POPULARITY
Au Japon, les réveillons sont particulièrement festifs et arrosés en cette année 2024 grâce à l'Unesco, qui vient d'intégrer le processus traditionnel de fabrication du saké, l'alcool de riz, à sa liste du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'humanité. Cette décision consacre une tradition qui remonte à l'ère impériale Muromachi – entre le XIVe et le XVIe siècle – et s'est transmise de générations en générations. Cette reconnaissance internationale est une bouée d'oxygène pour un secteur qui peine. Dans un pays où plus de 40% des moins de 30 ans ne boivent jamais d'alcool ou très rarement, on ne compte plus désormais que 700 petits producteurs de saké, cinq fois moins que dans les années 60. « Kanpaîîî !! » (« Santé !! » en japonais). Dans les bars à saké du centre-ville de Tokyo, la décision de l'Unesco d'intégrer le saké au patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'humanité met tout le monde en joie : « Cette consécration internationale est une si belle reconnaissance pour nos petits producteurs. Ça va les motiver comme jamais », souligne cet homme. « Le monde entier va découvrir nos si bons produits du terroir. C'est vraiment super », avance une Japonaise. « Je viens de Kôchi, une région réputée pour son saké. Cela me ferait trop plaisir s'il avait aussi du succès à l'étranger. Moi, en tout cas, pour sûr, je ne compte pas m'en priver », lâche-t-elle.« Moi, je suis originaire d'Okinawa, l'archipel tropical situé à 2 000 kilomètres d'ici. Quand j'ai le mal du pays, il suffit d'une coupe de notre saké local, l'awamori, pour avoir l'impression d'être de retour là-bas », confie une monsieur originaire de cette île au climat tropical.« Il n'y a pas un saké, en fait, il y en a des dizaines. Chacun a sa particularité et un goût singulier en fonction de la région dont il provient et du type de riz utilisé. Cette diversité est absolument passionnante », précise cette femme.Le saké tarde à conquérir les jeunes JaponaisShuso Imada dirige l'association regroupant les producteurs de saké. Il se frotte les mains : « En 2013, la tradition culinaire nippone a été inscrite dans la liste du patrimoine immatériel de l'humanité. Cette consécration a eu un effet spectaculaire. Aujourd'hui, à l'étranger, on dénombre trois fois plus de restaurants japonais qu'il y a dix ans, et depuis, les exportations de saké ont quadruplé. On peut donc vraiment dire que, tout comme notre patrimoine gastronomique, cette boisson a conquis le monde entier. Et ce nouveau coup de pouce de l'Unesco va sans doute encore accélérer cette tendance. »Pour autant, malgré ce succès à l'international, l'industrie du saké va mal : « Les Japonais en consomment quatre fois moins qu'il y a 50 ans, notamment parce que nos jeunes ne s'intéressent plus au saké. Pour eux, c'est un produit suranné, destiné surtout aux personnes âgées. Et puis, ce qu'ils adorent, ce sont les boissons légèrement alcoolisées. Or, le saké est assez fort, précise Shuso Imada. Malgré cette belle initiative de l'Unesco, l'avenir s'annonce assez sombre. Pour changer les choses, en fait, il faudrait un sursaut civique des Japonais eux-mêmes : une immense vague de fierté envers leur alcool national, qui est devenu si populaire à l'étranger. »Les professionnels du secteur demandent au gouvernement de mener des campagnes de promotion du saké, mais les autorités marchent sur des œufs. Il y a deux ans, affolé par la chute des recettes fiscales provenant des ventes d'alcool, le ministère des Finances avait lancé « Saké Viva », une campagne tonitruante qui avait tourné court, en raison d'un tollé d'anthologie de la part des addictologues notamment, car elle incitait les jeunes à s'enivrer davantage.À lire aussiUnesco: le «Nouvel an chinois» inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine culturel de l'humanité
Au Japon, les réveillons sont particulièrement festifs et arrosés en cette année 2024 grâce à l'Unesco, qui vient d'intégrer le processus traditionnel de fabrication du saké, l'alcool de riz, à sa liste du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'humanité. Cette décision consacre une tradition qui remonte à l'ère impériale Muromachi – entre le XIVe et le XVIe siècle – et s'est transmise de générations en générations. Cette reconnaissance internationale est une bouée d'oxygène pour un secteur qui peine. Dans un pays où plus de 40% des moins de 30 ans ne boivent jamais d'alcool ou très rarement, on ne compte plus désormais que 700 petits producteurs de saké, cinq fois moins que dans les années 60. « Kanpaîîî !! » (« Santé !! » en japonais). Dans les bars à saké du centre-ville de Tokyo, la décision de l'Unesco d'intégrer le saké au patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'humanité met tout le monde en joie : « Cette consécration internationale est une si belle reconnaissance pour nos petits producteurs. Ça va les motiver comme jamais », souligne cet homme. « Le monde entier va découvrir nos si bons produits du terroir. C'est vraiment super », avance une Japonaise. « Je viens de Kôchi, une région réputée pour son saké. Cela me ferait trop plaisir s'il avait aussi du succès à l'étranger. Moi, en tout cas, pour sûr, je ne compte pas m'en priver », lâche-t-elle.« Moi, je suis originaire d'Okinawa, l'archipel tropical situé à 2 000 kilomètres d'ici. Quand j'ai le mal du pays, il suffit d'une coupe de notre saké local, l'awamori, pour avoir l'impression d'être de retour là-bas », confie une monsieur originaire de cette île au climat tropical.« Il n'y a pas un saké, en fait, il y en a des dizaines. Chacun a sa particularité et un goût singulier en fonction de la région dont il provient et du type de riz utilisé. Cette diversité est absolument passionnante », précise cette femme.Le saké tarde à conquérir les jeunes JaponaisShuso Imada dirige l'association regroupant les producteurs de saké. Il se frotte les mains : « En 2013, la tradition culinaire nippone a été inscrite dans la liste du patrimoine immatériel de l'humanité. Cette consécration a eu un effet spectaculaire. Aujourd'hui, à l'étranger, on dénombre trois fois plus de restaurants japonais qu'il y a dix ans, et depuis, les exportations de saké ont quadruplé. On peut donc vraiment dire que, tout comme notre patrimoine gastronomique, cette boisson a conquis le monde entier. Et ce nouveau coup de pouce de l'Unesco va sans doute encore accélérer cette tendance. »Pour autant, malgré ce succès à l'international, l'industrie du saké va mal : « Les Japonais en consomment quatre fois moins qu'il y a 50 ans, notamment parce que nos jeunes ne s'intéressent plus au saké. Pour eux, c'est un produit suranné, destiné surtout aux personnes âgées. Et puis, ce qu'ils adorent, ce sont les boissons légèrement alcoolisées. Or, le saké est assez fort, précise Shuso Imada. Malgré cette belle initiative de l'Unesco, l'avenir s'annonce assez sombre. Pour changer les choses, en fait, il faudrait un sursaut civique des Japonais eux-mêmes : une immense vague de fierté envers leur alcool national, qui est devenu si populaire à l'étranger. »Les professionnels du secteur demandent au gouvernement de mener des campagnes de promotion du saké, mais les autorités marchent sur des œufs. Il y a deux ans, affolé par la chute des recettes fiscales provenant des ventes d'alcool, le ministère des Finances avait lancé « Saké Viva », une campagne tonitruante qui avait tourné court, en raison d'un tollé d'anthologie de la part des addictologues notamment, car elle incitait les jeunes à s'enivrer davantage.À lire aussiUnesco: le «Nouvel an chinois» inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine culturel de l'humanité
In today's episode, we're covering Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, Princess Mononoke. Set during Japan's late Muromachi period and incorporating fantastical elements, the tale centers on Ashitaka, a young prince of the Emishi people, as he becomes entangled in a conflict between the forest's spirits and the humans exploiting its resources. The film explores a recurring theme in Studio Ghibli's works: environmentalism, presented as a response to the effects of industrialization, framed within the traditions of Shintoism, animism, and folklore.
Quest'anno per Halloween tornano qui sul Podcast le vicende dedicate allo Sterminatore di demoni più famoso della storia dei samurai, sto parlando ovviamente di Minamoto no Raikō.L'anno scorso vi ho parlato di come Raikō abbia cacciato e sottomesso il terribile yokai aracnide Tsuchigumo, in compagnia del suo fedele vassallo Watanabe no Tsuna. Quest'anno la posta in gioco è ancora più alta.Il nemico da affrontare non sarà un semplice yokai, ma sarà colui che, secondo alcune versioni di questa leggenda, era definito come il “Dairokuten no Mahō” (第六天の魔王), “Re demone del sesto cielo”, e con un nome così altisonante non poteva essere un avversario così facile da superare. Infatti, Raikō non sarà da solo, ma avrà con sé tutti i suoi vassalli più fidati, i cosiddetti “Shitenno”(四天王) e anche un amico, molto famoso in quel periodo, anche perché appartenente a una famiglia tutt'altro che di poco conto, Fujiwara no Yasamusa. Gli Shitenno invece erano Watanabe no Tsuna, Usui Sadamitsu, Urabe Suetake e Sakata Kintoki. E nonostante tutto, un piccolo aiutino divino sarà comunque necessario.La leggenda di Shuten Dōji fa parte di un genere letterario dibattuto chiamato “otogi zōshi”(お伽草子) cioè storie, scritte soprattutto nel periodo Muromachi, che parlavano di avventure in cui i protagonisti erano una compagnia di persone. Di questa esistono varie versioni, che fanno capo a due versioni principali, quella Oeyama e quella Ibukiyama. Tra queste, la differenza sostanziale è il luogo dove si svolgono i fatti, in una, la più antica il tutto si svolge sul monte Oe, mentre nell'altra sul monte Ibuki.Ciò che vi racconterò io oggi è una mia libera interpretazione del mito originale, la versione Oeyama, mixata alla versione recente pubblicata nel 18° secolo a opera di Shibukawa Seiemon, quest'ultima è facilmente reperibile su internet tradotta anche in inglese.La traduzione a cui mi sono ispirato si trova nel libro "Japanese Demon Lore", di Noriko T.Reider.La trascrizione è disponibile sul sito:https://www.podcastdelloshogun.itCerca il podcast sui social!https://www.facebook.com/podcastdelloshogunhttps://www.instagram.com/podcastdelloshogun/https://www.tiktok.com/@podcastdelloshogun---Mi trovi anche su Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/18pSpwnHNWevxRPaFpXh26Su Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-dello-shogun/id1649546421Su Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastDelloShogunSu Spreaker:https://www.spreaker.com/show/podcast-dello-shogun---Se desideri sostenere il podcast, puoi farlo in due modi:- Tramite ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/podcastdelloshogun- Tramite Paypal: https://paypal.me/podcastdelloshogun---#podcast #samurai #shogun #storia #japan #japanese #giappone #giapponese #mitologia #halloween #yokai #podshogunShuten Doji, Shuten Douji, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, Fujiwara, Ibaraki Doji
Yuki-onna is an ancient Japanese yokai, a category of ghosts, spirits, and monsters derived from folklore. The first account of the mysterious woman was written centuries ago, during Japan's Muromachi period. The legend is popular in the north of Japan and in other places with harsh winters and heavy snowfalls, and it likely appeared in response to missing locals during storms. For Further Reading: A Heart as Cold as Ice? Ancient Tales and Folk-Lore of Japan Yuki Onna: Shining a spotlight on a Japanese folklore legend October is the perfect time to delve into all things spooky. So this month, we're talking about the women who give us goosebumps. Some are real-life creators of spine-chilling works of fiction. Others are the subjects of frightening folklore. Either way, these Scream Queens are sure to give you a scare. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn't help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we'll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Hannah Bottum, Lauren Willams, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates Grau, and Vanessa Handy. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez. Follow Wonder Media Network: Website Instagram Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The gang gets together to talk some recent anime news and all about Elusive Samurai! News: - My Hero Academia Manga Finale The My Hero Academia manga has officially concluded, marking the end of an era for fans. The anime, however, is currently reaching its peak in terms of storytelling and animation quality.Fan Reception: The ending has received mixed reviews from fans. While some praised the culmination of character arcs and storylines, others felt the resolution was unsatisfactory or rushed. - Japan Volleyball Team's Haikyuu Tribute Japan's national volleyball team secured a victory against Argentina, which became a major moment not just for sports but for anime fans as well.Haikyuu Connection: The team played the Haikyuu!! theme song during the event, highlighting the cultural impact of the anime on the sport in Japan. The Elusive Samurai by Yusei Matsui About the Anime: The Elusive Samurai is a manga series by Yusei Matsui, the creator of Assassination Classroom. It debuted in January 2021 and quickly garnered attention for its unique blend of historical fiction and adventure. Genre: Adventure, Historical Demographic: Shonen (targeted towards young male audiences but enjoyed by a wide range of viewers) Historical Setting: The anime is set in 1333, a period marked by significant political upheaval following the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate. The story unfolds during the transition between the Kamakura (1192-1333) and Muromachi (1336-1573) periods, specifically during the Kenmu Restoration—a brief and turbulent attempt to restore imperial rule in Japan. Plot Overview: The narrative follows Hojo Tokiyuki, a young noble who becomes a fugitive after his family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji, a powerful warlord. With the aid of a mysterious priest and a group of loyal followers, Tokiyuki must navigate the dangers of this era, relying on his exceptional ability to flee and hide rather than confront his enemies directly. Historical Context: The anime assumes some familiarity with Japanese history, particularly the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. This can be a challenge for Western viewers who might not have a background in this era of Japanese history. Unique Samurai Concept: Unlike traditional samurai who are often depicted as fierce warriors, Tokiyuki specializes in evasion and survival, raising questions about the nature of heroism and leadership in a samurai. Character Analysis: Tokiyuki's reluctance to engage in violence brings up an interesting debate—can a samurai who avoids direct combat still be an effective leader? How does this approach reflect or subvert traditional samurai values? ⭐S O C I A L S⭐
After the Boshin War, the Shogunate as a form of government would cease to exist. In this episode we examine the three different warrior governments that ruled over Japan over nearly seven centuries and see what they did well, where they struggled, and why such a form of government ultimately failed. Support the Show.
