜があり、有名な観光地として、箱根や鎌倉があります。 東京の東側は千葉県があり、成田空港、そして東京ディズニーランドがあります。東京ディズニーランドは東京にあるのではないのです。 東京の北には埼玉県があります。川下りなどの自然が豊かな秩父やレトロな街並みが残り小江戸と言われる川越、そしてスポートさいたまスーパーアリーナ 栃木県には温泉が多いのですが、紅葉が美しい日光も外国人に人気の観光スポットです。 関東のあと二つは群馬県と茨城県です。群馬は草津温泉が有名で、茨城は　 茨城には、日本三名園の一つ偕楽園があります。偕楽園は今が見ごろの美しい梅の花でも有名です。 どうですか？ 日本の地理が少しはわかりましたか？

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we talk about the probably extinct (but maybe not?) Japanese wolf with journalist Alex K.T. Martin. About Alex K.T. Martin Alex K.T. Martin is a feature writer for the Japan Times. He is also the author of a recent five-part feature about the Japanese wolf (nihon ōkami) titled In Search of Japan's Lost Wolves. Topics Discussed Whether the Japanese wolf (nihon ōkami) is considered a cryptid How Alex Martin became interested in researching the Japanese wolf Who Hiroshi Yagi is How Alex Martin got in touch with Hiroshi Yagi About Chichibu's connection to the Japanese wolf How Hiroshi Yagi became interested in looking for the Japanese wolf Hiroshi Yagi's 1996 encounter with an animal resembling the Japanese wolf and the famous 19 photographs that he took of said animal The process taken by Hiroshi Yagi in his hunt for the Japanese wolf Who might take over Hiroshi Yagi's hunt for the Japanese wolf when he retires Hiroshi Yagi's personality About Naoki Maruyama, founder of the Japan Wolf Association The effort to reintroduce wolves into Japan and the troubles it faces The allure and mystery of the Japanese wolf Alex Martin's articles about Tokyo post-Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Japan's declining population The smaller size of a Japanese wolf And much more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance! Support Japan Station on Patreon Links, Videos, Etc. Use the link below to access the landing page for In Seart of Japan's Lost Wolves, the five-part series of articles about the Japanese wolf by Alex K.T. Martin. In Search of Japan's Lost Wolves To read Alex Martin's articles about post Olympics Tokyo, use the links below. Tokyo tomorrow: What comes after the 2020 Games? The race is on to define the legacy of Tokyo 2020 To listen to the Deep Dive podcast episode about the Japanese wolf use the link below. Episode 18: Is the Japanese wolf really extinct? You can follow Alex Martin on Twitter. Alex K.T. Martin on Twitter Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast. Is Yamaguchi cursed to have”ugly” girls? (Places in Japan Known for “Beautiful” & “Ugly” Women) | Ichimon Japan 50 If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com. KimitoDesigns.com Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Featured image: Courtesy of Alex K.T. Martin Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

In der heutigen Folge geht es mit uns zusammen in die Kleinstadt Chichibu, etwa 1,5 Stunden von Tokyo entfernt. Sie ist nicht nur eine Art Pilgerort für Animes sondern hat auch einen echten Pilgerweg mit 34 Tempeln und noch so einiges mehr an Attraktionen. Warum Chichibu einen Besuch wert ist und was wir so alles verrücktes mit einem Taifun in Japan erlebt haben, erfahrt ihr in der aktuellen Ausgabe unseres Japan-Podcast!

