Podcasts about Sakai

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the Battle of Hong kong. Japan's rise as a threat to British interests accelerated through the 1920s and intensified after invading China. Britain's response remained contradictory—diplomatically conciliatory yet militarily apprehensive. While Singapore and Malaya received substantial reinforcements, Hong Kong was acknowledged indefensible, yet the 1936 Defence Scheme attempted to fortify it as an island fortress. Governor Northcote urgently advocated evacuation, recognizing the futility of defense. London rejected this, fearing it would demoralize China and forfeit sovereignty claims. Reinforcement requests from commanders like Grasett fell on deaf ears until Grasett independently lobbied Canadian leaders. This persistence finally convinced Churchill to dispatch two additional battalions. On December 8, 1941, Japanese forces attacked across three fronts with overwhelming force. Within hours, the RAF was destroyed on the ground, demolitions proved ineffective, and British units rapidly retreated toward the Gin Drinkers Line, facing an enemy that outnumbered and outmaneuvered them from the opening moments.   #217 The Battle of Hong Kong Part 2: the Island Aflame Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Around 1500 hours on 9 December, Colonel Doi of the 228th Regiment arrived at Needle Hill, just north of the Gin Drinkers Line, ahead of his main force. For two hours he studied the British defensive positions through binoculars, noting trenches and bunkers—and to his surprise, washing lines fluttering with white clothes. The sight spoke volumes about the 2 Royal Scots' lax discipline. Then fog descended, reducing visibility to barely twenty meters, and heavy rain obscured the landscape. Doi sensed a fleeting advantage but lost radio contact with his battalions. Worse still, the Shing Mun Redoubt lay outside his regimental boundary, making an unauthorized attack a serious breach of protocol. When his units finally arrived, supporting artillery remained unavailable, held up by demolished roads. Doi chose to attack anyway. Doi ordered the 2nd Battalion to scout the eastern approach while the 3rd Battalion spearheaded the main assault. Major Nishiyana commanded the 3rd, sending Lieutenant Wakabayashi and Kasugai with 150 volunteers to lead. The Shing Mun Redoubt itself comprised five concrete pillboxes and an artillery observation post, connected by underground tunnels named after London landmarks—Piccadilly, Haymarket, and others. The whole complex sat on small rises above Jubilee Dam, then the British Empire's tallest. Defending the redoubt was A Company, 2 Royal Scots, under Captain Jones—just three officers and 39 men. One platoon of 25 soldiers under 2nd Lieutenant Thompson held the forward positions. Against this stood 150 Japanese attackers, with another 1,500 troops in reserve. Battalion orders forbade using the concrete works as fighting positions; they were meant for the Vickers machine-gun team and artillery protection. No mines could spare the redoubt's perimeter. On the night of the 9th, roughly half the defenders sheltered in the observation post while the remainder manned pillboxes 401b and 402. At 2000 hours, Thompson led a nine-man patrol northward to check Needle Hill and Shing Mun Valley. Despite two and a half hours in the field, the patrol returned at 2220 hours without detecting the Japanese force massing just 500 meters away. By that time, Lieutenant Kasugai's assault group had crossed Jubilee Dam undetected, bypassed unmanned Post X, and assembled below Pillbox 401b. At 2200 hours, Japanese sappers cut through two lines of wire. At 2300—H-Hour—Lance Corporal Laird heard movement in the bushes and opened fire. The Japanese answered with grenades and rushed the pillbox lines. One team entered the tunnel system; another hurled grenades through the air vents. Corporal Campbell swung his Vickers toward Pillbox 401, catching Japanese headquarters personnel in the open. Sergeant Robb mustered a counter-attack force of thirteen men. Five fell as casualties—Laird, Basnett, Coyle, Casey, and Jardine. Casey was killed; only Jardine escaped. The alert triggered gunfire from the observation post's defenders, and Forward Observer Wilcox called down 4.5-inch and 6-inch artillery fire. Without strong reinforcement and leadership, four Royal Scots and an Indian sentry abandoned the northern positions and withdrew to the observation post. Captain Jones received orders from Brigade to counter-attack, but delegated the task to Thompson. As Thompson attempted to leave the observation post, he found the gate locked from outside. This calamity had a backstory: just before the attack, Thompson had admitted a civilian at the request of Force 163 (SOE's sabotage unit in Singapore). Private Wylie had taken the observation post key from Lance Naik Kishan Singh and, upon exit, locked the gate behind him. The three officers were now literally locked out of the battle. Second Lieutenant Mochizuki and his platoon infiltrated through open trenches and began attacking the observation post from above, attempting to breach the hatches. The defenders held for three hours before Japanese sappers forced explosives down the air vents. At 0230 hours, the blast killed two Indian signallers inside. Thompson sustained a severe eye wound from grenade shrapnel; Jones and Warrant Officer Mead were both wounded. The remaining fifteen defenders surrendered; eleven became casualties. Meanwhile, a Rajput patrol engaging Japanese forces in the river valley managed to drive them back toward the redoubt. One final pillbox endured for another eleven hours before suffering the same sapper treatment. By 0400 hours on 10 December, the entire redoubt was lost. For just two killed, the Japanese had achieved a decisive victory—the breakthrough that would shift the entire campaign's trajectory. By dawn, a Japanese flag flew triumphantly from Point 255.   Major-General Maltby's assessment was stark: "This was calamitous, for Shing Mun was the key to the whole of the left position." Yet the Japanese perspective differed sharply. Having achieved a breakthrough, Colonel Doi received astonishing orders to withdraw—his success had transgressed into the 230th Regiment's sector and violated the meticulously prepared war plan. Doi refused. After heated confrontation with Major-General Ito and Lieutenant-General Sakai, his insubordination was later censured, though a divisional staff officer, Oyadomani, bore the scapegoat's burden of rebuke for failing to restrain Doi's initiative. With Shing Mun secured, Doi methodically fed reinforcements into the position. Throughout December 10th, the Japanese remained uncertain of their advantage and adopted a cautious strategy, probing British lines to exploit the evident disorder. Brigadier Wallis ordered the Royal Scots to mount an immediate dawn counterattack supported by the Rajputs and artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel White demurred; his battalion lacked any reasonable prospect of success. The resulting counterattack proved half-hearted at best. At first light on December 11th, the Japanese pressed Golden Hill forcefully, only to be repulsed by Captain Newton's Rajputs and gunfire from HMS Cicala. White positioned D Company in shallow shell scrapes and rusted wire—inadequate defenses against Japanese assault. Captain Pinkerton led a desperate bayonet charge that morning, temporarily clearing the Japanese and enabling the evacuation of wounded. Yet B, C, and D Companies absorbed devastating losses; Captains Rose and Richardson fell commanding their positions. With the Royal Scots collapsing, X Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and armored support rushed westward to seal the widening gap along Castle Peak Road. Meanwhile, Maltby grappled with alarming reports: Japanese landings on Lantau Island southwest of Hong Kong. Heavy artillery drove them back. A second probe at Aberdeen, where Special Naval Landing Forces approached within 300 yards of the naval base, was repelled by Canadian machine-gun fire. In hindsight, these were mere feints—never intended as the primary thrust. The stratagem succeeded. Maltby retained his island reserves—the Middlesex and two Canadian battalions—precisely where they would be needed. Had Wallis executed a forceful counterattack on December 10th with the Royal Scots and brigade reserves, the Rajputs might have retaken Shing Mun while the Japanese remained disorganized. Instead, Colonel Doi faced a furious Sakai, who had flown down from 38th Division headquarters at Taipo for what amounted to a pre-court-martial examination. The moment passed. After only 48 hours of combat, Maltby concluded the mainland was indefensible. The three battalions would withdraw intact to Hong Kong Island to assume their fortress defense roles. The naval commodore objected—demolitions, supply transfers, and troop ferrying required more time. The evacuation order was deferred 24 hours until noon on December 11th. At that hour, the decision was finalized: the mainland