In this bonus episode, we trace the origins of the samurai and their subsequent evolution to the heights of political power.Support the Show.
This is Part 2 of our special Gishiwajinden Tour from Gaya to Tsushima, Iki, Matsuro, Ito, and Na--aka Gimhae and Busan to Tsushima, Iki, Karatsu, Itoshima, and Fukuoka. This time we talk about the island of Tsushima, the border island between Japan and Korea. While itself a difficult place to make a living, it has long been the border--a place for foreign ambassadors, invadors, and pirates alike. For photos and more, check out our blogpost: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/tsushima Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is Gishiwajinden Tour Stop 2: Tsushima. As I mentioned last episode, we are taking a break right now from the workings of the Chronicles while I prep a bit more research on the Taika reform. As we do so, I'm taking you through a recent trip we took trying to follow the ancient sea routes from Gaya, on the Korean peninsula, across the islands to Na, in modern Fukuoka. This may have been first described in the Wei Chronicles, the Weizhi, but it was the pathway that many visitors to the archipelago took up through the famous Mongol invasion, and even later missions from the Joseon kingdom on the Korean peninsula. Last episode, we talked about our start at Gimhae and Pusan. Gimhae is the old Geumgwan Gaya, as far as we can tell, and had close connections with the archipelago as evidenced by the common items of material culture found on both sides of the strait. From the coast of the Korean peninsula, ships would then sail for the island of Tsushima, the nearest of the islands between the mainland and the Japanese archipelago. Today, ships still sail from Korea to Japan, but most leave out of the port of Pusan. This includes regular cruise ships as well as specialty cruises and ferries. For those who want, there are some popular trips between Pusan and Fukuoka or Pusan all the way to Osaka, through the Seto Inland Sea. For us, however, we were looking at the shortest ferries, those to Tsushima. Tsushima is a large island situated in the strait between Korea and Japan. Technically it is actually three islands, as channels were dug in the 20th century to allow ships stationed around the island to quickly pass through rather than going all the way around. Tsushima is the closest Japanese island to Korea, actually closer to Korea than to the rest of Japan, which makes it a fun day trip from Pusan, so they get a lot of Korean tourists. There are two ports that the ferries run to, generally speaking. In the north is Hitakatsu, which is mainly a port for people coming from Korea. Further south is Izuhara, which is the old castle town, where the So family once administered the island and relations with the continent, and where you can get a ferry to Iki from. Unfortunately for us, as I mentioned last episode, it turned out that the kami of the waves thwarted us in our plans to sail from Busan to Tsushima. And so we ended up flying into Tsushima Airport, instead, which actually required us to take an international flight over to Fukuoka and then a short domestic flight back to Tsushima. On the one hand, this was a lot of time out of our way, but on the other they were nice short flights with a break in the Fukuoka airport, which has great restaurants in the domestic terminal. Furthermore, since we came into the centrally-located Tsushima airport, this route also gave us relatively easy access to local rental car agencies, which was helpful because although there is a bus service that runs up and down the islands, if you really want to explore Tsushima it is best to have a car. Note that also means having an International Driver's Permit, at least in most cases, unless you have a valid Japanese drivers' license. As for why you need a car: There is a bus route from north to south, but for many of the places you will likely want to go will take a bit more to get to. If you speak Japanese and have a phone there are several taxi companies you can call, and you can try a taxi app, though make sure it works on the island. In the end, having a car is extremely convenient. Tsushima is also quite mountainous, without a lot of flat land, and there are numerous bays and inlets in which ships can hide and shelter from bad weather—or worse. Tsushima is renowned for its natural beauty. Flora and fauna are shared with continent and the archipelago. There are local subspecies of otter and deer found on the islands, but also the Yamaneko, or Mountain Cat, a subspecies of the Eurasian leopard cat that is only found in Japan on Tsushima and on Iriomote, in the southern Okinawan island chain. They also have their own breed of horse, as well, related to the ancient horses bred there since at least the 8th century. Tsushima is clearly an important part of Japan, and the early stories of the creation of the archipelago often include Tsushima as one of the original eight islands mentioned in the creation story. That suggests it has been considered an ancient part of the archipelago since at least the 8th century, and likely much earlier. Humans likely first came to Tsushima on their crossing from what is now the Korean peninsula over to the archipelago at the end of the Pleistocene era, when sea levels were much lower. However, we don't have clear evidence of humans until later, and this is likely because the terrain made it difficult to cultivate the land, and most of the activity was focused on making a livelihood out of the ocean. Currently we have clear evidence of humans on the island from at least the Jomon period, including remnants such as shellmounds, though we don't have any clear sign of habitation. It is possible that fishermen and others came to the islands during certain seasons, setting up fish camps and the like, and then departed, but it could be that there were more permanent settlements and we just haven't found them yet. Most of the Jomon sites appear to be on the northern part of Tsushima, what is now the “upper island”, though, again, lack of evidence should not be taken as evidence of lack, and there could be more we just haven't found yet. After all, sites like Izuhara, which was quite populated in later periods, may have disturbed any underlying layers that we could otherwise hope to find there, and perhaps we will one day stumble on something more that will change our understanding. Things change a bit in the Yayoi period, and we see clear evidence of settlements, pit buildings, graves, and grave goods at various sites up through the Kofun period. Unsurprisingly, the assembly of goods found include both archipelagic and continental material, which fits with its position in between the various cultures. Understandably, most of these archeological sites were investigated and then either covered back up for preservation or replaced by construction – so in many cases there isn't anything to see now, besides the artifacts in the museum. But some of the earliest clear evidence that you can still go see today are the several kofun, ancient tumuli, scattered around the island at different points. Most of the kofun on the island appear to be similar, and overall fairly small. These are not the most impressive kofun—not the giant mounds found in places like Nara, Osaka, Kibi, or even up in Izumo. However, to students of the era they are still very cool to see as monuments of that ancient time. One example of this that we visited was the Niso-kofungun, or the Niso Kofun group. The Niso Kofungun is not like what you might expect in the Nara basin or the Osaka area. First, you drive out to the end of the road in a small fishing community, and from there go on a small hike to see the kofun themselves. Today the mounds are mostly hidden from view by trees, though there are signs put up to mark each one. Some of them have a more well defined shape than others, too, with at least one demonstrating what appears to be a long, thin keyhole shape, taking advantage of the local terrain. Most of these were pit style burials, where slabs of local sedimentary rock were used to form rectangular coffins in the ground, in which the individuals were presumably buried. On one of the keyhole shaped mounds there was also what appears to be a secondary burial at the neck of the keyhole, where the round and trapezoidal sections meet. However, we don't know who or even what was buried there in some instances, as most of the bones are no longer extant. Besides the distinctively keyhole shaped tomb, two more kofun in the Niso group caught my attention. One, which is thought to have been a round tomb, had what appeared to be a small stone chamber, perhaps the last of the kofun in this group to be built, as that is generally a feature of later period kofun. There was also one that was higher up on the hill, which may also have been a keyhole shaped tomb. That one struck me, as it would likely have been particularly visible from sea before the current overgrown forest appeared. There are also plenty of other kofun to go searching for, though some might be a little more impressive than others. In the next episode, when we talk about the island of Iki, we'll explore that ancient kingdom's much larger collection of kofun. After the mention of Tsushima in the Weizhi in the third century, there is a later story, from about the 6th century, involving Tsushima in the transmission of Buddhism. This story isn't in the Nihon Shoki and was actually written down much later, so take that as you will. According to this account, the Baekje envoys who transmitted the first Buddha image to Japan stopped for a while on Tsushima before proceeding on to the Yamato court. While they were there, the monks who were looking after the image built a small building in which to conduct their daily rituals, effectively building the first Buddhist place of worship in the archipelago. A temple was later said to have been built on that spot, and in the mid-15th century it was named Bairinji. While the narrative is highly suspect, there is some evidence that the area around Bairinji was indeed an important point on the island. Prior to the digging of the two channels to connect the east and west coasts, the area near Bairinji, known as Kofunakoshi, or the small boat portage, was the narrowest part of Tsushima, right near the middle, where Aso Bay and Mitsuura Bay almost meet. We know that at least in the 9th century this is where envoys would disembark from one ship which had brought them from the archipelago, and embark onto another which would take them to the continent, and vice versa. Likewise, their goods would be carried across the narrow strip of land. This was like a natural barrier and an ideal location for an official checkpoint, and in later years Bairinji temple served as this administrative point, providing the necessary paperwork for crews coming to and from Japan, including the various Joseon dynasty missions in the Edo period. Why this system of portage and changing ships, instead of just sailing around? Such a system was practical for several reasons. For one, it was relatively easy to find Tsushima from the mainland. Experienced ships could sail there, transfer cargo to ships experienced with the archipelago and the Seto Inland Sea, and then return swiftly to Korea. Furthermore, this system gave Yamato and Japan forewarning, particularly of incoming diplomatic missions. No chance mistaking ships for an invasion or pirates of some kind, as word could be sent ahead and everything could be arranged in preparation for the incoming mission. These are details that are often frustratingly left out of many of the early accounts, but there must have been some logistics to take care of things like this. Whether or not Bairinji's history actually goes back to 538, it does have claim to some rather ancient artifacts, including a 9th century Buddha image from the Unified, or Later, Silla period as well as 579 chapters of the Dai Hannya Haramitta Kyo, or the Greater Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, from a 14th century copy. These were actually stolen from the temple in 2014, but later recovered. Other statues were stolen two years previously from other temples on Tsushima, which speaks to some of the tensions that still exist between Korea and Japan. Claims were made that the statues had originally been stolen by Japanese pirates, or wakou, from Korea and brought to Japan, so the modern-day thieves were simply righting an old wrong. However, Korean courts eventually found that the items should be returned to Japan, though there were those who disagreed with the ruling. This is an example of the ongoing tensions that can sometimes make study of inter-strait history a bit complex. More concrete than the possible location of a theoretical early worship structure are the earthworks of Kaneda fortress. This is a mid-7th century fort, created by Yamato to defend itself from a presumed continental invasion. We even have mention of it in the Nihon Shoki. It appears to have been repaired in the late 7th century, and then continued to be used until some time in the 8th century, when it was abandoned, seeing as how the invasion had never materialized, and no doubt maintaining the defenses on top of a mountain all the way out on Tsushima would have been a costly endeavor. Over time the name “Kaneda” was forgotten, though the stone and earthworks on the mountain gave the site the name “Shiroyama”, or Castle Mountain, at least by the 15th century. In the Edo period, scholars set out trying to find the Kaneda fortress mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, and at one point identified this with an area known as Kanedahara, or Kaneda Fields, in the modern Sasu district, on the southwest coast of Tsushima. However, a scholar named Suyama Don'ou identified the current mountaintop site, which has generally been accepted as accurate. The earthworks do appear to show the kind of Baekje-style fortifications that Yamato built at this time, which took advantage of the natural features of the terrain. These fortresses, or castles, were more like fortified positions—long walls that could give troops a secure place to entrench themselves. They would not have had the impressive donjon, or tenshukaku, that is the most notable feature of of later Japanese and even European castles. Most of the Baekje style castles in Japan are primarily earthworks—for example the Demon's castle in modern Okayama. Kaneda is unique, though, with about 2.8 kilometers of stone walls, most of which are reportedly in quite good condition. There were three main gates and remains of various buildings have been determined from post-holes uncovered on the site. There is a name for the top of the mountain, Houtateguma, suggesting that there may have once been some kind of beacon tower placed there with a light that could presumably be used to signal to others, but no remains have been found. The defensive nature of the position is also attested to in modern times. During the early 20th century, the Japanese