The Chichibu Distillery, Mizunara Japanese Oak, and a Whisky Hotel in LA!

http://www.whisky.de/p.php?id=CHICH0IC2 Nosing 3:05 Wir verkosten den Chichibu Ichiro's Malt & Grain. Ichiro's Malt & Grain wurde von Ichiro Akuto, dem Gründer der Chichibu Brennerei geblendet. Ichiro bereiste die Welt auf der Suche nach Whiskys, um diese mit dem Chichibu Single Malt zu verheiraten. Schließlich haben Whiskys und Whiskeys aus Irland, Schottland, den USA, Kanada und natürlich Japan ihren Weg in de sogenannten 'World Blended Whisky' gefunden. Geschmacksbeschreibungen und Informationen finden Sie in unserem Shop auf Whisky.de Abonnieren http://www.youtube.com/user/thewhiskystore?sub_confirmation=1

Talented travel writer Joan Lambert Bailey shares her favorite stories of off-the-beaten-track travel, farmers markets + organic farming + artisans at work. Originally from Wisconsin USA, Joan has traveled and written about places, events, and people across Japan for the last 12 years. Here we talk about her love for heirloom vegetables and seeds which are so important for local food culture and food security. Joan gave us some insights into her trip to the TANBO (rice field) art festival in Soma city, Fukushima (Tohoku), trying out Kabuki theatre in Chichibu, Saitama, talking with the EatLocalKobe group in Kobe, Hyogo and promoting their farmer's markets and the FarmCanning co. work of one of the women she profiled in her "Women of Taste" series for the Japan Times newspaper. She has written so many great stories over the years that she hopes to put into a collection of stories someday. Looking forward to it! I truly appreciate all of Joan's work highlighting sustainable travel, sustainable living, and sustainable businesses in Japan which often do not get as much attention as business as usual. See the video version of this talk: https://youtu.be/gca6od-oELg Joan Bailey official website: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=qQbXXg4-lMPnVgDFoGDGocXOSd18MTU5MDg3OTA0OUAxNTkwNzkyNjQ5&v=gca6od-oELg&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjoandbailey.com%2F&event=video_description (https://joandbailey.com/) List of her articles: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=qQbXXg4-lMPnVgDFoGDGocXOSd18MTU5MDg3OTA0OUAxNTkwNzkyNjQ5&v=gca6od-oELg&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjoandbailey.com%2Fwork%2F&event=video_description (https://joandbailey.com/work/) Joan's Blog: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=qQbXXg4-lMPnVgDFoGDGocXOSd18MTU5MDg3OTA0OUAxNTkwNzkyNjQ5&v=gca6od-oELg&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japanfarmersmarkets.com%2F&event=video_description (http://www.japanfarmersmarkets.com/) Support this podcast

Japanese Liner, “Chichibu Maru” (renamed “Titibu Maru” in 1938, “Kamkura Maru” in 1939), around 1930 by Art Gallery of Ontario

Japanese Liner, “Chichibu Maru” (renamed “Titibu Maru” in 1938, “Kamkura Maru” in 1939), around 1930 by Art Gallery of Ontario

A subject not yet broached here on One Nation Under Whisky -- Japanese whisky. Joshua has a nice 3am sit down with Chichibu distillery's very own Yumi Yoshikawa for a discussion regarding the growth of Japanese whisky via Single Malt, Pure Malt, Blends, and Rice whisky.So, as usual, have a seat, have a pour, and listen in. Unless you're driving. If you're driving, be smart and stay sober but be sure to listen into the conversation! Special thanks to: - Weigh Down for allowing us to use their song "Wooden Monsters" as our theme song- Moana McAuliffe for designing our Podcast Logo- RØDE for making *really* great microphones- Focusrite for making awesome USB receivers- Olympus and Tascam for making fine mobile recording devices- Joshua Hatton for producing and editing

How did whisky become the world's favourite tipple? Elizabeth Hotson discovers the secrets behind the water of life.Rachel McCormack, author of Chasing the Dram, tells us how the giants of scotch attained their legendary status, and we delve into the archives of one of the world's most famous whisky brands with Christine McCafferty of drinks leviathan Diageo. Elizabeth also talks to distillers from across the globe, including Whistlepig from the US state of Vermont, Japan's Chichibu distillery, Spirit of Hven in Sweden and Rampur from India. She also unlocks the secrets of Scotland's silent distilleries during a visit to Edradour, and samples the most popular whisky cocktail at one of the world's best bars. Lucky Elizabeth!(Picture: Glenlivet barrels; Credit: BBC)

This week, we cover the little-known "Chichibu Incident," an uprising against the Meiji government in 1884 that saw several thousand people take up arms against the state. Where did it come from? How did the rebellion fare? And what is its connection to the broader trends of Japanese history?