would be abandoned under cover of darkness. Further demolitions followed—the China Light and Power Station, the cement works on Tsing Yi Island, the docks. Yet Brigadier Wallis believed this merely a precautionary measure; he anticipated holding the mainland for at least another week. The withdrawal avoided Kowloon's congested streets, where street fighting and fifth columnists might have entrapped the British—a calculation that proved prescient, as an IJA advance column of 350 men from the 3/230th infiltrated Kowloon on the morning of December 12th to cut off the retreating garrison. The Royal Scots and Canadians retired south to Shamshuipo Barracks and Jordan Road Pier in western Kowloon; the Rajputs and supporting gunners withdrew eastward to Ma Lau Tong, which anchored the fortified Devil's Peak Peninsula. Maltby intended to hold this commanding position permanently—it was easily supplied across the narrow Lyemun Strait. The evacuation proceeded largely as planned. The Canadians and Royal Scots embarked on the afternoon and evening of December 11th under Punjabi covering fire. The Punjabis faced a harder journey—a moonlit scramble along steep Kowloon hills laden with supplies but critically short of mules. One group lost its way at a crucial junction, splitting into two columns. One proceeded toward Devil's Peak as planned; Battalion Headquarters descended into Kai Tak Airport, threaded through Kowloon City, and was evacuated by Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui, fighting until the final moment as the last man boarded. The Rajputs' commander, unable to reach his Punjabi counterpart, abandoned Ma Lau Tong for the closer Hai Wan line near Devil's Peak. By 0400 hours on December 12th, the Punjabis and one Rajput company, accompanied by the gunners of the 25th Medium Battery, crossed Lyemun Strait to Hong Kong Island. Morning evacuations continued with minimal Japanese interference—a surprising restraint. Naval support proved crucial. The withdrawal completed by the morning of December 13th, though 170 mules were lost to the desertion of Chinese laborers—a deprivation that would haunt the subsequent campaign. During this passage, the IJN attempted shore bombardment. The Japanese cruiser and supporting vessels found themselves outranged by the defenders' 9.2-inch guns. The damage inflicted proved sufficient to discourage future naval adventures; for the remainder of the battle, the IJN maintained a cautious distance and played only a peripheral role. The speed and execution of the withdrawal apparently caught the Japanese unprepared. Their most probable expectation had been a full-scale assault on Devil's Peak accompanied by heavy bombardment—a day earlier, an assault without artillery preparation had been driven back with severe losses. The British appeared stronger than anticipated. The defense of the mainland had lasted only five days. With the mainland secured, the Japanese pivoted toward Hong Kong Island. The first move was diplomatic rather than military. At 0900 hours on December 13th, a small boat bearing a white flag crossed the harbor. It carried Colonel Toda, Lieutenant Mizuno, Mr. Othsu Dak, and two European women—the prominent and heavily pregnant Mrs. Macdonald and Mrs. C. R. Lee, wife of the Governor's secretary, accompanied by her two dachshunds. The surrender terms were flatly rejected. Major Boxer delivered the written refusal personally. Mrs. Macdonald remained in Hong Kong to give birth; Mrs. Lee and her dogs returned to Kowloon. The Japanese commenced systematic shelling of selected targets. On December 13th, a 9.2-inch gun on Mt. Davis was silenced; Belcher's Fort sustained damage. The following day, a 3-inch mount on Mt. Davis was hit, killing Chinese gunners and triggering morale collapse; some deserted. On December 15th, the barrage shifted to the northern shoreline, deliberately targeting pillboxes. At 2100 hours that night, approximately three Japanese companies attempted crossing the harbor in rubber rafts toward Pakshawan but were driven off by machine-gun fire. Fifth columnists intensified their operations—signaling with mirrors, sniping from concealed positions, spreading propaganda to encourage Chinese desertion. Their impact might have been catastrophic had not Rear-Admiral Chan and Colonel Yee, armed with tommy guns and grenades, systematically eliminated many of these saboteurs. By December 16th, half the pillboxes between the racecourse and Lyemun Strait lay destroyed. The intended crossing site was unmistakable. On December 17th, the Japanese dispatched a second peace mission—Colonel Toda's team now accompanied by Mrs. Lee with her dachshunds and a pregnant Russian woman. Again, the overtures were rebuffed. On December 18th, the bombardment reached new intensity. Oil storage tanks ignited, sending dense black smoke cascading across the northeast corner of the island—perfect concealment for what was to come. All signs pointed to imminent assault.  I want to note something here, you sometimes hear about how race played a role in the Pacific War and indeed it did. Racist attitudes were found on both the western and Japanese side of the war. There is a fantastic book dedicated to this by the way called, War without Mercy by John Dower, highly recommend it. What is interesting is how these racial attitudes actually affected decision making during the war. Take General Sakai's night amphibious assault for example. Western soldiers such as the Canadians in Hong Kong reported they were told by their commanders that quote "Don't worry about the Japanese, they can't see at night, they all wear glasses" another Canadian soldier wrote in a diary "They don't see well, especially at night we knew this as a matter of fact." Indeed the week before the outbreak of the battle of Hong Kong, Canadian officers attending a briefing by a British officer were informed that "Japan's aircraft were mostly obsolete, its air force had little practice in night flying, and its pilots were myopic and thus unable to carry out dive-bombing attacks". You might be asking yourself, why did they think the Japanese were myopic? The scientific explanation of the day was this "That the Japanese suffered widespread inner-ear damage. What caused this? Japanese motherhood, the practice of strapping babies to their mothers backs, it was explained caused their heads to bounce about, like when they harvested rice and permanently impaired their sense of balance". I particularly love this quote, one of my professors dedicated an entire class to the bizarre racial attitudes before and after the pacific war. There was a belief the Japanese could not see well at night, many western air force commanders actually believed there were times of day like at dawn or dusk where Japanese pilots would not operate because of this hindrance. American military commentator Fletcher Pratt in 1939 analyzed Japan's military strengths and explained it had four major weaknesses. The first was scarcity of resources such as iron, and steel. The second was that the Japanese "can neither make good airplanes nor fly them well" as a result of " the Japanese as a race have defects of the tubes of the inner ear, just as they are generally myopic. This gives them a defective sense of balance, the one physical sense in which an aviator is not permitted to be deficient.". The third was that the Japanese were short-tempered and were inclined to waste men unnecessarily when operations did not go well. The fourth was that the Japanese would simply never date to provoke a war with the US. Again Mr Pratt was an American military commentator whose information came from multiple accounts given by high ranking military officials! The British military maintained that the Japanese avoided night operations on land because they were simply incapable of caring them out well, while they avoided nighttime aerial attacks, as well as dive-bombing for the same reasons Pratt said quote "their pilots were poor and their aircraft inferior.". So take this all to mind when I talk about how certain ranking officers go about making their decisions. By the evening of 14 December, evacuated mainland units had regrouped on Hong Kong Island. The defensive structure was restructured into two brigades: Brigadier Wallis commanded the East Brigade from Taitam Gap, while Brigadier Lawson headed the West Brigade from Wongneichong Gap. This reorganization placed the 5/7 Rajputs across the north-east perimeter, defending over 3,500 metres of coastline with B Company positioned on the hills behind Taikoo Docks. The Royal Rifles of Canada held the north-east corner from Stanley to points south, with reserve positions at Lyemun. Two HKVDC companies supported from Taitam Valley and Pottinger Gap, while the veteran Hughsiliers manned the North Point power station. British and Canadian artillery provided fire support across the northern approaches. The West Brigade held the north-western and south-western shores. The 2/14 Punjab stretched from Causeway Bay to Belcher's Point, protecting Government House and General Maltby's headquarters, with battalion