military placed batteries on the fortress, and an auxiliary fort nearby. These constructions damaged some of the ancient walls, but this still demonstrates Tsushima's place at the edge of Japan and the continent, even into modern times. For all that it is impressive, I have to say that we regrettably did not make it to the fortress, as it is a hike to see everything, and our time was limited. If you do go, be prepared for some trekking, as this really is a fortress on a mountain, and you need to park and take the Kaneda fortress trail up. Moving on from the 8th century, we have evidence of Tsushima in written records throughout the next several centuries, but there isn't a lot clearly remaining on the island from that period—at least not extant buildings. In the records we can see that there were clearly things going on, and quite often it wasn't great for the island. For instance, there was the Toi Invasion in the 11th century, when pirates—possibly Tungusic speaking Jurchen from the area of Manchuria—invaded without warning, killing and taking people away as slaves. It was horrific, but relatively short-lived, as it seems that the invaders weren't intent on staying. Perhaps a more lasting impression was made by the invasions of the Mongols in the 13th century. This is an event that has been hugely impactful on Japan and Japanese history. The first invasion in 1274, the Mongols used their vassal state of Goryeo to build a fleet of ships and attempted to cross the strait to invade Japan. The typical narrative talks about how they came ashore at Hakata Bay, in modern Fukuoka, and the Kamakura government called up soldiers from across the country to their defense. Not only that, but monks and priests prayed for divine intervention to protect Japan. According to the most common narrative, a kamikaze, or divine wind, arose in the form of a typhoon that blew into Hakata Bay and sank much of the Mongol fleet. That event would have ripple effects throughout Japanese society. On the one hand, the Mongols brought new weapons in the form of explosives, and we see changes in the arms of the samurai as their swords got noticeably beefier, presumably to do better against similarly armored foes. The government also fortified Hakata Bay, which saw another attack in 1281, which similarly failed. Though neither attempted invasion succeeded, both were extremely costly. Samurai who fought for their country expected to get rewarded afterwards, and not just with high praise. Typically when samurai fought they would be richly rewarded by their lord with gifts taken from the losing side, to include land and property. In the case of the Mongols, however, there was no land or property to give out. This left the Kamakura government in a bit of a pickle, and the discontent fomented by lack of payment is often cited as one of the key contributors to bringing down the Kamakura government and leading to the start of the Muromachi period in the 14th century. The invasions didn't just appear at Hakata though. In 1274, after the Mongol fleet first left Goryeo on the Korean Peninsula, they landed first at Tsushima and then Iki, following the traditional trade routes and killing and pillaging as they went. In Tsushima, the Mongol armies arrived in the south, landing at Komoda beach near Sasuura. Lookouts saw them coming and the So clan hastily gathered up a defense, but it was no use. The Mongol army established a beachhead and proceeded to spend the next week securing the island. From there they moved on to Iki, the next island in the chain, and on our journey. Countless men and women were killed or taken prisoner, and when the Mongols retreated after the storm, they brought numerous prisoners back with them. Although the Mongols had been defeated, they were not finished with their plans to annex Japan into their growing empire. They launched another invasion in 1281, this time with reinforcements drawn from the area of the Yangtze river, where they had defeated the ethnic Han Song dynasty two years prior. Again, they landed at Tsushima, but met fierce resistance—the government had been preparing for this fight ever since the last one. Unfortunately, Tsushima again fell under Mongol control, but not without putting up a fight. When the Mongols were again defeated, they left the island once again, this time never to return. If you want to read up more on the events of the Mongol Invasion, I would recommend Dr. Thomas Conlan's book, “No Need for Divine Intervention”. It goes into much more detail than I can here. These traumatic events have been seared into the memories of Tsushima and the nearby island of Iki. Even though both islands have long since rebuilt, memories of the invasion are embedded in the landscape of both islands, and it is easy to find associated historical sites or even take a dedicated tour. In 2020, the events of the invasion of Tsushima were fictionalized into a game that you may have heard of called Ghost of Tsushima. I won't get into a review of the game—I haven't played it myself—but many of the locations in the game were drawn on actual locations in Tsushima. Most, like Kaneda Castle, are fictionalized to a large extent, but it did bring awareness to the island, and attracted a large fan base. Indeed, when we picked up our rental car, the helpful staff offered us a map with Ghost of Tsushima game locations in case we wanted to see them for ourselves. As I noted, many of the places mentioned in the game are highly fictionalized, as are many of the individuals and groups—after all, the goal is to play through and actually defeat the enemies, and just getting slaughtered by Mongols and waiting for them to leave wouldn't exactly make for great gameplay. Shrines offer “charms” to the user and so finding and visiting all of the shrines in the in-game world becomes a player goal. And so when fans of the game learned that the torii gate of Watatsumi Shrine, one of the real-life iconic shrines in Tsushima, was destroyed by a typhoon in September of 2020, about a month after the game was released, they came to its aid and raised over 27 million yen to help restore the torii gates. A tremendous outpouring from the community. And while you cannot visit all of the locations in the game, you can visit Watazumi Shrine, with its restored torii gates that extend into the water. Watatsumi Shrine itself has some interesting, if somewhat confusing, history. It is one of two shrines on Tsushima that claim to be the shrine listed in the 10th-century Engi Shiki as “Watatsumi Shrine”. This is believed to have been the shrine to the God of the Sea, whose palace Hiko Hoho-demi traveled down to in order to find his brother's fishhook—a story noted in the Nihon Shoki and which we covered in episode 23. Notwithstanding that most of that story claims it was happening on the eastern side of Kyushu, there is a local belief that Tsushima is actually the place where that story originated. The popular shrine that had its torii repaired is popularly known as Watatsumi Shrine, today. The other one is known as Kaijin Shrine, literally translating to the Shrine of the Sea God, and it is also known as Tsushima no kuni no Ichinomiya; That is to say the first, or primary, shrine of Tsushima. Some of the confusion may come as it appears that Kaijin shrine was, indeed, the more important of the two for some time. It was known as the main Hachiman shrine in Tsushima, and may have been connected with a local temple as well. It carries important historical records that help to chart some of the powerful families of Tsushima, and also claims ownership of an ancient Buddhist image from Silla that was later stolen. In the 19th century it was identified as the Watatsumi Shrine mentioned in the Engi Shiki, and made Toyotama Hime and Hikohohodemi the primary deities worshipped at the shrine, replacing the previous worship of Hachiman. Shrines and temples can be fascinating to study, but can also be somewhat tricky to understand, historically. Given their religious nature, the founding stories of such institutions can sometimes be rather fantastical, and since they typically aren't written down until much later, it is hard to tell what part of the story is original and what part has been influenced by later stories, like those in the Nihon Shoki or the Kojiki. Another interesting example of a somewhat unclear history is that of the Buddhist temple, Kokubun-ji. Kokubunji are provincial temples, originally set up inthe decree of 741 that had them erected across the archipelago, one in each province at the time, in an attempt to protect the country from harm, Knowing the location of a Kokubunji can therefore often tell you something about where the Nara era provincial administration sat, as it would likely have been nearby. In many cases, these were probably connected to the local elite, as well. This is not quite as simple with Tsushima Kokubun-ji. While it was originally designated in the decree of 741, a later decree in 745 stated that the expenses for these temples would come directly out of tax revenues in the provinces, and at that time Tsushima was excluded. Moreover, the Kokubunji on nearby Iki island was funded by taxes from Hizen province. So it isn't until 855 that we have clear evidence of an early provincial temple for Tsushima, in this case known as a Tobunji, or Island Temple, rather than a Kokubunji. The location of that early temple is unknown, and it burned down only two years later when Tsushima was attacked by forces from Kyushu. It is unclear what happened to it in the following centures, but by the 14th or 15th century it was apparently situated in Izuhara town, near the site of what would become Kaneishi Castle. It was later rebuilt in its current location, on the other side of Izuhara town. It burned down in the Edo period—all except the gate, which was built in 1807. This gate is at least locally famous for its age and history. It was also the site of the guesthouses for the 1811 diplomatic mission from Joseon—the dynasty that followed Koryeo. Those missions are another rather famous part of the history of Tsushima, which, as we've seen, has long been a gateway between the archipelago and the peninsula. In the Edo period, there were numerous diplomatic missions from the Joseon dynasty to the Tokugawa shogunate, and these grand affairs are often touted in the history of Tsushima, with many locations specifically calling out the island's deep involvement in cross-strait relations. Relations which, to really understand, we need to probably start with a look at the famous (or perhaps even infamous) Sou clan. The Sou clan became particularly influential in Tsushima in the 13th century. The local officials, the Abiru clan, who had long been in charge of the island, were declared to be in rebellion against the Dazaifu, and so Koremune Shigehisa was sent to quell them. In return, he was made Jito, or land steward, under the Shoni clan, who were the Shugo of Chikuzen and Hizen, including the island of Tsushima. The Sou clan, descendents of the Koremune, ruled Tsushima ever since, first as vassals of the Shoni , but eventually they ran things outright. Thus, Sou Sukekuni was in charge when the Mongols invaded in 1274. Despite having only 80 or so mounted warriors under his charge, he attempted to defend the island, dying in battle. Nonetheless, when the Mongols retreated, the Sou family retained their position. Later, they supported the Ashikaga in their bid to become shogun, and were eventually named the Shugo of Tsushima, a title they kept until the Meiji period. As we've mentioned, despite its size, Tsushima is not the most hospitable of locations. It is mountainous, with many bays and inlets, making both cross-land travel and agriculture relatively difficult. And thus the Sou clan came to rely on trade with the continent for their wealth and support. Although, “trade” might be a bit negotiable. Remember how the early Japanese regularly raided the coast of the peninsula? It was frequent enough that a term arose—the Wakou, the Japanese invaders, or Japanese pirates. In fact, the term “wakou” became so synonymous with piracy that almost any pirate group could be labeled as “wakou”, whether Japanese or not. Some of them that we know about were downright cosmopolitan, with very diverse crews from a variety of different cultures. Given its position, the rough terrain, and myriad bays that could easily hide ships and other such things, Tsushima made a great base for fishermen-slash-pirates to launch from. Particularly in harsh times, desperate individuals from Tsushima and other islands might take their chances to go and raid the mainland. In the early 15th century, the new Joseon dynasty had had enough. They sent an expeditionary force to Tsushima to put an end to the wakou. The expedition came in 1419. The year before, the head of the Sou clan, Sou Sadashige, had died. His son, Sou Sadamori, took his place, but had not yet come of age, leaving actual power in the hands of Souda Saemontarou, leader of the Wakou pirates. Eventually the Joseon forces were defeated by the forces of Tsushima, including the wakou. The Joseon court considered sending another punitive expedition, but it never materialized. What did eventually happen, though, was, oddly, closer ties between the peninsula and Tsushima. Sou Sadamori, who grew up in that tumultuous time, worked to repair relationships with the Joseon court, concluding a treaty that that allowed the Sou clan to basically monopolize trade with the Korean peninsula. Treaty ports on the peninsula began to attract permanent settlements of Japanese merchants, and these “wakan”, or Japanese districts, came nominally under the jurisdiction of the Sou of Tsushima. The Sou clan maintained their place as the intermediaries with the Joseon state through the 16th century. Messages sent from the Japanese court to Joseon would be sent to the Sou, who would deliver them to the Joseon court, and in turn handle all replies from the peninsula back to the Japanese mainland. And this over time led them to develop some, shall we say, special techniques to make sure these exchanges were as fruitful as possible. You see, the treaties with the Joseon court only allowed fifty ships a year from Tsushima to trade with the peninsula. But since all of the documents flowed through the Sou, they had plenty of time to study the seals of both courts—those of the Joseon kingdom and those of Japan – and have fake seals created for their own ends. In part through the use of these fake seals, the Sou clan were able to pretend their ships were coming from other people—real or fake—and thus get around the 50 ship per year limit. They also used them in other ways to try and maintain their position between the two countries. All of this came to a head when the Taikou, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, began to dream of continental conquest. Hideyoshi, at this point the undeniable ruler of all of Japan, had a bit of an ego—not exactly undeserved, mind you. His letter to the Joseon king Seongjo, demanding submission, was quite