Dan Saladino goes on a journey through the history, culture and flavours of Japanese whisky. Why and how has this nation taken a drink so strongly associated with Scotland and made it their own? In 2001, the drinks world started to pay attention to Japanese whisky after one if its distillers scored top marks in an international whisky completion. In the years that followed, the awards and the global attention for Japanese whiskies continued to grow. Critics have described some Japanese whiskies as the "work of genius" and, just last year, one whisky produced by a small, new-wave distillery in the north of the country was voted the world's "Best Single Cask Whisky". With the help of whisky writer and author of the award-winning 'Way of Whisky: A Journey Round Japanese Whisky', Dave Broom, Dan asks: what lies behind the rise and rise of Japanese whisky and who are the people who helped make all this global recognition possible? The story has its origins in the 1860s when a recently opened up Japan started to forge close trading links with Scotland, paving the way for whisky imports. Once the taste for the spirit developed, distillers and chemists within Japan started to work on ways of producing a home-grown version of the drink. A breakthrough came in 1919 when a young student called Masataka Taketsuru travelled to Scotland, worked inside some renowned distilleries, married a Scottish woman and returned home with the secrets behind Scotch. Another pioneer, Shinjeero Torri, would put that know-how to good use and create the Suntory distilling empire and brands such as Yamasaki and Hakushu. Taketsuru would go on to found another respected and award winning whisky brand, Nikka. After record whisky sales in Japan throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the industry fell into decline for the next quarter of a century, with drinkers switching to other spirits and beer. A range of factors lie behind the recent whisky revival and boom, ranging from Japanese innovations in fermentation, distillation and barrel aging as well as the drink that brought whisky to the attention of a younger generation - the High Ball, a mix of whisky and soda. As Dave Broom also explains, the resurgence has encouraged a new generation of distillers to enter the whisky world, including Chichibu, an operation run mostly by people in their twenties, now winning awards. To explore the unique flavours on offer in Japanese whisky, Dan travels to the Highlander pub in Craigellachie, Scotland, where he meets landlord Tatsuya Minagawa and samples a "next to impossible" to find bottle of whisky. Recommended reading: Dave Broom: The Way of Whisky - A Journey Through Japanese Whisky. Dominic Roskrow: Whisky Japan - The Essential Guide To The World's Most Exotic Whisky Brian Ashcraft: Japanese Whisky - The Ultimate Guide to The World's Most Desirable Spirit Stefan Van Eycken: Whisky Rising Produced and presented by Dan Saladino.

What’s Good?   News Ancient Magus Bride trailer was released this week. Anohana fans went to Chichibu to clean up the iconic bridge from the show. Tickets are available for No Game No Life Zero at the LA Anime Film Festival. Netflix has announced Neo Yokio, a new anime project to be released September 22nd. Btooom! manga is wrapping up soon. Now is the time to catch up! Homework Claymore- Madhouse (Death Note, Trigun, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) Eden of the East- Production I.G. (Haikyuu!!, Psycho Pass, Attack on Titan) Our logo artist! http://turvytops.com/               Our intro artist!  Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tomnasr Instagram: @tom_nasr Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SuperArmhair                   Contact Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/instantramenpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/InstantRamenPod Instagram: http://instagram.com/instantramenpodcast E-mail: instantramenpodcast@gmail.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtwCC2BbsLxpgA1cE1PBtA Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/krispother