headquarters at Mid-Level. The Winnipeg Grenadiers covered the south-west from Wanchai Gap, with one company detached to the brigade headquarters at Wongneichong Gap. The 2 Royal Scots, severely mauled at Shing Mun, were held in reserve with fresh replacements from the HKVDC. The Middlesex Regiment's companies were dispersed along 72 pillboxes encircling the entire shoreline, while an improvised Z Company of clerks, musicians and cooks defended battalion headquarters at Leighton Hill. Supporting artillery included 9.2-inch and 6-inch guns on Mt Davis and 4.7-inch guns at Belcher's Point. As darkness fell on 17 December, Japanese reconnaissance swimmers reached Taikoo, confirming the crossing site despite detection. Reinforcements arrived: 18 additional heavy bombers from Guangzhou and 26 fighters from Taiwan joined the aerial assault. The crescendo of artillery fire on the 18th, combined with masses of small craft gathering across the harbour, signalled the imminent invasion. Japanese divisional headquarters shifted to Ma Tau Wei near Kai Tak Airport; the 23rd Army moved to Taipo. The invasion force disposed itself with the right flank embarking from east and west of Kai Tak, the left from Devil's Hill area. At 1800 hours, the invasion order was issued; by 1930 hours Sakai himself arrived in Kowloon to oversee the crossing. At precisely 2000 hours, the 2/228th Regiment silently paddled their collapsible craft toward Taikoo Docks and the nearby sugar factory as artillery support commenced. Colonel Doi embarked with 80 headquarters personnel aboard a large barge, leading the second wave. The conditions favoured the invaders—a moonless night, sporadic showers, and thick black smoke from burning oil tanks obscured their movement. They reached the midpoint undetected before searchlights and machine-gun fire scattered the small boats, separating commanders from their units. Despite this chaos, the assault pressed forward. At 2140 hours the artillery shifted to deeper targets; at 2145 hours the first wave of 3/230th landed at North Point, followed minutes later by 2/228th and then 2/229th. Three red flares signalled a successful landing. All six Japanese battalions were ashore by midnight, though wire fencing delayed their advance and Bren carriers added to the confusion on the beach. General Sano arrived at Taikoo one hour later. The 5/7 Rajputs bore the initial brunt of the assault. Despite days of preliminary shelling, the Rajputs mounted a stubborn defence; Japanese casualties mounted rapidly. The anti-tank company suffered so grievously that only a single gun remained operational. The Japanese plan was tactical rather than frontal—bypass isolated positions for later elimination and push rapidly toward high ground. Overwhelmed by numerical superiority and losing most of their officers, Rajput resistance gradually crumbled. Contradicting all evidence, Maltby remained convinced the main Japanese assault would strike directly at Victoria from Kowloon. He therefore withheld the counter-attack, instead dispatching a platoon of Middlesex troops, Royal Marines, naval personnel, and the Rajputs' reserve company—supported by artillery—to establish a defensive line blocking the Japanese advance toward Central District. Three HKVDC armoured cars were sent to protect East Brigade headquarters; two more reinforced the Middlesex battalion headquarters. It was manifestly inadequate against six Japanese battalions. In post-war dispatches, Maltby conceded his grave miscalculation: he believed he faced at most two battalions, not a full division. As the 3/230th broke through D Company of the 5/7 Rajputs, the 2/230th came ashore nearby and wheeled westward toward Victoria. Their advance halted abruptly at the North Point power station, held by an extraordinary force: four officers and 36 men of the HKVDC Hughsiliers Platoon—alongside 39 civilian volunteers from China Light & Power and Hong Kong Electric, including the station manager Vincent Sorby—plus eight Free French soldiers commanded by Captain Jacques Egal, a Shanghai businessman turned soldier. Without exception, these men were World War I veterans, many aged 55 or older. Some had fought in the Boer War. Major J. J. Patterson, the Hughsiliers' commander, had served with Allenby's Camel Corps and been mentioned in dispatches six times; he was chairman of Jardine Matheson and a legislative councillor. Private Sir Edward Des Voeux, 8th Baronet, a millionaire bullion trader and secretary of the Hong Kong Club, had enlisted as a private when deemed too old for mobilization. Private T. A. Pearce, 67 years old, was chairman of J. D. Hutchison & Company and secretary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Captain Bruch, the second-in-command, aged 60, chaired a major trading house. The list extended through Hong Kong's business elite, each choosing to fight rather than flee. These old men held an entire regiment at bay. When Patterson called for aid, Maltby dispatched an HKVDC armoured car with a platoon from Z Company, 1 Middlesex, but the reinforcement was ambushed before reaching the station; only nine soldiers, including 2nd Lieutenant Caruthers, broke through. Unable to dislodge the defenders by assault, the Japanese resorted to bombardment. By 0145 hours on 19 December, surrounded and ammunition exhausted, the defenders withdrew to King's Road behind a disabled bus. The Japanese deployed three machine guns, killing or mortally wounding all but Private Geoghan. A Japanese officer, believing all dead, cautiously approached—only to have Geoghan, despite his wounds, surge from cover and charge. He killed the officer and four soldiers before collapsing from wounds. Somehow Geoghan survived. Those old men—civilians and reservists, businessmen and veterans—held the entire western Japanese advance for 18 hours, buying Maltby precious time to withdraw forces and establish a new defensive line. Their stand at North Point became one of the campaign's most improbable acts of defiance. As the 2/229th Regiment advanced southward toward Mt Parker, the 3/229th landed at Aldrich Bay and turned eastward toward Lyemun, where they seized an HKVDC 6-inch gun. Major Bishop of the Royal Rifles of Canada, unaware of the landings, dispatched 15 Platoon under Lieutenant Scott to check on A Company of the Rajputs. Unexpectedly, they encountered armed men in civilian clothes at Lyemun's gate—the first indication of the Japanese presence on the island. Yet senior officers dismissed initial reports of landings and lost positions as exaggerated, a critical miscalculation that proved catastrophic. At Lyemun Fort, the 5th Anti-aircraft Battery of the HKVDC was caught completely unaware and surrendered after minimal resistance. The Japanese then committed one of many atrocities that would characterize the battle, bayoneting 29 survivors. Alerted by 15 Platoon's report, Bishop attempted a counter-attack with two platoons to retake the fort, but the defenders could not scale the six-meter wall and withdrew with nine men killed. As the 2/229th pressed southward toward Mt Parker, they overran the Salesian Mission, which had been converted into an Advance Dressing Station. No. 8 Company of the 2/229th systematized a massacre of medical personnel and the wounded—an atrocity that would later become pivotal evidence at Colonel Tanaka's war crimes trial. Yet amid the chaos, several medical staff and wounded survived to testify: Gunners Y. K. Chan and Martin H. C. Tso of the 5th Battery, Captain Osler Thomas of the HKVDC, Captain Martin Banfill of the Royal Canadian Medical Corps, and Corporal Norman Leath of the Royal Army Medical Corps. C Company of the Royal Rifles, reinforced with captured Japanese machine guns abandoned by fleeing Rajputs, inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with one Japanese company suffering over 65 percent losses. Yet overwhelmed by superior numbers and suffering nearly two platoons worth of casualties themselves, the Canadians were forced to withdraw, leaving only a reinforcement platoon under Lieutenant Blaver on Mt Parker. When Captain Clerke arrived at dawn with 16 Platoon to reinforce the position, he found over 100 Japanese already entrenched. With no artillery support and only two platoons available, Clerke had no choice but to withdraw, abandoning Mt Parker to the enemy. By dawn on the 19th, the East Brigade faced catastrophe. Infantry strength had been halved, and losses of artillery were equally devastating. A series of misunderstandings and misinterpreted orders led coastal gun crews at Capes D'Aguilar and Collinson to destroy their own guns in confusion or lose them to the advancing Japanese. Of the entire artillery complement, only one 18-pounder and two 3.7-inch field guns remained operational. Wongneichong—literally "yellow muddy creek" in Chinese—occupies the center of Hong Kong Island, a valley separating the eastern hills (Mt Parker, Mt Butler, Jardine's Lookout) from the western massif (Mt Nicholson, Mt Cameron, Victoria Peak). This narrow gap formed the critical artery linking northern and southern Hong Kong, making Brigadier