inflammatory, and the Sou clan realized immediately that it would be taken as an insult. Not only could it jeopardize relations with the continent, it could also jeopardize their own unique status. Which is why they decided to modify it using what in modern computer hacker terms might be called a man-in-the-middle attack – which, with their fake seal game, they had plenty of experience with. The Sou were able to modify the language in each missive to make the language more acceptable to either side. They also dragged their feet in the whole matter, delaying things for at least two years But Hideyoshi's mind was set on conquest. Specifically, he had ambitions of displacing the Ming dynasty itself, and he demanded that the Joseon court submit and allow the Japanese forces through to face the Ming dynasty. The Joseon refused to grant his request, and eventually Hideyoshi had enough. He threatened an invasion of Korea if the Joseon dynasty didn't capitulate to his requests. Throughout this process, the Sou attempted to smooth things over as best they could. However, even they couldn't forge the words presented by a face-to-face envoy, nor could they put off Hideyoshi's anger forever. And thus Tsushima became one of the launching off points for the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 and again in 1597. Tsushima, along with nearby Iki, would have various castles built to help supply the invading forces. One such castle was the Shimizuyama-jo, overlooking the town of Izuhara. Some of the walls and earthworks can still be seen up on the mountain overlooking the town, and there are trails up from the site of Kaneishi castle, down below. Both of these invasions ultimately failed, though not without a huge loss of life and destruction on the peninsula—a loss that is still felt, even today. The second and final invasion ended in 1598. Both sides were exhausted and the Japanese were losing ground, but the true catalyst, unbeknownst to those on the continent, was the death of Hideyoshi. The Council of Regents, a group of five daimyo appointed to rule until Hideyoshi's son, Hideyori, came of age kept Hideyoshi's death a secret to maintain morale until they could withdraw from the continent. With the war over, the Sou clan took the lead in peace negotiations with the Joseon court, partly in an attempt to reestablish their position and their trade. In 1607, after Tokugawa had established himself and his family as the new shogunal line, the Sou continued to fake documents to the Joseon court, and then to fake documents right back to the newly established bakufu so that their previous forgeries wouldn't be uncovered. This got them in a tight spot. In the early 1600s, one Yanagawa Shigeoki had a grudge to settle with Sou Yoshinari, and so he went and told the Bakufu about the diplomatic forgeries that the Sou had committed, going back years. Yoshinari was summoned to Edo, where he was made to answer the allegations by Shigeoki. Sure enough, it was proven that the Sou had, indeed, been forging seals and letters, but after examination, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa Shogun, decided that they had not caused any great harm—in fact, some of their meddling had actually helped, since they knew the diplomatic situation with the Joseon court better than just about anyone else, and they clearly were incentivized to see positive relations between Japan and Korea. As such, despite the fact that he was right, Yanagawa Shigeoki was exiled, while the Sou clan was given a slap on the wrist and allowed to continue operating as the intermediaries with the Joseon court. There was one caveat, however: The Sou clan would no longer be unsupervised. Educated monks from the most prestigious Zen temples in Kyoto, accredited as experts in diplomacy, would be dispatched to Tsushima to oversee the creation of diplomatic documents and other such matters, bringing the Sou clan's forgeries to a halt. Despite that, the Sou clan continued to facilitate relations with the peninsula, including some twelve diplomatic missions from Korea: the Joseon Tsuushinshi. The first was in 1607, to Tokugawa Hidetada, and these were lavish affairs, even more elaborate than the annual daimyo pilgrimages for the sankin-kotai, or alternate attendance at Edo. The embassies brought almost 500 people, including acrobats and other forms of entertainment. Combined with their foreign dress and styles, it was a real event for people whenever they went. Today, these Tsuushinshi are a big draw for Korean tourists, and just about anywhere you go—though especially around Izuhara town—you will find signs in Japanese, Korean, and English about locations specifically associated with these missions. And in years past, they've even reenacted some of the processions and ceremonies. Speaking of Izuhara, this was the castle town from which the Sou administered Tsushima. Banshoin temple was the Sou family temple, and contains the graves of many members of the Sou family. In 1528, the Sou built a fortified residence in front of Banshoin, and eventually that grew into the castle from which they ruled Tsushima. Today, only the garden and some of the stone walls remain. The yagura atop the main gate has been rebuilt, but mostly it is in ruins. The Tsushima Museum sits on the site as well. Nearby there is also a special museum specifically dedicated to the Tsuushinshi missions. Izuhara town itself is an interesting place. Much of what you see harkens back to the Edo period. Much like Edo itself, the densely packed wood and paper houses were a constant fire hazard, and there were several times where the entire town burned to the ground. As such they began to institute firebreaks in the form of stone walls which were placed around the town to help prevent fire from too quickly spreading from one house to the next. This is something that was instituted elsewhere, including Edo, but I've never seen so many extant firewalls before, and pretty soon after you start looking for them, you will see them everywhere. The area closest to the harbor was an area mostly for merchants and similar working class people, and even today this can be seen in some of the older buildings and property layouts. There are also a fair number of izakaya and various other establishments in the area. Further inland you can find the old samurai district, across from the Hachiman shrine. The houses and the gates in that area are just a little bit nicer. While many modern buildings have gone up in the town, you can still find traces of the older buildings back from the days of the Sou clan and the Korean envoys. Today, Izuhara is perhaps the largest town on Tsushima, but that isn't saying much—the population of the entire island is around 31,000 people, only slightly larger than that of nearby Iki, which is only about one fifth the size of Tsushuma in land area. From Izuhara, you can catch a ferry to Iki or all the way to Hakata, in Fukuoka. You can also always take a plane as well. Before leaving Tsushima, I'd like to mention one more thing—the leopard cat of Tsushima, the Yamaneko. This has become something of a symbol in Tsushima, but unfortunately it is critically endangered, at least on the island itself. It is all but gone from the southern part of Tsushima—human encroachment on its habitat has been part of the issue, but so has the introduction of domesticated cats. The yamaneko itself is about the size of a typical housecat, and might be mistaken for one, though it has a very distinctive spotted appearance. Domesticated cats have been shown to outcompete their wild cousins, while also passing on harmful diseases, which also affect the population. Just about everywhere you go you'll see signs and evidence of this special cat. There is also a breeding program in the north if you want to see them for yourself. Even the small Tsushima Airport is named Yamaneko Airport, and the single baggage claim features a whole diorama of little plush leopard cats wearing traditional clothing and waving hello to new arrivals. If you like rugged coastlines, fascinating scenery, and the odd bit of history thrown in, might I suggest taking a look at Tsushima, the border island between Japan and Korea. We only had a few days, but it was a truly wonderful experience. Next up we caught the ferry to Iki island, the site of the ancient Iki-koku, possibly represented by the Yayoi era Harunotsuji site. Of all the places I've been so far, this is second only to Yoshinogari in the work and reconstruction they've done. They've even discovered what they believe to be an ancient dock or boat launch. But we'll cover that next week, as we continue on our self-guided Gishiwajinden tour. Until then, thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to us at our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
This week: the Muromachi bakufu comes crashing down, thanks to a combination of structural weaknesses and a shogun who is more interested in painting than politics. As a result, Japan enters a new age of civil war, which will radically reshape the country. Show notes here.
This week: Go-Daigo's regime collapses, and a second samurai government, the Muromachi bakufu, emerges. How did Ashikaga Takauji successfully establish Japan's second shogunate--and perhaps set it up for long term failure in the bargain? Show notes here.
Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON. In Part 7 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss the film that catapulted Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli to international recognition, the 1997 fantasy epic, PRINCESS MONONOKE. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan (14th-16th century AD) and centering on Ashitaka, one of the last young princes of the indigenous Emishi tribe, PRINCESS MONONOKE opens with a demon-possessed boar god attacking Ashitaka's village. He manages to fend the boar off, but at great personal cost, as the boar passes the curse to Ashitaka before he is slain. One of the elders of the Emishi tribe give Ashitaka a choice: set out from the village heading west in search of the cure to this curse and never be allowed to return to his homeland, or surely perish as the curse consumes him. Ashitaka of course takes the former option, and heads west, with only a single lead: a heavy iron ball in the stomach of the boar that appears to have caused the demonic corruption. On his journey, Ashitaka encounters Jigo, a mischievous monk who informs him that the Great Forest Spirit may be able to help cure him. When Ashitaka heads that direction, he encounters a new settlement - Iron Town, a refuge for societal outcasts like lepers and prostitutes - run by the enterprising Lady Eboshi, who is in conflict with the local wolf god of the forest, Moro, her two cubs, and a young girl, San, that Moro has taken in after she was abandoned in the forest as a baby. Ashitaka finds himself stuck in the middle between both sides of the conflict and must find a way to convince each side that peace and compromise are the better option than continued destruction of either the forest or the local people. Easier said than done for Ashitaka, and the countdown crew give their thoughts on what may be Miyazaki's most nuanced film to-date, discussing a number of complex themes about balance and duality, as well as economic development and environmental preservation. Those ideas, the most expansive plot of his since NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, and the production and musical score create a recipe for plenty to discuss.
With the holidays approaching, and stores starting to stock up on all the Holiday trappings you may be feeling a little frustrated knowing the amount of waste generated from traditional gift wrapping methods, such as disposable paper and plastic bows!Believe me, you are not alone! Despite your efforts to give thoughtful gifts, the result you're hoping for is often overshadowed by the waste created during the wrapping process.In this episode, you'll hear from these amazing women entrepreneurs, just like us, who were feeling the same and decided to do something about it. My special guests Monica O'Neil and Cindy Estes founded Rapt, a company focused on reducing waste through reusable fabric gift wrap. Monica, having experienced an ‘aha' moment while buying piles of wrapping paper, decided to make a change. She approached Cindy, a seasoned professional in the fabric industry and dear friend with her idea to create reusable wrapping paper. With their combined skills, they revolutionized gift-wrapping, offering stunning fabric that doesn't end up in landfills after one use. Their passion for eco-consciousness fuels their endeavors in making their versatile and attractive Ralt products a household staple.More about Monica and Cindy:Monica O'Neil and Cindy Estes met at the playground. With 7 children between them and 15 years of birthday parties and holidays, Monica and Cindy came to recognize how much wrapping waste is created at every event. So they teamed up to do something about it - Rapt fabric gift wrap changes a small habit to make a big impact for our children's future. Monica and Cindy tried many different ways to wrap with fabric - adding velcro, snap tape, attached ribbons - and found the Japanese solved it best with the art of Furoshiki. The custom of wrapping with cloth dates as far back as the 7th century and was originally called "tsutsumi." During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the tsutsumi was regularly used at the great bathhouses built by the Shogun. Feudal lords who visited wrapped their clothing in family crest-printed tsutsumi to keep track of their belongings.Rapt is producing locally and dedicated to finding deadstock, reclaimed and remnant fabrics, yarns and ribbons whenever possible. In sourcing our fabrics it is also important that our Rapt sheets have the right feel, the right hand, the right look and the right detailing. We want to make an heirloom gift wrap sheet you can pass on to family and friends. We are working to keep Rapt as sustainable as possible - above and beyond eliminating wasteful paper wrapping - by working with local production, using scrap fabric and remnant yarn for our one-of-a-kind Rapt accents and also picking up and dropping off whenever possible to reduce our carbon footprint. We believe a tiny change can make a big difference. It's YOUR PRESENT and OUR FUTURE! As a partnership, Monica and Cindy have found their different styles and backgrounds blend well as they started Rapt gift wrap. Monica O'Neil is a New England transplant with a youth spent in Chile, Venezuela and Morocco. Fluent in 3 languages with a Master's in French Literature, Monica spent a decade teaching at several area high schools. —--------------------------------------------------- Connect with Christine:Instagram: @christinebsantosWebsite: Wonder Boldly Thank you so much for listening to Wonder Boldly. It would mean the world, if you'd subscribe/follow, share it with a friend and leave a 5 star review. It takes a village, let's support small businesses together!