Read the full story with photos at: http://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2015/0227_01.html   The late chairman of Otsuka Holdings, Akihiko Otsuka (who died in November 2014), has posthumously received the 18th Princess Chichibu Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Tuberculosis Elimination. This award honors individuals and organizations that have made great achievements in tuberculosis prevention. The ceremony was held on February 27, 2015 at the 66th national convention of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, and Otsuka Holdings Vice Chairman Ichiro Otsuka accepted the award in place of the late Chairman Akihiko Otsuka. History of Princess Chichibu Memorial Award The Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association holds a national convention every year on March 24, World Tuberculosis Day. In addition, at the bequest of Princess Chichibu, who served as president of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association for more than half a century, the Princess Chichibu Memorial Tuberculosis Prevention Awards were established to memorialize her name and to honor individuals and organizations from Japan and abroad that have made significant contributions to tuberculosis prevention. Each year, on the day of the national convention, the awards are presented with Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino, association president in attendance.  During the 1960s, when the tuberculosis epidemic in developed Western countries subsided, interest in development of anti-tuberculosis drugs withered rapidly even though the disease continued to spread in developing countries. Akihiko Otsuka, who became president of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in the 1970s, realized that tuberculosis was the most serious among Asian health problems, and concluded that the development of more powerful anti-TB drugs was of critical importance for Asian pharmaceutical companies. Following the founding of company’s first drug R&D lab in 1971, he overcame company-internal resistance to make significant investments over the next 30 years as the company continued R&D on anti-TB drugs. As a result, Deltyba® (delamanid is the generic name) was discovered in 2002, and went on to receive regulatory approval in Japan and Europe in 2014 as a new anti-tuberculosis drug. This innovation arrived 40 years following Rifampicin, the first anti-tuberculosis drug, and 55 years following the discovery of kanamycin in Japan in 1958. The development of delamanid, a drug that has shed considerable light on the treatment of previously intractable multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and which has significant future potential in the treatment of this serious medical condition, was a manifestation of the company leadership’s clear intent and strong mission. Otsuka Holdings Representative Director and Vice Chairman Ichiro Otsuka commented, “On the occasion of receiving of this prestigious award, I extend my heartfelt thanks on behalf of my late father. We are gratified that it is useful for the treatment of patients around the world who suffer from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, as this is a fulfillment of the Otsuka Group’s corporate philosophy to contribute to the health of the world’s people." Otsuka Pharmaceutical has launched a new anti-tuberculosis drug in Japan and Europe for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which is a public health issue that has become a global threat. In the future, we will continue working to achieve our long-term goal of worldwide elimination of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Enjoy this unique opportunity to experience Kagura (sacred music and ritual dances) from Chichibu, an important Shinto mountain shrine near Tokyo, in the first and only US performance of the shrine’s Kagura troupe. Chichibu Kagura, dating back to approximately the seventeenth century, with a repertory based on ancient myths, has been designated by the government as an Important Formless Folkloric Cultural Property. Organized by the East Asia Center; East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies; the International Shinto Foundation Chair in Shinto Studies, UCSB; the International Shinto Foundation, New York; and Shinto Kokusai Gakkai. Series: "Soundscape" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 24972]

Enjoy this unique opportunity to experience Kagura (sacred music and ritual dances) from Chichibu, an important Shinto mountain shrine near Tokyo, in the first and only US performance of the shrine’s Kagura troupe. Chichibu Kagura, dating back to approximately the seventeenth century, with a repertory based on ancient myths, has been designated by the government as an Important Formless Folkloric Cultural Property. Organized by the East Asia Center; East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies; the International Shinto Foundation Chair in Shinto Studies, UCSB; the International Shinto Foundation, New York; and Shinto Kokusai Gakkai. Series: "Soundscape" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 24972]

The Chichibu Cement Factory opened in 1923 but now lays almost derelict having stopped product around 1993, after 70 years. Now the only noise to be heard is the sound of a large fan or vacuum as they remove the last remaining cement... Details: https://mbp.ac/35

The Chichibu Cement Factory opened in 1923 but now lays almost derelict having stopped product around 1993, after 70 years. Now the only noise to be heard is the sound of a large fan or vacuum as they remove the last remaining cement... Details: https://mbp.ac/35