Lawson's decision to place West Brigade Headquarters there strategically sound yet tactically vulnerable. Recognizing the exposed position after the landings, Major Lyndon had located an alternative site south of Mt Nicholson, scheduled to open the following day. In response to the Japanese landings, Lawson dispatched three platoons of Winnipeg Grenadiers to block the advance. Lieutenant C. D. French took 18 Platoon to Mt Butler, Lieutenant G. A. Birkett's 17 Platoon moved to Jardine's Lookout, and Lieutenant L. B. Corrigan's platoon took the north-west approach to the Gap. As on Mt Parker, both French and Birkett were killed almost immediately, their small forces overwhelmed by battalion-strength enemy forces with artillery support. By morning on the 19th, two battalions each of the 230th and 228th Regiments were pushing for the high ground. The 2/230th rapidly occupied Jardine's Lookout while the 3/230th moved to Mt Nicholson and the 2/228th advanced toward the Gap itself. No. 3 Company of the HKVDC under Major E. Stewart held pillboxes around Jardine's Lookout, while No. 1 Company under Captain Penn defended Taitam Valley with forward positions at Quarry Gap. The pillboxes, despite heavy bombardment, held longer than anticipated—some for as long as 24 hours. Stewart maintained his company headquarters until the 22nd, four days of continuous fighting without adequate ammunition, food, or water. No. 3 Company suffered 80 percent casualties and ceased to exist as a cohesive unit. Realizing that the enemy had penetrated to Mt Butler, Brigadier Lawson decided counter-attack was essential. Major A. B. Gresham of A Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers, was ordered to retake Mt Butler and clear Jardine's Lookout. The Canadians initially succeeded, with Warrant Officer 2 J. R. Osborne leading a bayonet charge, but a strong counter-attack by three Japanese companies drove them back by 2200 hours. The Canadians held firm until 1500 hours, when Gresham attempted surrender despite waving a white flag—the Japanese shot him regardless. In the chaos that followed, a Canadian killed a Japanese officer in response, triggering a grenade barrage. Warrant Officer Osborne caught the grenades and hurled them back as fast as they came, but one landed in an impossible position. Without hesitation, Osborne threw himself on the grenade to save his comrades. This act of supreme self-sacrifice earned him a Victoria Cross—the first Canadian VC of World War II. At dawn on the 19th, Maltby dispatched A Company of the 2 Royal Scots under Captain K. J. Campbell to reinforce the Gap, but they lost all their officers with only 15 men reaching Lawson's headquarters. A group of sailors under Commander A. L. Pears came from the south, but were ambushed en route; only a few reached the Postbridge—a house just south of the Gap—which became an isolated strongpoint. The 3/230th captured the police station perched on a mound at the southern point of the Gap, then swept eastward to seize the anti-aircraft guns of 7th Battery (barely 250 meters from brigade headquarters) and continued uphill toward Taitam Hill to capture additional 6-inch and 3.7-inch guns. Maltby's response was to call down final protective fire from the HKSRA in Happy Valley, inflicting massive casualties on the 3/230th. At 1000 hours on the 19th, Lawson reported that his headquarters was surrounded and he was about to "go outside and shoot it out." Captain H. A. Bush provided covering fire as Lawson and his entire staff, including Middlesex signallers, were cut down by machine-gun fire across the Gap. Lawson's body was discovered two days later halfway up the hill behind his headquarters, dead from a gunshot wound to the thigh. Lieutenant Kerfoot of the 2/14 Punjab with his three Bren carriers arrived minutes too late to save him. IJA who saw the fight made a note stating "he died heroically". At 1330 hours on the 19th, Maltby issued "Operation Order No. 6" calling for a massive counter-attack to commence 90 minutes later. The plan was ambitious: A and D Companies of the 2/14 Punjab were to attack east from Victoria to North Point to relieve the Hughsiliers, while HQ Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the 2 Royal Scots were to attack the Gap and Jardine's Lookout. Eight field guns were promised but never materialized. There was no reconnaissance, no proper orders, and minimal coordination. The Canadians were to rendezvous with the 2 Royal Scots at Middle Gap at 1530 hours, but the Scots were late; the Canadians advanced without them. Captain Pinkerton of D Company, 2 Royal Scots, was ordered at the last minute to attack up Wongneichong Gap Road—the same route A Company had taken only seven hours earlier and been decimated—because it was reported as "lightly held." Captain A. M. S. Slater-Brown led the advance with three Bren carriers and attached engineers, followed by D Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Just as the carriers reached the burnt-out trucks of A Company, they too were ambushed. Mortars and machine-gun fire rained down from Jardine's Lookout, where the Japanese occupied captured HKVDC pillboxes. Slater-Brown and 2nd Lieutenant Bell, the battalion intelligence officer, were killed instantly. The Royal Scots waited in the roadside ditches until 0200 hours before launching an attack on the police station, reaching the steps before Pinkerton was severely wounded. Captain Ford's composite company attack at 0300 hours also failed. Simultaneously, C Company under Lieutenant F. L. Stanier attacked Jardine's Lookout—also unsuccessfully. This series of piecemeal assaults cost the Royal Scots eight officers and 68 soldiers. Growing increasingly desperate, Maltby ordered Major Hodkinson, Officer Commanding HQ Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, to attack the Gap and proceed to Mt Parker. Requesting reinforcements from A Company and the Royal Scots, Hodkinson launched his assault with covering fire from Lieutenant Corrigan on Mt Nicholson. The Grenadiers managed to reach Mt Nicholson with only five unwounded men, though Corrigan's group advanced to within 300 meters of the Gap road. Then came an unexpected stroke of fortune: while skirting Mt Nicholson, Hodkinson's group stumbled upon approximately 500 Japanese—probably from the 3/230th—eating lunch without posting sentries. The Winnipeg Grenadiers unleashed devastating fire, inflicting heavy casualties. By 1745 hours, Hodkinson's force was only 100 meters from Repulse Bay Road. With four men and a 2-inch mortar, Hodkinson worked his way to the abandoned brigade headquarters, bringing 20 walking wounded with him. He established a foothold at the Gap, receiving orders to attack the police station at 2200 hours. Two HKVDC armoured cars with Vickers machine guns came in support, but accurate enemy fire disabled both. Like Pinkerton before him, Hodkinson reached near his objective before being severely wounded. For this action of determination and courage, Hodkinson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. By the morning of the 20th, the Japanese had consolidated control of the Gap, but elements of D Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers, still held various pillboxes north of the position. Initially, 17 and 18 Platoons occupied forward positions with Company Headquarters and 16 Platoon in reserve, positioned across Wongneichong Road almost directly opposite brigade headquarters. Forward positions were rapidly overrun and cut off from the company. They fought without officers until withdrawal to battalion headquarters became necessary. With Captain A. S. Bowman killed and Captain R. W. Philips wounded, command fell to Lieutenant T. A. Blackwood. An attempt by B Company to relieve D Company on the evening of the 20th failed catastrophically, killing all officers and 29 men. With fewer than 50 men remaining—all wounded—Lieutenant Blackwood continued inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese until 22 December, when exhaustion and the complete absence of ammunition, food, and water forced surrender. D Company killed over 200 Japanese soldiers. Post-war Japanese reports refused to believe that a single company had held the Gap for so long. For their stubborn defense, Philips and Blackwood were awarded the Military Cross, and three enlisted men received the Military Medal. The battle of Wongneichong Gap was characterized by fragmented planning and poor coordination. On the night of the 19th-20th, no fewer than three separate companies attacked the police station, with another company assaulting Jardine's Lookout—all within five hours, all independently organized by local commanders. Had these disparate actions been coordinated into a single simultaneous assault, fortress headquarters' objectives might well have been achieved. By the end of the 20th, the British had lost the vital ground of Wongneichong, though Postbridge House remained as an isolated holdout. For the Japanese, Wongneichong became the single costliest engagement since the invasion began, with over 800 casualties and the regimental commander of the 3/230th seriously wounded. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me.   Japanese landings on 18-19 December overwhelmed the East Brigade. Brigadier Lawson died defending the vital Gap. Desperate, uncoordinated counter-attacks by British and Canadian troops failed to dislodge the enemy. D Company Winnipeg Grenadiers held the position for four days against overwhelming odds before surrendering. The Japanese suffered 800 casualties but secured this critical strategic ground.