Welcome to this week's episode of Chris and Chris Talk Movies. In this installment, we delve into the enchanting world of Hayao Miyazaki's timeless masterpiece, "Princess Mononoke." Join us as we embark on a thrilling adventure through the mystical forests of ancient Japan, where the battle for balance between nature and humanity unfolds.Set in the late Muromachi period, "Princess Mononoke" tells the story of Ashitaka, a young warrior cursed by a demon while protecting his village from a rampaging boar god. Determined to find a cure, he ventures into the treacherous wilderness, where he encounters a fierce conflict between the guardians of the forest and the encroaching forces of civilization.As we explore the richly animated landscapes and intricate characters, we'll unravel the complex themes and messages that lie at the heart of this captivating tale. We'll discuss the striking visual design and Miyazaki's meticulous attention to detail, which bring the vibrant world of Princess Mononoke to life.Our hosts will dive deep into the moral dilemmas faced by the film's protagonists, including the courageous Princess Mononoke, a young woman raised by wolves and destined to protect the forest at all costs. We'll examine the poignant exploration of the human impact on nature, the clash of ideologies, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation.So, whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of Studio Ghibli, join us as we journey through the realms of "Princess Mononoke," uncovering its hidden depths, and celebrating its enduring legacy. Prepare to be captivated by the beauty of the animation, moved by its profound storytelling, and inspired by the profound connection between nature and humanity.Tune in to this episode of "Anime Explorers" to experience the magic of "Princess Mononoke" like never before!Have you experienced the captivating tale of Princess Mononoke? Share your thoughts and immerse yourself in this awe-inspiring 1997 film. Contact us at: chrisandchritalkmovies@gmail.com.Curious to see the enchantment unfold? Watch our YouTube channel, where we explore the wonders of Princess Mononoke and more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrn-WpoBvOkcmoSyuJJsrQ
With the spring flood of namazake, Andy and Jim take their usual contrarian position and go for the hiire stuff. Why do brewers heat-treat their sake? How do they do it? And why is Andy so resistant to the idea of sticking his hand in a vat of hot sake? Find out in the latest Sake Deep Dive! Vocabulary from this episode: Binkan Kyurei - A specific term for pasteurization and rapid cooling of sake in the bottle. Literally “bottle heat rapid cool” Hiire - Heating sake to kill bacteria and halt enzymatic action Hiochi - The term for unpasteurized sake that has gone bad from bacterial action. Literally “Fire failure.” Hiochikin - A blanket term for a group of alcohol resistant lactobacilli that can thrive in sake and turn it bad if not killed through heating. Jakan - The “snake tube” used in a traditional heating method for sake. Nizake - A kind of heated sake introduced to Japan from China during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), inspiring early pasteurization techniques. Recommended Sake Andy - Aramasa Cosmos Jim - Dewazakura Ginjoshu Our theme music is from Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg
The Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States Period, was a turbulent and violent period of Japanese history when rival warlords or daimyo fought bitterly for control of Japan. The period falls within the Muromachi period (Muromachi Jidai, 1333-1573 CE) of Japanese medieval history when the Ashikaga shogun capital was located in the Muromachi area of Heiankyo (Kyoto). The beginning of the Sengoku period witnessed the Onin War (1467-1477 CE) which destroyed Heiankyo. The fighting that followed over the next century would eventually reduce the warlords to only a few hundred in number as the country was effectively carved up into princedoms. Eventually, one warlord rose above all his rivals: Oda Nobunaga, who set Japan on the road to unification from 1568 CE. Help us out by filling out this survey Travel to Japan With Me here Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on Patreon. Find us on Instagram. Join us on Discord. Submit your relatives on our website Join the Book Club on http://chirpbooks.com/history Get some delicious COFFEE Podcast Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode broadly covers the developments in the Date, Oda, and Mori Clans during the first half of the 1500s.Support the show
This episode broadly covers the developments in the Imagawa, Takeda, and Uesugi Clans during the first half of the 1500s.Support the show
In this episode, we examine some of the many ways in which war during the Sengoku Period had a much different character from previous eras because of technology, economics, and necessity.Support the show
After Hosokawa Masamoto's assassination, power was once again up for grabs and Ashikaga Yoshitane was determined to once more sit upon the shogunal throne. He was the first in a series of puppet shoguns elevated by ambitious daimyo who wielded power in their names.Support the show
The capital had been utterly destroyed by the Onin War and when the conflict ended, it was time to rebuild. The Bakufu needed to rebuild its image and Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa saw an opportunity in neighboring Omi Province, where a Daimyo of the Rokkaku had been seizing lands without permission.Support the show
A la fin de l'épisode 38 sur les rituels d'exécution, Héléna Lagréou vous parlait de ses envies de recherches sur le Japon, et je l'invitais à revenir dans le podcast quand elle les aurait fait… Et donc plus de 3 ans plus tard, elle fait son retour dans le podcast ! D'habitude je ne reçois pas deux fois une même personne dans le podcast, mais là l'occasion était trop belle. Héléna Lagréou a donc réalisé un mémoire de MPhil (entre le master et la thèse) à l'université d'Édimbourg sur des images médiévales japonaises en étudiant leur système de perspective. Elle a étudié pour cela des manuscrits de littérature populaire du genre d'Otogi-zōshi datant de la période Muromachi. ▪ Infos sur le podcast Créé et produit par Fanny Cohen Moreau depuis 2017. ➡ Soutenir le podcast > https://passionmedievistes.fr/soutenir/ ➡ Instagram > https://instagram.com/passionmedievistes/ ➡ Facebook > https://facebook.com/PassionMedievistes ➡ Twitter > https://twitter.com/PMedievistes ➡ Plus d'infos sur cet épisode > https://passionmedievistes.fr/ep-73-helena-images-moyen-age-japon
This episode we take a look at the reign of Takewo Hiro Oshikuni Tate, aka Senka Tenno, and we take our first steps into what is referred to as the Asuka Period, due to the large number of rulers who had courts in the region of Asuka in the southern Nara Basin. For more information, check out https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-80 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is Episode 80: The Asuka Period Begins! When last we looked at the Chronicles, we were in the reign of Magari no Ohine, aka Ohoye—though we've gone with Ohine so I'm going to stick with that—aka Ankan Tennou. Assuming the dating in the Chronicles is correct, he was born about 465, and would have come of age in the era of Wakatakiru no Ohokimi, aka Yuuryaku Tennou. When his father, Wohodo no Ohokimi, first took the throne in 507, Ohine would would have been in his early forties—his father only in his mid to late 50s. And so when his father passed away about 25 years later, Ohine was already into his late 60s, himself. It is unclear whether his father reigned for 25 or 28 years; the Chronicles say 25, officially, but then note that there is another source that claims it was 28. It goes on to skip over about three years, during which Ohine himself didn't take the throne, allowing for 28 years to have passed. That discrepancy of three years may not seem like much, but it is still curious. Realistically, though, he had his hand on the tiller of the ship of state for much longer. We see his hand in stories dated to about 513, when he is shown politicking on national issues, taking a royal princess as his wife, and being established as the heir apparent. So he is actively participating in the government, and while it does appear that the long tradition of co-rulership, which we've discussed a few times, may have died out around this period, there seems little doubt as to his influence in the court. And yet, Ohine's reign only lasted two years. He was perhaps 68 or 69 years old when he took the throne, and he would die in the following year. Despite his influence, his father's long reign had kept him off the throne for much of that time, and he was likely considered venerable even as he took the throne. He was succeeded by his maternal brother, the second eldest son of Wohodo no Ohokimi, who full name was Take-wo Hiro Kunioshi Tate. Based on his age and the dating in the Chronicles, he was only about one year younger than his older brother. So everything I said above about Ohine coming to the throne at a late age applies to Takewo as well - he would have also been through almost 7 decades by that point, so he was no spring chicken. It is unclear what Takewo's role was, growing up. He was the second son. His older brother was the heir apparent, and had his elder brother had children, no doubt those children would have been expected to inherit. However, such as not meant to be, as Magari no Ohine died childless. Here I should point out that there were other brothers, since in the stories we've seen so far there has not necessarily been an insistence on the eldest brother taking the throne. One of these brothers was the young Ame Kunioshi Hiraki Hiro Niwa no Mikoto. Born to Wohodo and his formal queen, Tashiraga, he would have been 26 at the time of Magari no Ohine's death. Young, in comparison to Takewo, but not impossibly so, and certainly old enough to have taken the throne. In fact the Chronicles treat it as a forgone conclusion, though that is likely more twenty-twenty hindsight than anything else. Besides, although his mother was queen, that appears to have been a blatantly political marriage, designed to join Wohodo's line with that of the previous sovereigns. Even Ohine had married a royal princess from the previous ruling line, and Takewo would be little different. Still, it seems likely that Takewo and Ohine were likely from the more favored line, at least at the time, and as they took the throne, had they had heirs who could follow after them those heirs would have likely been the new royal lineage. So: both Ohine and his brother came to the throne quite late in their lives, and neither would hold it for very long. That doesn't mean, though, that there aren't some important tidbits for us in their stories. As we've discussed in the last few episodes, a lot happened during Ohine's reign, particularly with the establishment of various royal granaries. His entry in the Nihon Shoki is over twice the length of Takewo's, even though the latter's reign was longer, though not by much—lasting from the twelfth month of 535 to the spring of 539—a little more than three years, all told. Still, Takewo's reign has a few notable events. First such thing is the enthronement ceremony in the twelfth month of 535, as the Ministers of the court delivered up to Takewo the regalia—the sword and the mirror. Notice that there is no mention of the jewel, and neither is their mention of the seal, which was the item given to Takewo's father, Wohodo, on *his* ascension, which we discussed back in Episode 75. This continues something of a trend, where the sword and the mirror are the truly public regalia. Then, they moved the palace, as was customary. The Chronicles say that they set it up in Ihorino, in Hinokuma. This has traditionally been identified as being in the Hinokuma district of Asuka, near Omiashi jinja. Omiashi jinja claims to be the family shrine of the Aya, one of the families that trace their lineage back to the weavers brought over from the Korean peninsula. That family, much like the current dynasty, traced their own lineage back to the time of Homuda Wake, and I wonder if there wasn't some kind of connection that would have made Hinokuma important to the sovereign and the court back in the early 6th century. It is also near the site of the ruins of Hinokuma temple, said to have been established over a century later, in 686. Temples often were their own kind of symbol, and likely spoke to some importance for this area at the time it was founded, though it is likely that was coincidental to the site's use by Takewo and his court, assuming the Chronicles can be trusted on that point. Now some of you, like me, may have picked up on the location of this palace; that is to say, Asuka. As in the Asuka period. This is the period, between the 6th and 7th centuries, when many of the sovereigns based their capitals out of this region south of Kashihara in the Nara Basin, and hence the name. We'll talk more on this periodization—as well as the various dates and what they mean—later on in the episode. For now, just know that this area, which is rich in archaeological evidence for this period, is going to be of particular importance to us—so much so that scholars have named an era after this region. After setting up the palace, we are told that Takewo appointed his ministers. Two of the names are no surprise—Ohotomo no Kanamura and Mononobe no Arakahi were still around, and had continued in positions of power. Two new names join the list, however: Soga no Iname no Sukune was made Oho-omi, and Abe no Ohomaro no Omi was made Daibu. Soga no Iname comes from the famous Soga clan. They claimed descent through none other than the famous Katsuragi no Sotsuhiko, and have popped up now and again. For more on Sotsuhiko, check out episode 47. The last mention appears to be during the reign of Wakatakiru no Ohokimi, when they mentioned Soga no Karako—which looks like it may be talking about someone born on the Korean peninsula. Given their connections to the continent and their eventual connection with Buddhism—as we'll see in later episodes they played a large role in bringing it over and popularizing it in Japan—it seems quite likely that they had ties to the Korean peninsula. Here, we see Soga no Iname being made Ohoomi, the head of the Soga no Omi family, and what appears to be a rank of prime minister, although so far the actual authority of the Oho-omi in State affairs seems a bit hit or miss. Abe no Ohomaro, on the other hand, is being made Daibu. This term is interesting—they are not making Ohomaro the head of the Abe clan, which would also be Ohoomi, one assumes, just like the Ohomuraji of the Ohotomo and Mononobe, though there are a lot of “Omi” ranked families that have been mentioned, but only a handful who have been mentioned as Oho-omi. The term “daibu” has shown up a few times in the Chronicles before, and generally just seems to refer to high ranking court officials, generally, though here it seems to be a specific court title. It would certainly be used that way, later, but it is also possible that, like Omi, it was originally just a more general term for high ranking ministers. The Abe family has shown up here and there. Much like the Mononobe, their family name appears to suggest that they were originally formed as one of the “-Be” corporate family groups, though of course they show up in the Chronicles well before that would seem to have been the case, and have been prominent enough to marry daughters off to various sovereigns, so they at least claim something of a pedigree. They would continue to be important at court, and appear to have been close allies with the Soga clan, at least in this period. There are a host of famous Abe throughout history. From the poet, Abe no Nakamaro, to the famous Onmyoji, or Yin-yang diviner, Abe no Seimei. There was a branch of Abe in the Tohoku region that regularly caused problems for later courts. And of course there is the modern political dynasty, as well, including the late Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo. However, it is somewhat difficult to know just who is actually related. The poet Nakamaro may be named for a village, rather than for his relationship to the court family. There are even different ways of spelling and pronouncing the Abe name, even in the Nihon Shoki itself. The Abe family was large enough that it would not have been difficult for someone to claim a relationship that didn't exist, particularly in some of the more chaotic times. Still, we'll try to keep track of them as best we can, at least as they interact with our narrative. In this case, that means keeping an eye on Abe no Ohomaro and his position at court. Besides affirming the ministers, there was also the appointment of a queen. Here we again see the trend to connect this dynasty with the previous, as Takewo's primary wife was none other than Tachibana no Nakatsu, a daughter of Ohoke no Ohokimi, aka Ninken Tennou. Together they had one son and three daughters, so technically it would appear that he did have an heir when he passed, but as we'll see, that isn't quite how the succession ended up working out. One of the major events of this reign seems rather substantial. That's the creation of a government house—basically an administrative center—in northern Kyushu, specifically in Nanotsu no Kuchi. Ostensibly it was to organize granaries to consolidate and distribute food as necessary. Of course, it can't be forgotten that rice was not just food, but also the basis of the economy. So granaries were just as much a place that taxes could be collected, and that would have given officials there a tidy sum, some of which was no doubt destined for Yamato, but which I imagine was also used to help grease the wheels of local government. We've seen this coming for some time. We see the military subdual of Kyushu in the old stories, and we see various people sent out to bring it to heel or otherwise