Last time we spoke about the reaction after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. After four years of fighting Japan almost alone, China's Chiang Kai-shek learned of Pearl Harbor with profound relief. Japan's attack, meant to neutralize American naval power, instead galvanized the entire Western world against Tokyo. Within hours, Chiang declared war on the Axis powers, transforming China from an isolated nation to a recognized Allied member. The strategic mathematics were clear to Chiang: America's industrial might would ultimately crush Japan. China simply needed to survive long enough. The United States quickly formalized this partnership, pledging military support through Lend-Lease and elevating Chiang to leadership of Allied forces in the China theater. Yet Pearl Harbor brought catastrophe for Western civilians in China. Americans and Britons, previously protected as neutral foreigners, were suddenly rounded up and interned in camps. For many, decades of presence in China ended in hasty evacuation, leaving behind lives built over generations.   #216 The Battle of Hong Kong Part 1: The Approaching Storm Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Japan emerged as a significant threat to British interests during the 1920s following the collapse of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. This concern intensified dramatically after Japan's invasion of China, with the ensuing Sino-Japanese War escalating tensions further. British assets in the region came under direct assault, including attacks on Western military and commercial vessels such as HMS Ladybird. Yet despite these provocations, the British Government maintained an inconsistent stance toward Japan, responding with only feeble diplomatic and military countermeasures. This contradiction characterized London's approach: while diplomatic channels remained conciliatory, military planners viewed Japan with genuine apprehension. During the 1930s, Singapore and Malaya represented Britain's most valuable and prosperous holdings in the Far East and consequently received substantial garrison reinforcements. By contrast, Hong Kong was widely acknowledged to be indefensible—a conclusion reached repeatedly by successive military studies. Despite this consensus, the British Government proceeded with the Hong Kong Defence Scheme in 1936, which aimed to transform Hong Kong Island into a fortified redoubt while establishing delaying positions in Kowloon and the New Territories. The Hong Kong Garrison's mandate was straightforward: repel external attacks and prevent enemy use of the harbour and dry dock. The underlying strategy relied on a simple principle: hold Hong Kong Island as an impregnable fortress and await relief from the Royal Navy. Consequently, protecting the harbour became the paramount objective. Japanese strategists were correctly identified as Hong Kong's primary threat, with military planners anticipating attack from the sea rather than overland. To counter such an offensive, the defence scheme incorporated five successive layers of protection: naval mines fitted with indicator nets and anti-submarine booms formed the first barrier; coastal artillery provided the second; beach installations featuring pillboxes, wire entanglements and mines constituted the third; infantry strongpoints positioned on commanding heights guarded against amphibious landings; and finally, a mobile reserve force stood ready to counterattack and eliminate any successful enemy incursion. The 1936 plan also mandated extensive fortification of Kowloon's bottleneck approaches through bunkers, trenches and blocked passages, with a principal defensive line—resembling a miniature Maginot Line—constructed across the mountains immediately north of Kowloon. The garrison structure comprised three infantry battalions plus the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC), a unit approximately regiment-strength equipped with armoured cars, engineers, artillery, anti-aircraft guns and infantry. These forces organized into three brigades: mainland, island, and garrison reserve. The air component was planned to be formidable: a reconnaissance squadron, a fighter-bomber squadron, two torpedo squadrons and a flight of auxiliary spotting aircraft operated by the HKVDC. Naval forces consisted of a modest destroyer contingent, an MTB flotilla, gunboats and patrol vessels. When Japan occupied Guangzhou, Hong Kong found itself effectively encircled. In response, limited conscription was implemented, though restricted to non-Chinese males for HKVDC service. Chinese personnel were largely confined to non-combat positions such as air-raid precautions and medical duties. The expanding Japanese threat prompted a substantial expansion of the Hong Kong Garrison to four regular infantry regiments—two British units (one specializing in medium machine-gun support) and two Indian regiments. Supporting forces included two coastal artillery regiments, a field artillery regiment-plus, and an anti-aircraft regiment. The Royal Navy expanded to include the 2nd MTB flotilla (eight 60-foot, 29-knot motor torpedo boats armed with twin torpedoes and eight Lewis guns each, plus two smaller 55-foot vessels), four shallow-draught river gunboats (HMS Cicala, Tern, Moth and Robin), four aging World War I S-class destroyers (HMS Thracian, Thanet, Scout and Tenedos—the last transferred to Singapore in 1939), HMS Cornflower sloop, and various auxiliary vessels including tugs, boom defence ships and minelayers. The Fleet Air Arm deployed three Supermarine Walruses—single-engine reconnaissance amphibians—at Kai Tak Airport. The Royal Air Force remained the weakest service, equipped with only four Vickers Wildebeest torpedo-bombers and a handful of HKVDC aircraft: one Avro Tutor, two Hornet Moths and two Cadet biplanes. When World War II erupted in Europe, Britain's focus necessarily shifted to national survival, inevitably leaving distant imperial outposts like Hong Kong neglected. Rather than receive reinforcements, Hong Kong actually lost capable personnel; many veteran troops were repatriated to Europe, leaving behind a less proficient garrison. Peacetime duties had proven a poor preparation for combat—officers and men had passed their time socializing rather than maintaining combat readiness. Governor Sir Geoffrey Northcote persistently urged London to adopt a firmer stance against relentless Japanese provocations: aircraft incursions, sinking of junks and fishing vessels, and infiltration by Taiwanese fifth columnists (Japan had colonized Taiwan in 1895). Recognizing the hopelessness of his position, Northcote recommended withdrawal in October 1940, arguing that defending the colony would inevitably result in mass civilian casualties and widespread destruction—a pragmatic assessment given Hong Kong's indefensible state. London categorically rejected this proposal, reasoning that withdrawal would demoralize China, embolden Japan and undermine American confidence in British resolve. Underlying this decision was an additional consideration: the long-standing dispute over Hong Kong's sovereignty. Since Britain acquired Hong Kong in 1841, the prospect of surrendering it, even temporarily, raised fears about reclaiming it afterward. Preserving the appearance of British determination was deemed crucial to demonstrating to Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalist China's leader, that Britain intended to retain the territory. Despite these political calculations, London consistently refused fresh troop deployments. Major-General A. E. Grasett, the China theatre commander, requested reinforcements only to face rejection—London offered only Indian or other colonial forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, appointed British commander in the Far East in 1941, likewise pressed for garrison strengthening, to no avail. The situation shifted dramatically after Grasett, a retired Canadian who had recently left his China post, travelled to Britain via Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, he independently approached his former classmate Major-General Crerar, Chief of the Canadian General Staff, and advocated for reinforcement. Grasett argued persuasively that deploying two or more additional battalions would enable the Hong Kong garrison to withstand an extended siege. When Grasett reached London in early September 1941, he presented this case directly to the British Chiefs of Staff, simultaneously proposing that Canada could provide the extra units. His arguments proved persuasive; the Chiefs of Staff altered course and convinced a reluctant Churchill to reconsider. In light of accelerating Japanese pressure, Britain substantially enlarged the Malaysia/Singapore garrison from nine to 32 battalions and despatched two capital ships—HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse—to the region, reasoning that this show of force would deter Japanese aggression against British Far Eastern interests, including Hong Kong. The original defence strategy envisaged holding Hong Kong Island exclusively while denying the harbour to attackers. A single battalion (the Punjabis) would execute delaying actions across the New Territories, followed by a three-battalion defensive stand on the Gin Drinkers Line. This brief mainland resistance would allow time for demolishing stores, power installations, docks and wharves, clearing food stocks and removing vital matériel before withdrawing to Hong Kong Island for a protracted resistance awaiting relief from Singapore or American forces from the Philippines. The Gin Drinkers Line—styled after the French Maginot Line in miniature—ran approximately 18 kilometres south of the Sino-Hong Kong border. Beginning near Gin Drinkers Bay west of Kowloon, it extended 17 kilometres across the Kowloon Peninsula hills toward its eastern extremity. The strategic expectation was that this line would delay the Japanese assault for three weeks or longer, permitting battalion withdrawal to Hong Kong Island for sustained resistance while mainland forces completed evacuation procedures. The 1937 war plan stipulated that four battalions would be necessary for an effective delaying action and seven for an adequate Gin Drinkers Line defence—figures which excluded the aircraft and naval support essential to success. With only a single army brigade available and virtually no air capability, planners abandoned the mainland defence concept, leaving defensive works incomplete and deteriorating under tropical conditions. Chinese personnel were conspicuously absent from initial war preparations and strategic planning, only being incorporated late in the process. The largest Chinese component was the volunteer contingent serving with the HKVDC. On the regular army side, approximately 150 Chinese recruits were enlisted in mid-1941 for the 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The Hong Kong Chinese Regiment, hastily constituted on 3 November 1941, comprised officers borrowed from British and Indian units alongside 52 Chinese junior NCOs and other ranks with minimal training. A Royal Engineers troop staffed entirely by Chinese soldiers saw service, and some Chinese personnel served with the Royal Navy and Dockyard Defence Corps. Chinese participation increased substantially in auxiliary services—air-raid precautions, auxiliary police, nursing, St John Ambulance and fire brigades. This reluctance to fully integrate Chinese forces likely reflected prevailing attitudes of the era. Pre-war British propaganda had frequently mocked Japanese military capability, portraying officers and soldiers as myopic and incompetent. Japanese combat prowess was systematically underestimated; their victories in China were attributed to facing inferior opposition rather than evidence of genuine military strength. Japanese weaponry was dismissed as inferior to European standards. Consequently, British confidence remained high that the colony could hold indefinitely if adequately reinforced. In September 1941, Hong Kong received heartening news: two additional Canadian battalions would be deployed to the garrison. Brigadier John Maltby promptly revived the pre-war plan for defending the Gin Drinkers Line, developing a strategy centred on three mainland battalions (2nd Royal Scots, 5/7 Rajputs and 2/14 Punjab) supported by HKVDC elements and four artillery troop detachments, while three island battalions (1st Middlesex, Royal Rifles of Canada and Winnipeg Grenadiers) bolstered by the bulk of the HKVDC would hold Hong Kong Island. Command responsibility was divided between two brigades: the Island Brigade (Hong Kong Infantry Brigade) under Brigadier Lawson, a recently arrived Canadian, and the mainland Kowloon Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Wallis. The Canadian regiments arrived on 16 November 1941. Maltby was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1911, and  saw extensive service across multiple campaigns: World War I, the Persian Gulf (1913–14), and the North-West Frontier (1923–24). His early promise earned him selection for accelerated advancement through prestigious staff colleges at Quetta and RAF Andover. By 1937, he was again serving on the North-West Frontier, and by 1939 commanded both the 3rd Jhelum Brigade (later the Calcutta Brigade) and the 19th Infantry Brigade in Deccan. In 1940, posted to China, Maltby orchestrated the closure of the North China Command by withdrawing two infantry battalions from Shanghai. Promoted to major-general as GOC China in August 1941, he had only three months to prepare the colony's defenses, a race against time he could not win.  The Gin Drinkers Line occupied a naturally dominant position atop mountains spanning northern Kowloon's breadth, yet possessed inherent weaknesses that would prove fatal. The line lacked defensive depth and remained vulnerable to flanking manoeuvres, with two sectors representing particular danger: Customs Pass and the gap between Golden Hill and Laichikok Peninsula near Gin Drinkers Bay. Given the extended front, each battalion arranged its forces in a string of platoon positions with gaps covered by daytime fire and nighttime patrols. One company per battalion could be held in reserve within prepared positions guarding the most dangerous sectors. The reserve company of the centre battalion (2/14 Punjab) initially advanced as forward troops, screening demolition operations and delaying the enemy's initial thrust. The hasty decision to establish mainland defences meant that essential support systems—communication networks, artillery registrations, mortar calibrations—remained incomplete when combat commenced. Ammunition shortages compounded the problem. For instance, the 2/14 Punjab conducted only a single 3-inch mortar practice session before the attack; adequate ammunition arrived only in November and totalled a mere 70 rounds per battalion for both training and combat. These mortars were registered for the first time in their battle positions, with combat beginning just 12 hours later. The 2-inch mortar situation was even more desperate: troops received live ammunition only as fighting started, making their baptism of fire an actual combat situation. Transportation deficiencies—trucks and animals in short supply—forced manual ammunition transport across Hong Kong's challenging terrain, imposing severe physical demands on already stretched personnel.   On 6 November 1941, Imperial Japanese Headquarters ordered its Commander-in-Chief in China to prepare plans for capturing Hong Kong. The 23rd Army, part of the China Southern Expeditionary Army Group and commanded by Lt. Gen. Sakai Takashi with Maj. Gen. Kuribayashi Tadamichi serving as Chief of Staff, would form the invasion's backbone. All preparations were to be completed by the end of November 1941. The operation, designated 'Operation C', sought to 'seize Hong Kong within ten days'. Takahashi was the son of a factory worker, and rose through the ranks to become a veteran of China campaigns. He was tasked with capturing Hong Kong using the 38th Division normally assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group. Despite setbacks and humiliation over requests for additional resources—particularly following intelligence reports of tanks (actually Bren carriers) in Hong Kong—Sakai remained determined to succeed. He served as Governor of Hong Kong from 26 December 1941 to 20 February 1942. Kuribayashi, best remembered as the Japanese commander at Iwo Jima, graduated from the Army Academy in 1914 specializing in cavalry. He served as deputy military attaché to Washington and Canada and studied at Harvard University. In December 1941, he held the position of Chief of Staff to the 23rd Army during the Hong Kong operation. Operation C followed a straightforward strategic framework. A blocking force would prevent Chinese interference from the rear, while the main invasion force would spearhead the assault. The 23rd Army, comprising four divisions plus a mixed brigade and two infantry regiments, received the assignment to attack Hong Kong. Of these four divisions, only the 38th played a substantive role in the invasion itself. The attack employed a combined-arms approach. Naval forces would establish a blockade and deliver bombardment while aircraft targeted key installations. Ground forces from the 38th Division—specifically the 228th, 229th, and 230th Regiments—would execute the land invasion using a three-pronged strategy. The right column would sweep westward in a wide arc, clearing Castle Peak Road and targeting the western flank of the Gin Drinkers Line near Laichikok Peninsula. The centre force would press directly through the line's middle, while the left column would cross