administer at least the northern areas, which would have been part of the critical trade routes between Yamato and the mainland. Mononobe no Arakahi had been sent down with what we are told was a “battleax” of office to put down the Iwai Rebellion. That was about ten years ago, and we see Arakahi still in the government. Now, however, Yamato seems to be consolidating its hold over the area, instituting economic controls, beyond just the threat of military force. There are also the various areas and families that they drew upon to fund and kickstart this venture. Most of it is from the Yamato region—Mamuta, in Kawachi; Owari, near modern Nagoya; Nihinomi, likely near Ohosaka; and Iga. The families in charge of this include Aso no Kimi, who must have had some leverage in Mamuta; Soga no Iname, who held influence of the Owari no Muraji; Mononobe no Arakahi, who apparently was in charge of the Nihinomi no Muraji; and then the Abe family, who directed the Iga no Omi. Of these, I find the Aso no Kimi most intriguing, as the others are all related to the great ministers of state. Aso no Kimi feels out of place, to me. It may be a reference to Mt. Aso or similar. But I also can't help but notice that we have one Great Minister missing: Ohotomo no Kanamura, though not for long. The rest of the setup of this government house—what sounds suspiciously like the area we'll later come to know as the Dazaifu—included commandments that the local regions of the island of Kyuushuu also provide funds, which is to say rice. They consolidated reserves from Tsukushi, Hi, and Toyo, which is mostly northern Kyushu. This was all in the year 536. Whether that is when it was commanded or that is when it was setup is not quite clear to me. One suspects that it would have fallen to Mononobe no Arakahi to administer things from this new government center, if it weren't for that fact that Arakahi passed away only about a month later. It is unclear who administered this new government house immediately, but in the year following, 537, and with Silla breathing down Nimna's neck, Takewo's government assigned Ohotomo no Kanamura's sons, Iwa and Sadehiko, to assist Nimna. Iwa took charge of the government in Tsukushi, which would have been supplying any adventures on the peninsula, including raising troops and making preparations. Meanwhile his brother, Sadehiko went to Nimna and, we are told, “restored the peace” there, as well as lending aid to Yamato's ally, Baekje. This is rather vague. I don't see anything in the Samguk Sagi that clearly equates to this. In 532, the Silla Annals talk about the King of Keumgwan Kara surrendering to Silla, though Kara would continue to be a going concern for at least another sixty years or so. It is possible that this had something to do with this new expedition around 537, but it isn't clear. Takewo would pass away in 539. His kofun near Mt. Unebi, just a little ways north of his palace at Hinokuma. It is identified as one in modern Toriyacho. It is said that he was buried together with his wife, Tachibana, and one of their children, who died while still quite young. And that's where we might end things, but there are a few other points to note for this period. For one thing, this is a great time to discuss periodization in Japanese history, since some people claim that the Asuka period started during this reign—specifically referencing the date of 538. Periodization of historical eras often seems straightforward, but more often than not it is anything but. Periods may be designated for political reasons or even cultural. Political reasons may include things like a change in government, or even a change in the location of government. Certainly the Nara period, starting in 710, is based quite squarely on the foundation of Heijo-kyo, the continental style capital in modern Nara city. Likewise the Heian and Kamakura eras are often dated from the founding of the governments in those areas. However, just because the government moved does not necessarily mean that things changed overnight, or even much at all. Likewise there were smaller changes that often happened within these periods, so within the Heian and Kamakura periods, you get terms like the Fujiwara and Insei periods to denote specific aspects of who was controlling the government at any given time. For some, that means that the Asuka period doesn't start until the reign of Toyomike Kashikiya-hime, aka Suiko Tenno, in 593, and by the narrowest definition only continues until the Taika reforms in 645, which are easily defined political dates with broad agreement across the scholarship for when they occurred. And yet, we know that there were governments based out of the Asuka period before that, if the Nihon Shoki is to be at all believed. So if this is about the location of the capital, why not start it with Takewo and his palace? Shouldn't that be the start of the so-called “Asuka Period”? After all, during this period the sovereigns continued the practice of building new palaces upon their ascension, with most, though not all, being in the Asuka area. And yet, that probably wouldn't really help break up the period in the most meaningful ways. After all, if we go with that idea, why not start when Wohodo no Ohokimi built his palace in Iware, just a little to the north? What was so different from one to the other? On the other hand, cultural periods tend to focus on changes in things like art or even thought. These often overlap well, but not exactly, with political periods. For instance, you may hear about the Higashiyama period, a time in the Muromachi when the Higashiyama era of Kyoto was ascendant, and it was influencing artistic growth and evolution across the country. But even that is a hard thing to tack down. For the Asuka period, perhaps the biggest change – and one we will spend a lot of time discussing – was the introduction of Buddhism, that foreign religion from India, transported across Eurasia to the Korean peninsula and then over to Japan. The primary figure to whom the spread of Buddhism in Japan is attributed is the enigmatic Shotoku Taishi, who served as a regent for Toyomike Kashikiya hime, and instituted myriad reforms, often along continental models. And yet, if we want to look at the start of Buddhism, that actually goes further back—and for many it goes back all the way to the years included in this reign—specifically the year 538. Now the year 538 in the Nihon Shoki contains no mention of Buddhism. In fact, the Nihon Shoki wouldn't have a record of anything related to Buddhist teachings coming to Japan until about 13 or 14 years later, in the reign of the following sovereign, known as Kimmei Tenno, whom we will be getting to shortly. This chronicle states that it was in about 552 when an envoy from Baekje brough an image of the Buddha as well as Buddhist scriptures to the court. However, these days it seems that many scholars prefer a date of 538 for this particular event. The 538 date comes from the records of Gangoji Temple—the Gangouji Garan Engi—as well as the Jouguu Shoutoku Houou Teisetsu, aka the Jouguu-ki. This latter is purported to be a biography of Shotoku Taishi, and comes from the 8th century, so contemporary with the Nihon Shoki, the Kojiki, and the Sendai Kuji Hongi. Both of these sources lend credence to the idea of 538 being when these Buddhist icons first came over, and so many people will start the Asuka period at this date. To be clear, it isn't as if Buddhism came over once and that was the end of it and everybody became Buddhist. This is just the first recorded instance of Buddhist items and ideas entering Japan—it wasn't until later, as the court was adopting more and more continental ways, that Buddhism really gained acceptance and spread. Eventually it seems that state sponsorship of temples would override the construction of large kofun, as economic resources and labor were shifted to these new institutions of the state, bringing the Kofun era to its eventual end. But that is still down the road for us. Right now we are just at the beginning of the introduction of Buddhism, and while things are changing and the state is definitely growing, life didn't suddenly take a turn one way or the other. As for the date of 538—why was this, in hindsight, incredibly important religious and cultural event not mentioned in the reign of Takewo? Why was it instead mentioned in the reign of his successor? I've seen a few theories, but nothing that can concretely answer this question. Of course, there is the possibility that Takewo just wasn't as impressive. The Chronicles seem to take issue with both his lineage and his elder brother's, suggesting they weren't true heirs because they did not have the full pedigree that someone like their brother, Ame Kunioshi, had. Of course, that could also have something to do with the path history took—to the Chroniclers it only made sense, but I think we can all see how that could have turned out differently. There is also a theory that Ame Kunioshi, aka Kimmei Tenno, was actually co-ruling. Some have even suggested that Takewo and his brother, Magari no Ohine, were fictional, though why they would need to pad things out is anybody's guess. It certainly does not seem unreasonable to think that some tradition of co-rulership had briefly continued in some form. As such, it may be that it did happen during Ame Kunioshi's reign, but that said reign overlapped with his brother. If that were the case, the Chroniclers may have been teasing the two apart to provide a more direct narrative. In the end, it is hard to know exactly why the dates don't correspond between the different documents, but for our part I think we can say that we have now at least dipped our toes into the Asuka Period, especially as we get into the reign of Takewo's younger step-brother, the youngest son of Wohodo no Ohokimi, or so we are told: Ame Kunioshi Hiraki Hiro Niwa, aka Kimmei Tennou But that will be for another episode, and there is so much to talk about: More contact with the continent, further discussion of the coming of Buddhism, and perhaps a look at some of the archaeology, including some volcanic events that don't seem to have made it into the Chronicles themselves. All of that, coming up. Until then, thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to Tweet at us at @SengokuPodcast, or reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Leaving the fighting of the Nanboku-cho wars aside for the moment, we take some time to examine the economics, aesthetics, and social developments of the early Muromachi period.Support the show
Although Ashikaga Takauji had been chased out of Honshu for the moment, he was safe among allies in Kyushu where he planned to make a dramatic return. Emperor Go-Daigo, determined to remain in the capital, ordered his loyalists to attack Takauji as he made his return, resulting in a crushing disaster for his cause.Support the show
Kodaishu - Days of Yore Show Notes Andy and Jim explore the very oldest kinds of sake in search of the real roots. From drunken serpents to monkly brews, we look at the earliest records of sake to see how it developed in the olden days. Vocabulary from this episode Sumizake - An ancient kind of filtered sake. No one knows for sure how they filtered it. Dakushu / Doburoku / Nigorizake - all the same kanji, all meaning “cloudy/muddied sake.” Heian Period - 794-1185 Goshu - An ancient sake brewed in the Heian. Kojibuai 28.6%, water absorption 77% (Modern koji 22%, mizubuai 135% ) Goishu - Another ancient Heian sake. 1 dan jikomi brewed from late August into september. 28.6% kojibuai and mizubuai of 51.4% (very very low). SMV -80-100. The low water content prevented spoilage. Kamakura - 1185-1333 Rise of private breweries, people drank too much, banned. Muromachi 1336-1573 Azuchi-Momoyama 1568-1603 Edo Period 1603-1867 Tamonin Nikki (Tamon temple chronicles) from 1478 to 1618 Recommended Sake Andy - Sawa no Tsuru Kimoto Honjozo Jim - Daruma Masamune 10 year koshu
Having left the capital without permission to quell a pro-Hojo rebellion in Kanto, Ashikaga Takauji compounded the situation by refusing to return to Heian-kyo. The resulting civil war pitted the loyalists of Emperor Go-Daigo against the frustrated samurai who followed the Ashikaga brothers.Support the show
Emperor Go-Daigo took the throne and immediately tried to establish himself as the sole ruler of Japan. While his taxation of trade and mercantile approach to imperial governance were very practical, those he appointed to reward the samurai who had fought on his behalf were inexperienced and corrupt.Support the show
Apologies for the delay, but check out "Japanese History Hidden in our Screens" until this pod's triumphant return in October.Support the show
Join me as i answer listeners questions and i talk about how i joined and why i joined Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A Japanese old style of Jujutsu that dates back to Muromachi period in Japan between 1333 and 1573, later taken by Helio Gracie where he used concepts from jujitsu/judo. Helio Gracie founded an art with heavy ground emphasis now know as Brazilian Jui Jitsu. Little bit of history! Enjoy! Don't forget to like and leave a review. Video Exclusive Available Here! on #spotify Also available on youtube, Tiktok and instagram (boldtalkbyjoe) #spotify #podcast #juijitsu #boldtalkbyjoe #martialarts Till next time.........Peace --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boldtalkbyjoe/message
Let's Learn About Japan!Learn About:Jomon, Muromachi, Edo and Taisho Periods, World War 2, Sushi, The Tale of Genji, History of the Rising Sun Japanese Flag, Mt. Fuji, Sumo and more!Welcome to Kid History! My name is Logan, and I am the creator of the Kid History learning series.Kid History is an educational podcast and book series made for children!This podcast is also available as an illustrated children's book on Amazon! Link below!Other episodes include: “Let's Learn About”… Paris, Mexico, England, Australia, Japan, Ireland, Dublin, Paris, Edinburgh, Italy, Scotland, the United States of America and MORE!“Logan Stover is one of the best young upcoming authors! He is renowned for his unique illustration techniques and his wonderful way of teaching children. Make sure to Follow Logan to never miss another release in the Kid History Universe!”Links:@learn.with.logan@kidhistorybooksLet's Learn About Japan Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095P638TLSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/kid-history/donations
Hello. Welcome to Jenni's Pika Pika Nihongo. At DCEC Nihongo Center, we are here to help you learn Japanese, and one of our features is that we recommend that the fastest way to learn to speak Japanese is to learn by ear every day. Please listen to our podcast. Today, I would like to introduce you to the Hozuki Marketほおずき市, a summer tradition in Asakusa that takes place on the 9th and 10th of July in the precincts of Senso-ji Temple浅草寺. In Japan, the 18th day of every month has been assigned to the auspicious day of Kannon Bosatsu since around the Heian period (794-1185), but since around the end of the Muromachi period (mid-16th century), a day called "Koutoku-nichi" (merit day) has been established. A merit day is a special day on which worshippers can obtain 100 or 1,000 days' worth of merit if they visit the temple on that day. A hozuki market is held in conjunction with the festival. It is a great way to experience Japan by watching the hozukis being sold by the hozuki vendors, who are all dressed up in their finest clothes. 浅草 Asakusa 浅草寺 SensouJi ほおずき市 HoozukiIchi 夏 Natsu 風物詩 Fuubutsushi 縁日 EnNichi Hola. Bienvenido a Jeni's Pika Pika Japanese. En el Centro de Nihongo DCEC, estamos aquí para ayudarte a aprender japonés, pero como característica, te recomendamos que la forma más rápida de aprender a hablar es aprender de oído todos los días. Escuche nuestros podcasts. Hoy queremos presentarle la tradición veraniega de Asakusa, el Mercado Hozuki, que tiene lugar los días 9 y 10 de julio en el recinto del templo Senso-ji. En Japón, el día 18 de cada mes se ha asignado como día propicio de Kannon Bosatsu desde aproximadamente el periodo Heian (794-1185), pero desde aproximadamente el final del periodo Muromachi (mediados del siglo XVI), se empezó a reservar un día llamado "Koutoku-nichi". Un día de mérito es un día especial en el que los fieles pueden obtener 100 o 1.000 días de mérito si visitan el templo ese día, y en el templo Senso-ji se dice que visitar a Kannon-sama en Senso-ji el 10 de julio tiene el mismo mérito que adorar durante 46.000 días, y se considera un "shimanroku-zen-nichi" (un día con 46.000 días de mérito). Ese mismo día se celebra un mercado hozuki. Ver los hosoki que venden los vendedores de hosoki es una buena manera de conocer Japón. 浅草 Asakusa 浅草寺 SensouJi ほおずき市 HoozukiIchi 夏 Natsu 風物詩 Fuubutsushi 縁日 EnNichi こんにちは。 ジェニのピカピカ日本語へようこそ。 DCEC Nihongo Centerでは、皆様の日本語学習のお手伝いをしていますが、特徴としては毎日耳で学習することが話せるようになる早道とお勧めしています。 Podcastでお聞きください。 さて、今日は7月の9日、10日に浅草寺の境内で行われる夏の浅草の風物詩「ほおずき市」をご紹介します。 日本では平安時代頃より、毎月18日が観世音菩薩の縁日にはあてられてきましたが、室町時代末期(16世紀半ば)頃から、「功徳日」といわれる縁日が設けられるようになりました。功徳日とは、その日に参拝すると、100日、1,000日分などの功徳が得られるという特別な日で、浅草寺では7月10日に浅草寺の観音さまにお参りすることは、46,000日参拝したのと同じご利益があるとされ、「四万六千日(しまんろくせんにち)の縁日とされ、縁日にともなってほおずき市が催されます。 いなせな格好のお兄さん、お姉さんがほおずきを売るのを見るのは日本を感じるのにお勧めです。 浅草 Asakusa 浅草寺 SensouJi ほおずき市 HoozukiIchi 夏 Natsu 風物詩 Fuubutsushi 縁日 EnNichi
This week on the podcast, we're talking the tale of the iconoclastic monk Ikkyu Sojun. His fame is predicated on an odd combination of Zen austerity and the embrace of the wine shop and the brothel, rather than the temple, as the place to seek enlightenment. Show notes here
How can a man who was terrible as a ruler also be one of the most important tastemakers in Japanese history? Today we're unpacking the biography of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, more or less universally reviled as the worst man ever to lead Japan and yet one of the most important figures in developing much of what we think of as classical Japanese art and aesthetics. Show notes here.