Tidal Cove (Tolo Harbour) toward Kai Tak Airport and eastward toward Devil Peak, a crucial defensive position. The objective was to annihilate British forces on the mainland and compel Hong Kong's surrender through sustained bombardment. Should British forces resist, the island phase of the campaign would commence. Securing the rear against the Chinese National Army of the 7th Military District and Communist guerrillas fell to the 66th Regiment, normally part of the 51st Division but attached to the 38th for this operation. The 66th would simultaneously occupy and secure rear areas throughout the New Territories and Kowloon while the three assault regiments engaged the main defensive forces. This rearguard operation was organised into columns named after their commanding officers: Kitazawa, Kobayashi, Sato, and Araki. The Japanese selected the narrowest approach between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, targeting the eastern coast near Lyemun Passage where only 410 metres of water separated the mainland from the island. Upon landing, forces would rapidly advance inland to seize the critical junction of Wongneichong Gap, then pivot westward and southward to capture Victoria City and the remainder of Hong Kong. The naval contingent divided into two groups: the Bombardment Group and the Attack Group. Approximately 300 personnel from the Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) were attached to the invasion force. Air support came from the First Air Brigade under Col. Habu Hideharu, which contributed 56 light bombers and fighters. Their mission was to neutralise the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, thereby securing aerial and maritime superiority for the ground campaign.   On the eve of war, the British garrison numbered 13,981 all ranks, including nursing staff and St John Ambulance personnel. Of these, 8,919 were British and Canadian, with 4,402 Indian and Chinese. The core infantry force comprised 5,422 regular soldiers, complemented by approximately 6,000 additional personnel across artillery, engineering, naval, and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC) units. By 1941, the Royal Navy had become a shadow of its former self as the once-dominant China Squadron. Of the three World War I destroyers present on 8 December, two had been sent to Singapore—the third undergoing repairs—by 1930. This redeployment stemmed partly from the futility of defending the colony and partly from a commitment by senior US Navy officers: Britain would reinforce Singapore with Hong Kong's fleet in exchange for four American destroyers at Singapore. This American guarantee, however, never materialized. The defensive infrastructure focused primarily on countering a seaborne attack: twenty-nine coastal guns (9.2in., 6in., 4.7in., and 4in. calibres), ten 18- and 2-pounder beach defense guns, and twenty-eight field guns (60-pounder, 6in., 4.5in., and 3.7in. calibres). The Hong Kong Garrison's infantry comprised four regular army battalions—two British and two Indian—bolstered by five HKVDC infantry companies, each averaging 100 men. The 1st Middlesex Regiment, deployed in August 1937, served as a machine-gun battalion equipped with forty-eight Vickers medium machine guns. Having been abroad since 1931, the regiment had deteriorated through protracted garrison service, Hong Kong being among the softest postings available. From September 1939 onward, all regiments—including the 5/7 Rajputs (arrived June 1937) and the 2/14 Punjab—experienced systematic loss of experienced officers and NCOs to other theaters. The Royal Scots proved particularly hard hit, suffering disciplinary problems and an unusually high court-martial rate. Units like the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery suffered critical leadership gaps that went unaddressed. By December 1941, many formations fielded inexperienced replacement troops, significantly undermining combat readiness. The Punjabis exemplified these deficiencies. Stationed in Hong Kong since November 1940, they received their vehicles and mortars only in August 1941—three months before combat. Compounding this, forty percent of their strength consisted of raw recruits arrived just in October. When war erupted, artillery regiments found themselves relying on junior officers in senior roles, with British commanders unfamiliar with Urdu directing Indian troops, a handicap that severely compromised effectiveness. Deficient equipment compounded leadership shortages. Shells dating from 1918 detonated prematurely upon discharge, while ammunition shortages crippled operations. On 8 December, all field guns deployed with merely 100 rounds apiece, with 200 rounds held in reserve for the entire campaign, and coastal guns received only 25 rounds each. Insufficient cross-training meant many infantrymen failed to understand the artillery "clock face" targeting system, causing them to miss their objectives. Malaria devastated European troops, particularly the Royal Scots. Of approximately 770 personnel, at least 180 suffered recurring malarial episodes from the Shing Mun Redoubt area's notoriously endemic conditions. Staff shortages forced nearly every unit to promote junior officers to positions beyond their rank, exacerbating structural weaknesses. Although the Canadians' arrival bolstered the garrison, significant handicaps undermined their effectiveness. Both battalions carried a C-class designation—deemed unfit for foreign service—having spent years in soft garrison postings without rigorous training. The deficit was stark: each Canadian soldier received only thirty-five rifle practice rounds. The two battalions incorporated 115 men with fewer than sixteen weeks' training, while sixty-two of seventy-five recruits joining the Winnipeg Grenadiers in June came directly from a training depot lacking even basic rifles. Twelve percent of the Canadian force remained untrained. Equipment deficiencies proved even more damaging. A standard 1941 Canadian infantry battalion required 102 motor vehicles—including twenty-two Universal Carriers, thirty-seven ¾-ton trucks, thirteen 1-ton trucks, thirty-one bicycles, and twenty-two Boys anti-tank rifles. When the Canadians landed, logistical failures left them with only six Bren carriers, two water tankers, twelve ¾-ton trucks, and a single Boys anti-tank rifle. Although they carried 3in. mortars, neither ammunition nor radios accompanied them. Canada possessed only 300 3-inch mortar bombs in its entire inventory at that time, making any allocation to Hong Kong impossible. A second vessel, the SS Don Jose, was dispatched with replacement vehicles and equipment but never reached Hong Kong before 8 December. The Japanese seized it en route to Manila. Despite these shortcomings, the force departed on 27 October with 1,975 men and arrived on 16 November. Intelligence estimates regarding Japanese available forces varied widely, ranging from two to four divisions. On 6 December evening, Chinese reports confirmed the previous day's arrival of three Japanese divisions at Buji township, located eight miles from the border in what is now Shenzhen. Earlier, around 1 November, a Japanese deserter provided intelligence of significant troop concentrations north of the frontier, including large-calibre artillery indicative of at least divisional strength.   The Hong Kong invasion force comprised three service branches: the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) deployed the 38th Infantry Division, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) committed the Second China Fleet, and the Imperial Japanese Air Force (IJAF) contributed the 1st Air Group. Command of the ground assault rested with Lieutenant-General Sano Tadayoshi of the 38th Division, supported by Major-General Ito Takeo heading the infantry group, while supporting arms including artillery, engineers, armor, and transport fell under Sano's authority. The main assault force consisted of three infantry regiments from the 38th Division, each led by a colonel: the 228th under Doi Teihichi, the 229th under Tanaka Ryosaburo, and the 230th under Shoji Toshishige. The 38th Division itself was a standard 1940s B-class infantry division of approximately 20,000 troops (ranging from 18,000–21,000 depending on operational requirements), organized into three regiments with three battalions each. Reflecting the Japanese army's reliance on animal and human transport, each regiment fielded roughly 3,800 troops supported by some 700 horses. Battalion strength averaged around 1,071 personnel, with companies numbering approximately 180 men. Japanese infantry battalions of this period featured a distinctive organization: rifle platoons consisted of four sections (three equipped with rifles and light machine guns, one with light mortars and rifles), complemented by an additional heavy machine-gun company fielding twelve Type 92 weapons and a troop of light artillery—likely Type 92 70mm infantry guns. The divisional field artillery regiment operated 75mm Type 41 mountain guns organized into three 688-man battalions, each with two