In this week's episode, the Krewe conclude their discussion with Dr. Hiromu Nagahara on the history of the Japanese Imperial Family. In part two, Dr. Nagahara teaches the Krewe about the role of the shogun throughout Japanese history, how the imperial family evolved throughout WWII, and modern controversies surrounding former Princess Mako. This is an episode you won't want to miss!Check out Dr. Nagahara's book:https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Boogie-Woogie-Japans-Pop-Discontents/dp/0674971698 This podcast is brought to you by the Japan Society of New Orleans:https://japansocietyofneworleans.wildapricot.org/
In this week's episode, The Krewe sit down with associate professor of history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), Dr. Hiromu Nagahara for part one of their discussion on the history of the Japanese Imperial Family. In part one, Dr. Nagahara shares his background, the origins of the Japanese emperor, what makes the Japanese Imperial family distinct form other royal families, and so much more!Check out Dr. Nagahara's book:https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Boogie-Woogie-Japans-Pop-Discontents/dp/0674971698 This podcast is brought to you by the Japan Society of New Orleans:https://japansocietyofneworleans.wildapricot.org/
This week, in the first of a four part series on piracy in Japan, we're covering the background of piracy before the Sengoku civil wars. How did Japan's pirates interact with the complexities of Japan's classical and medieval world? Show notes here.
Noh Theatre, Nougaku, KyogenDengaku, sarugaku, shirabyoshi, gagaku, and kagura Muromachi, Edo, TokugawaKan'ami Kiyotsugu, Zeami MotokiyoNational Noh TheatreIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCOAssociation for Japanese Noh PlaysKami, Shura Mono, Katsura Mono, Gendai Mono, Kyojo Mono, Kiri or KichikuUshttp://www.thebibliophiledailypodcast.carrd.cohttps://twitter.com/thebibliodailythebibliophiledailypodcast@gmail.comRoxiehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAfdi8Qagiiu8uYaop7Qvwhttp://www.chaoticbibliophile.comhttp://instagram.com/chaoticbibliophilehttps://twitter.com/NewAllegroBeat
Let's talk about Shoguns. Kamakura and Muromachi. Plus a few odds and ends I missed 1st period.
Sometime during the Muromachi period in Ancient Japan (1336-1573) there was a poet by the name of Sōgi. He claimed that he saw a woman appear during a snow storm,Continue reading...001 – The Yuki-onna
The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Customer service is a crowded field, with so many consumer products and services duking it out for survival. How do you stay in operation and how do you sustain that over hundreds of years? The thinking behind how you regard your customers is going to be paramount to consistent success. How do you demonstrate that philosophy toward your customers? Here is a classic example of how to stand out from the crowd and be a leader in customer service. Welcome back to this weekly edition every Tuesday of "THE Cutting Edge Japan Business Show" I am your host Dr. Greg Story, President of Dale Carnegie Training Japan and best selling author of Japan Sales Mastery. We are bringing the show to you from our High Performance Center in Akasaka in Minato-ku, the business center of Tokyo. Why the Cutting Edge? In this show, we are looking at the critical areas for success in business in Japan. We want to help advance everyone's thinking so that we be at the forefront, the Cutting Edge, of how to flourish here in this market. Before we get into this week's topic, here is what caught my attention lately. Japan's agricultural workforce has shrunk by fifty percent in the last ten years. In 2007 there were three point one two million farmworkers. The shortage of workers is a result of the aging of the farmer population. In 2017 it had become one point eight one million. The solution – robots. The Toyohashi University of Technology has created a one meter high handcart type robot, equipped with three cameras and two infrared radar devices to follow flower pickers, pick up the flowers and deliver them to designated collection points. They are extending the scope to picking fruit, and vegetables and delivering components in factories. This is episode number 43and we are talking about Old School Japanese ServiceSoredewa ikimasho, so let's get going. I am sure you have you seen notices explaining that this location is going to close while the building is being reconstructed and that it will reopen at a specified day in the future? Given the increasingly stringent earthquake code here in Tokyo, we are seeing many businesses opting to re-build their premises. One notice however has become much talked about amongst Japanese retailers. Toraya are a famous traditional Japanese sweets manufacturer and retailer. Mr. Mitsuhiro Kurokawa is the seventeenth generation of his family to lead the business and his “we are rebuilding” notice is considered outstanding, even in a country where omotenashi is renowned. Most such notices tell facts, supply relevant data and provide the obligatory greetings about serving us again when they reopen. Kurokawa san did all of that but much more. He put the current change in historical perspective, noting the business started in Kyoto in Fifteen eight six toward the end of the Muromachi period which was thirteen thirty eight to fifteen seventy three, moving to Tokyo in eighteen sixty nine and to this location in nineteen sixty four. By doing this he is assuring us of their long traditions, longevity and capacity to change with the times when needed. He then started to tell some stories about the customers they have had at this shop on Aoyama Street in Akasaka, over the last fifty one years. He mentioned that every three days, a male customer visited the shop to enjoy oshiroko (bean paste sweet soup with grilled mochi). This is considered a bit unusual in Japan, because men don't normally have such a sweet tooth, so this customer stood out from others. Another customer, a kindergarten aged boy came with his mother to the shop every day and bought a bite sized yookan (sweet bean paste block). One day he came by himself to shop. The staff were worried about him and so they went out with him and found that the mother was secretly hiding and watching that he was OK. Find out more when we come back from the break Welcome backA one hundred year old lady regularly came by wheelchair to the shop. She later became hospitalized and her family came to buy namagashi (fresh Japanese sweets) and higashi (a dried sugar sweet), to take to the hospital for her. Even after she couldn't eat anything anymore, they found if they crushed the dried sugar sweet she could still enjoy it. He mentioned that he couldn't include all of the episodes they have shared over these fifty one years with their customers, but he said he and the staff keep them, one by one, in their hearts forever. Telling customer stories is powerful. Kurokawa san made the customers experiences come alive and he linked them to the products they enjoyed. Rather than just a cold statement of the facts, he crafted a statement of love for their customers. The feeling of the notice is that there is a special bond they feel with all of their customers and even though they won't reopen on that site for another three years, they won't have forgotten them and look forward to serving them forever. Are we communicating we feel a special bond with our customers? Often, corporate communications becomes machine like and wrapped up in what can sound like marketing department dross. Kurokawa san conveys a lot of heart felt feelings in this simple notice about the main store being rebuilt. Are we weaving enough customer stories into our communications? I don't mean fake propaganda stories, but real episodes that the reader can visualise in their mind's eye? Kurokawa san's notice get attention in Japan because of the sincerity in the message. He is regarded as really epitomising the spirit of a family that has served customers for seventeen generations. We may not be the seventeenth generation in our business, but we can bring more heart into the service we provide our customers. We can start right now with the service we provide and how we communicate that service. THE Cutting Edge Japan Business Show is here to help you succeed in Japan. Subscribe on YouTube, share it with your family, friends and colleagues, become a regular. Thank you for watching this episode and remember to hit the subscribe button. Our website details are on screen now, enjapan.dalecarnegie.com, it is awesome value, so check it out. In episode 44 we are talking about Middle managers Are Your Firm's Lifeblood. Find out more about that next week. So Yoroshiku Onegai Itashimasu please join me for the next episode of the Cutting Edge Japan Business Show We are here to help you and we have only one direction in mind for you and your business and that is UP!!!
In this, the third installment in Catching Up On Cinema's "Anime August," Trevor has Kyle view the critically acclaimed Princess Mononoke (1997)! Animated by Studio Ghibli and directed by one of the most famous and influential of anime directors, Hayao Miyazaki, the film represents one of the earlier success stories in the realm of mainstream success for the medium worldwide. Set in the Muromachi era of feudal Japan, the film is an aesthetic wonder, featuring luscious background paintings and lovingly detailed, hand-drawn animation throughout the entirety of it's (considerable) 134 minute run time.
This week, we arrive at the end of the Ashikaga. What were the final 100 years of Ashikaga "rule" like, and what can we take away from exploring their time as rulers of Japan?
This week, we do a deep dive on the life of Ashikaga Yoshimasa and the lead up to the Onin War, the conflict that traditionally marks the end of Ashikaga rule over Japan. But how fair is it to point to Onin as a break with the past?
This week we turn away from politics to discuss religion, art, and the economy during the age of the Ashikaga. Why is this era such a moment of societal flourishing despite the constant warfare and instability of Ashikaga rule?
This week: war in the Ashikaga age. Plus; the reign of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu is generally considered the zenith of Ashikaga prestige, but why was his power built on such shaky foundations? Once the Ashikaga had seized control of Japan, how did they go about actually governing it?
This week we start a multipart series on the Muromachi period and the reign of the Ashikaga family. How did they come to power? Why is their government generally described as so weak? And how, despite that weak government, did they win a 60 year war for control of Japan?
Renée Ahdieh, New York Times best-selling author of The Wrath and the Dawn series, and whose new series kicks off with the release of Flame in the Mist, out May 16, joins me to talk about straddling two worlds poorly, finding the music in language, fearless internet personas, id books, and publishing as a ‘pride-swallowing siege.’ (Plus, a cameo from Sarah Nicole Lemon, author of Done Dirt Cheap!) Renee Ahdieh Show Notes Explosions in the Sky Sheherazade Op. 35, a symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Nas The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene Sarah Nicole Lemon J.K. Rowling Star Wars score by John Williams Gustav Holst’s The Planets The Imperial March by John Williams Mars, Bringer of War by Gustav Holst Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better,featured in Annie, Get Your Gun Tool Metallica Human Bell Mogwai Godspeed You Black Emperor Done Dirt Cheap by Sarah Nicole Lemon The 30-second bit of "Blue Moon" by Beck, which I wanted to write a book about "S&M" by Metallica "The Black Album" by Metallica FictionPress The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Twilight by Stephenie Meyer The Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoyevsky Zorro by Isabel Allende Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez Get Out (movie) 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (and the Netflix Show) Chekhov’s Gun Bluebeard Sir Richard Burton The Arabian Nights translated by Husain Haddawy The Song of the Lioness series by Tamara Pierce Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Mulan (movie) A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi Sengoku and Muromachi periods of Japanese history Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter!
Group Mononoke has created a podcast that focuses on the film Princess Mononoke and its connection to nature, Shintoism, and Japanese folklore and mythological creatures. This podcast begins with a brief synopsis of the film and information about the Muromachi period of Japan (the time period that the film is set in). The podcast concludes by discussing the director’s interpretation of Shinto.Episode Seven: Princess Mononoke: Nature, Shintoism, and Connections to Japanese Folklore
THE Sales Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Omotenashi: Real Japanese Customer Service I am sure you have you seen notices explaining that this store location is going to close while the building is being reconstructed and that it will reopen at a specified date in the future? Given the increasingly stringent earthquake code here in Tokyo after 2011, we are seeing many businesses opting to re-build their premises. One notice however has become much talked about locally amongst Japanese retailers. Toraya are a famous traditional Japanese sweets manufacturer and retailer. Mr. Mitsuhiro Kurokawa is the 17th generation of his family to lead the business and his “we are rebuilding” notice is considered outstanding, even in a country where omotenashi or customer first service is renowned. Most such notices tell facts, supply relevant data and provide the obligatory greetings about serving us again when they reopen. Kurokawa san did all of that but much, much more. He put the current change in historical perspective, noting the business started in Kyoto in 1586 toward the end of the Muromachi (1338-1573) period, moved to Tokyo in 1869 and to this location in 1964. By doing this he is assuring us of their long traditions, longevity and capacity to change with the times when needed. He then started to tell some stories about the customers they have had at this shop on Aoyama Street in Akasaka, over the last 50 plus years. He mentioned that every three days, a male customer visited the shop to enjoy oshiruko (bean paste sweet soup with grilled mocha or pounded rice). This is considered a bit unusual in Japan, because men don't normally have such a sweet tooth, so this customer stood out from others. Another customer, a kindergarten aged boy came with his mother to the shop every day and bought a bite sized yookan (sweet bean paste block). One day he came by himself to shop. The staff were worried about him and so they went out with him and found that the mother was secretly hiding and watching that he was okay. A 100 year old lady regularly came by wheelchair to the shop. She later became hospitalised and her family came to buy namagashi (fresh Japanese sweets) and higashi (a dried sugar sweet), to take to the hospital for her. Even after she couldn't eat anything anymore, they found if they crushed the dried sugar sweet she could still enjoy it. He mentioned that he couldn't include all of the episodes they have shared over these 50 plus years with their customers, but he said he and the staff keep them, one by one, in their hearts forever. Telling customer stories is powerful. Kurokawa san made the customers the centerpiece and their experiences come alive. He linked the customers to the products they enjoyed. Rather than just a cold statement of the facts, he crafted a statement of love for their customers. The feeling of the notice is that there is a special bond they feel with all of their customers and even though they won't reopen on that site for another three years, they won't have forgotten them and look forward to serving them forever. What can we learn from this excellent customer focus? Are we communicating we feel a special bond with our customers? Often, corporate communications becomes machine like and wrapped up in what can sound like marketing department dross. Kurokawa san conveys a lot of heart felt feelings in this simple notice about the main store being rebuilt. Are we weaving enough customer stories into our communications? I don't mean fake propaganda stories or plastic stories that politicians love to use these day, but real episodes that the reader can visualise in their mind's eye? Even in a country like Japan, with such high levels of customer focus, Kurokawa san's notice gets attention because of the sincerity of his message. He is regarded as really epitomising the spirit of a family running a retail business, that has served customers for 17 generations. We may not be the 17th generation in our business, but we can bring more heart into the service we provide our customers. We can start right now with the service we provide and how we communicate that service. What does your current customer communication say about you? Can it be improved? Action Steps Are we really thinking about creating an emotional connection with our clients Are we telling enough happy client stories in our communications Are we fully aware of the content of all the touch points we have with our buyers Are we serving from the heart or just the head Are we instilling the right frame of reference into our staff, regarding how to properly serve the client. Engaged employees are self-motivated. The self-motivated are inspired. Inspired staff grow your business but are you inspiring them? We teach leaders and organisations how to inspire their people. Want to know how we do that? Contact me at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com If you enjoy these articles, then head over to www.japan.dalecarnegie.com and check out our "Free Stuff" offerings - whitepapers, guidebooks, training videos, podcasts, blogs. Take a look at our Japanese and English seminars, workshops, course information and schedules. About The Author Dr. Greg Story: President, Dale Carnegie Training Japan In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development. Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making and become a 30 year veteran of Japan. A committed lifelong learner, through his published articles in the American, British and European Chamber journals, his videos and podcast “THE Leadership Japan Series”, he is a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations. Dr. Story is a popular keynote speaker, executive coach and trainer. Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate and is currently a 6th Dan. Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.
Otaku Movie Anatomy hosts review Princess Mononoke! Princess Mononoke (Japanese: もののけ姫 Hepburn: Mononoke-hime, "Spirit/Monster Princess") is a 1997 epichistorical fantasy anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was animated by Studio Ghibli and produced by Toshio Suzuki. The film stars the voices of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi,Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijo, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori and Hisaya Morishige. Princess Mononoke is set in the late Muromachi period (approximately 1336 to 1573) of Japan with fantasy elements. The story follows the young Emishi warrior Ashitaka's involvement in a struggle between forest gods and the humans who consume its resources. The term "Mononoke" (物の怪 or もののけ) is not a name, but a Japanese word for a spirit or monster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THE Leadership Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Mr. Kurokawa's Real Japanese Customer Service I am sure you have you seen notices explaining that this location is going to close while the building is being reconstructed and that it will reopen at a specified day in the future? Given the increasingly stringent earthquake code here in Tokyo, we are seeing many businesses opting to re-build their premises. One notice however has become much talked about amongst Japanese retailers. Toraya are a famous traditional Japanese sweets manufacturer and retailer. Mr. Mitsuhiro Kurokawa is the 17th generation of his family to lead the business and his “we are rebuilding” notice is considered outstanding, even in a country where omotenashi is renowned. Most such notices tell facts, supply relevant data and provide the obligatory greetings about serving us again when they reopen. Kurokawa san did all of that but much more. He put the current change in historical perspective, noting the business started in Kyoto in 1586 toward the end of the Muromachi (1338-1573) period, moving to Tokyo in 1869 and to this location in 1964. By doing this he is assuring us of their long traditions, longevity and capacity to change with the times when needed. He then started to tell some stories about the customers they have had at this shop on Aoyama Street in Akasaka, over the last 51 years. He mentioned that every three days, a male customer visited the shop to enjoy oshiruko (bean paste sweet soup with grilled mochi). This is considered a bit unusual in Japan, because men don't normally have such a sweet tooth, so this customer stood out from others. Another customer, a kindergarten aged boy came with his mother to the shop every day and bought a bite sized yookan (sweet bean paste block). One day he came by himself to shop. The staff were worried about him and so they went out with him and found that the mother was secretly hiding and watching that he was OK. A 100 year old lady regularly came by wheelchair to the shop. She later became hospitalized and her family came to buy namagashi (fresh Japanese sweets) and higashi (a dried sugar sweet), to take to the hospital for her. Even after she couldn't eat anything anymore, they found if they crushed the dried sugar sweet she could still enjoy it. He mentioned that he couldn't include all of the episodes they have shared over these 51 years with their customers, but he said he and the staff keep them, one by one, in their hearts forever. Telling customer stories is powerful. Kurokawa san made the customers experiences come alive and he linked them to the products they enjoyed. Rather than just a cold statement of the facts, he crafted a statement of love for their customers. The feeling of the notice is that there is a special bond they feel with all of their customers and even though they won't reopen on that site for another three years, they won't have forgotten them and look forward to serving them forever. Are we communicating we feel a special bond with our customers? Often, corporate communications becomes machine like and wrapped up in what can sound like marketing department dross. Kurokawa san conveys a lot of heart felt feelings in this simple notice about the main store being rebuilt. Are we weaving enough customer stories into our communications? I don't mean fake propaganda stories, but real episodes that the reader can visualise in their mind's eye? Kurokawa san's notice gets attention in Japan because of the sincerity in the message. He is regarded as really epitomising the spirit of a family that has served customers for 17 generations. We may not be the 17th generation in our business, but we can bring more heart into the service we provide our customers. We can start right now with the service we provide and how we communicate that service. Action Steps Are we really thinking about creating an emotional connection with our clients Are we telling enough happy client stories in our communications Are we fully aware of the content of all the touch points we have with our buyers Are we serving from the heart or just the head Are we instilling the right frame of reference into our staff, regarding how to properly serve the client.
Ep188 Got Faded Japan Podcast Johnny faces a moral dilemma in the rain while Shank chugs down at the new Craft Beer Market in Muromachi. Body found shipped to Tokyo luggage room, two AKB48 members and one staff attacked with saw, 2 men indicted for Starbucks firecracker stunt, dentist hospitalized in stab-n-dash, man steals school uniforms to wear them, pee-pee bicyclist still at large and woman beaten to death by three frenemies. The Got Faded Japan Podcast gives listeners a glimpse of the seedy side of Japan's news, culture, politics, parties, and all around mischief and mayhem. Hosted by Johnny and Shank who add their own opinions and otherwise drunken bullshit to the mix. Send us an email on FB/twitter/instagram @ Got Faded Japan,gotfadedjapan@gmail.com or go to gotfadedjapan.com to buy a t-shirt to support the show. Or hell man, just tell a friend & post a link to keep this pod rolllin' Fader! Kanpai mofos!
This week, we'll be doing our second Shogunal biography. We're going to discuss the life and legacy of the man who destroyed the Hojo family, established the Ashikaga bakufu, and who was until very recently reviled as the worst traitor in Japanese history: Ashikaga Takauji.
In this episode, Nate talks about his five-part blog series Principled Warfare, where he looks at examining premodern Japanese warfare through the lens of the modern US military's 12 Principles of Joint Operations. You can find Nate at his blog, The Sengoku Field Manual: http://sengokufieldmanual.blogspot.com/ Mentioned in this podcast: Principled Warfare: Samurai Combat Done Right (and Wrong)http://shogun-yashiki.blogspot.com/2012/08/greetings-once-again-samurai-archives.html Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://amzn.to/wnDX2j 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 Samurai Archives Forum: http://www.japanhistoryforum.com
In this episode we finish off our battle of Nagashino series with an interview and Q&A with Nate Ledbetter, author of "Samurai as Commander: The Battle of Nagashino (1575) and the Military Decision-Making Process". The focus of our interview today is the battle itself. Mentioned in this podcast: Higuchi Takaharu. Karyoku no Tairyô Tônyû o Kyodai na Senryoku Toshite Katsuyô. Nagashino no Tatakai. Tokyo: Gakken Publishing, 2010. Print. Pp 72-77. Higuchi Takaharu. Saigo ni Ketteida wo Ataeta Kiba Gundan ha Sonzai Shita!Nagashino no Tatakai. Tokyo: Gakken Publishing, 2010. Print. Pp. 66-71. Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://amzn.to/wnDX2j 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 Samurai Archives Forum: http://www.japanhistoryforum.com
After the Onin war in the mid-late 15th century, the centralized power of the Ashikaga Shogunate collapsed, leaving the field open to anyone ambitious and powerful enough to make a grab for power. During the first half of the Sengoku period (approximately 1477-1560) there was massive consolidation as daimyo across Japan solidified their power bases and battled for land and resources. The lack of central government left individual clans to fend for themselves, and in the ensuing chaos many would rise and fall in epic battles that anyone familiar with the pop-culture representations of the Samurai in Movies and Anime would recognize. Mentioned in this podcast: Morillo, Stephen. Guns and Government: A Comparative Study of Europe and Japan Journal of World History, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Spring, 1995), pp. 75-106 http://www.jstor.org/pss/20078620 Neilson, David Society at War: Eyewitness Accounts of Sixteenth Century Japan PhD Dissertation University of Oregon, 2007 http://gradworks.umi.com/32/85/3285619.html Toby, Ronald. Review: Rescuing the Nation from History: The State of the State in Early Modern Japan Monumenta Nipponica Vol. 56, No. 2 (Summer, 2001), pp. 197-237 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2668408 Samurai Archives Blog: Interview with John Bender, Sengoku Student and Analyst http://shogun-yashiki.blogspot.com/2009/05/interview-with-john-bender-sengoku.html Shogun Total War - Gold Edition (Game) Sengoku(Game) Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://amzn.to/wnDX2j 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 Samurai Archives Forum: http://www.japanhistoryforum.com
In this episode of our Introduction to Japanese History series, we look at the 15th century and the build up to the Onin war, and what would ultimately lead to the age of the country at war - the Sengoku period. Mentioned in this podcast: Durston, Diane. Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns Kodansha USA; 2 edition (April 1, 2005) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/4770029942 Grossberg, Kenneth. From Feudal Chieftain to Secular Monarch: The Development of Shogunal Power in Early Muromachi Japan Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring, 1976), pp. 29-49 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2384184 Grossberg, Kenneth. Japan's Renaissance - The Politics of the Muromachi Bakufu Cornell University, New York, 2001 http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/1885445083 Mason, Penelope. History of Japanese Art Prentice Hall; 2nd edition (October 4, 2004) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0131176013 Souryi, Pierre. The World Turned Upside Down: Medieval Japanese Society (Asia Perspectives: History, Society, and Culture) Columbia University Press (August 27, 2003) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0231118430 Verschuer, Charlotte Von. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's Foreign Policy 1398 to 1408 A.D.: A Translation from Zenrin Kokuhōki, the Cambridge Manuscript Monumenta Nipponica Volume 62, Number 3, Autumn 2007 https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/monumenta_nipponica/summary/v062/62.3verschuer.html Yamamura, Kozo & Imatani, Akira. Not for Lack of Will or Wile: Yoshimitsu's Failure to Supplant the Imperial Lineage Journal of Japanese Studies Vol. 18, No. 1 (Winter, 1992), pp. 45-78 http://www.jstor.org/stable/132707 Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://amzn.to/wnDX2j 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 Samurai Archives Forum: http://www.japanhistoryforum.com
For the 10th episode in our Intro to Japanese History podcast series, we examine the events that lead to the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate. Emperor Go-Daigo, deciding he wants a return to imperial rule without a Shogunate, enlists various warrior families to support him in overthrowing the Kamakura Bakufu and the Hojo regents - however not all goes as planned as Ashikaga Takauji, his ally turned enemy, ends his dream of imperial rule and establishes the Ashikaga Shogunate. Unfortunately for the Ashikaga clan, it's not all rainbows and lollipops for the first 60 years of the Ashikaga Shogunate, as Go-Daigo's supporters set up an alternate imperial line and engage in decades of guerrilla and outright war on behalf of the emperor. Mentioned in this podcast: Arnesen, Peter. The Medieval Japanese Daimyo: The Ouchi Family's Rule of Suo and Nagato Yale University Press (1979) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/B000PSGVY6 Grossberg, Kenneth. From Feudal Chieftain to Secular Monarch: The Development of Shogunal Power in Early Muromachi Japan Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring, 1976), pp. 29-49 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2384184 Grossberg, Kenneth. Japan's Renaissance - The Politics of the Muromachi Bakufu Cornell University, New York, 2001 http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/1885445083 Mishima, Yukio.The Temple of the Golden Pavilion Vintage; Trade Paperback Edition edition (October 4, 1994) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0679752706 Mishima, Yukio.Patriotism New Directions; Second Edition edition (February 24, 2010) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0811218546 Morris, Ivan. The Nobility of Failure: Tragic Heroes in the History of Japan Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 1, 1988) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0374521204 Souryi, Pierre. The World Turned Upside Down: Medieval Japanese Society (Asia Perspectives: History, Society, and Culture) Columbia University Press (August 27, 2003) http://astore.amazon.com/samurai-20/detail/0231118430 Yamamura, Kozo & Imatani, Akira. Not for Lack of Will or Wile: Yoshimitsu's Failure to Supplant the Imperial Lineage Journal of Japanese Studies Vol. 18, No. 1 (Winter, 1992), pp. 45-78 http://www.jstor.org/stable/132707 Zollner, Reinhard. Review: The Sun Also Rises. Go-Daigo in Revolt Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 53, No. 4 (Winter, 1998), pp. 517-527 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2385743 Support this podcast: Shop Amazon.com, suport the podcast: http://amzn.to/wnDX2j 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 Samurai Archives Forum: http://www.japanhistoryforum.com