troops of two guns. Mountain artillery units, numbering 36 guns total, carried additional personnel (3,400) and animals (1,400) to navigate the terrain complexities of Hong Kong operations. Recognizing the need for overwhelming firepower to compel Hong Kong's surrender, the IJA augmented the invasion force with heavy artillery—15cm and 24cm howitzers commanded by Major-General Kitashima Kineo. News of the Canadian reinforcements arriving in Hong Kong forced a reassessment. Commander-in-Chief Sakai Takashi of the 23rd Army informed his superiors that the original ten-day timeline was unrealistic and requested additional troops. Although most formations were already committed to other operations, Imperial Headquarters eventually authorized two depot regiments from Japan to support the campaign. Intended for second-line duties rather than frontline combat, these units were to be returned promptly after freeing experienced personnel for Hong Kong operations. This arrangement allowed the 19th and 20th mixed brigades—approximately 6,000 men organized in five infantry battalions, a field artillery battalion, and an engineer battalion—to be released for Hong Kong. However, Sakai's request for reinforcements met with disapproval from Imperial Headquarters, and he received an unmistakable message: a swift, decisive campaign was essential. His situation worsened when Japanese agents mistakenly identified British Bren carriers as tanks, forcing Sakai to improvise armor by raiding the 1st Reserve Tank Battalion and tankette units from infantry depot divisions. In attempting to secure additional armor from the 11th Army's 9th Reconnaissance Regiment, Sakai encountered resistance. General Hata Shunroku lodged sustained complaints with senior officials, and Sakai received a sharp rebuke—further requests would not be entertained, and his replacement would follow if necessary. Stung by this loss of face, Sakai abandoned all additional requests and became even more determined to achieve success. Vice-Admiral Niimi Masaichi, commanding the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, oversaw the entire naval element, divided into bombardment and attack groups. His flagship, the light cruiser Isuzu, carried Captain Ura Koichi, who simultaneously commanded the bombardment group. This naval force assembled ships from various China Expeditionary Fleet units, particularly from the Canton Special Base Force, 15 Squadron, and 11 Torpedo Boat Division at Guangzhou. Reflecting Niimi's lack of confidence in the army's air support capabilities, the seaplane tender IJN Kamikawa Maru joined the operation on his insistence, providing organic naval aviation against the threat posed by British Wildebeests. Niimi also petitioned for destroyers IJN Wakaba and Yugure to counter the three British destroyers, though this request was denied. The Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) were assigned to conduct diversionary attacks south of Hong Kong Island, intended to distract British forces from the main land invasion thrust. The IJAF's 1st Air Brigade, commanded by Colonel Habu Hideharu, centered on the 45th Air Regiment with 34 Kawasaki Ki-32 Type 98 'Mary' light bombers. This composite force drew aircraft and units from airfields across China and Manchuria—Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Qiqihar—all assembled at Baiyun Aerodrome in Guangzhou on 7 December 1941. Supporting the 1st Air Brigade were the 10th Independent Squadron under Captain Takatsuki Akira with 13 Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97 'Nate' fighters, 3 Mitsubishi Ki-15 Type 97 'Babs' command reconnaissance aircraft from the 18th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron, and the 44th Independent Squadron fielding 6 Tachikawa Ki-36 Type 98 'Ida' observation aircraft. Years before the invasion, the Japanese cultivated an extensive network of agents and sleeper operatives in Hong Kong, methodically gathering intelligence and mapping military installations. This sophisticated network proved remarkably effective: invasion maps carried by IJA officers were actually Hong Kong Government and British military maps, overprinted with Japanese annotations and interpretations. British officers later discovered in captivity that the Peninsula Hotel's regular barber was a Japanese Navy lieutenant-commander who had exploited the intimate setting to extract valuable information about British force dispositions. Intelligence operatives infiltrated every level of Hong Kong society—the garrison tailor and barber both served as spies. This groundwork enabled exceptional accuracy in artillery fire and bombing campaigns. The Japanese further leveraged criminal networks, recruiting gangsters throughout Hong Kong and Guangdong province with money and arms, turning them into irregular auxiliaries supporting the invasion.   On Sunday, 7 December, seven hundred members of the 2nd Royal Scots and Middlesex Regiment marched to St John's Cathedral for the morning service. As Major-General Maltby read a passage from Matthew, his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant I. MacGregor, delivered an urgent message that would change everything. Preparations for conflict had already begun. On 5 December, the HKVDC had mobilized fully, yet Hong Kong's broader population remained unmoved—the Happy Valley racetrack reported record attendance that very day. The contrast was stark: while one institution prepared for war, another celebrated as though nothing threatened. Japanese forces had been positioned advantageously since autumn 1941. The 23rd Army was already stationed west of Guangzhou, with contingents scattered across Foshan Town, Zhuhai, and other locations on the Pearl River delta. Upon orders for war on 1 December, they faced minimal distances to cover. The army regrouped at Humen, Shilong Town, and Guangzhou itself—staging areas for the invasion. The first visible signs arrived on 4–5 December when Japanese forces landed at Mirs Bay; the 228th Regiment moved into its staging area at Buji Town, now part of Shenzhen City. Maltby received these reports and immediately departed the cathedral service to issue urgent stand-to orders. Yet skepticism persisted within military circles. Some dismissed the threat, dismissing such intelligence as "astonishingly erroneous." Meanwhile, the Imperial Japanese Navy massed in the waters beyond Hong Kong's horizon. The Kowloon Infantry Brigade held a stretched defensive line: the 5/7 Rajputs anchored the centre, the 2/14 Punjab the east, and the 2nd Royal Scots the west. Forward positions extended far—C Company, 2/14 Punjab, under Major S. Burns ranged along Castle Peak Road toward Yuen Long. The brigade screen, C Company of the 2/14 Punjab, held Shueng Shui and Taipo Market with four Bren carriers and two armoured cars from the HKVDC, backed by engineers and the 22nd Fortress Company. The Hong Kong Infantry Brigade held Hong Kong Island itself. The Winnipeg Grenadiers occupied Victoria City on the north-west coast, while the Royal Rifles of Canada stretched along the north-east shores from Saukiwan to Lyemun. Brigadier Lawson commanded from his headquarters at Wongneichong Gap in the island's centre. At 0355 hours on 8 December, the code word "Blossom Blossom" was transmitted. Eleven minutes later, Lieutenant-General Sakai ordered the invasion to commence. Fifty minutes after that, at 0445 hours, Major Charles Boxer—a fluent Japanese speaker formerly of the Lincolnshire Regiment—was roused by Radio Tokyo announcing that war was imminent. Governor Young and Major-General Maltby were informed at once. By 0500 hours, the forward demolition points had been blown by Major Gray, OC of C Company 2/14 Punjab, and the HKVDC engineers under Major J. H. Bottomley. At 0645 hours, the garrison received formal notification: Britain and Japan were at war. Seventy-five minutes later, air-raid sirens wailed. Within moments, smoke billowed from Kai Tak Airport as Japanese aircraft destroyed virtually the entire air garrison. The Wildebeests, Walruses, HKVDC biplanes, and several civilian planes were engulfed in flames. Only two Ju-52s of the Eurasia Corporation and one CNAC T-32 Condor escaped destruction—dispersal bays had never been built due to lack of funds. The Japanese then turned to secondary targets, bombing Shamshuipo Camp and the neighbouring police station. The Canadians suffered few large-scale casualties in the initial strikes, though Sergeant Routledge and Signalman Fairley of the signal platoon were wounded—the first Canadian soldiers injured in World War II. Remarkably, Hong Kong Island's theatres, cinemas, and restaurants continued operating as though the island faced no peril. Japanese demolition efforts proved only minor obstacles. Bridges blown were quickly replaced. The invasion proceeded on three fronts: the 230th Regiment advanced westward along the northern route toward Yuen Long and Castle Peak, targeting the northern slope of Tai Mo Mountain. The 228th Regiment drove down the centre, following the Sheung Shui–Taipo–Kowloon road toward Grassy Hill north of the Shing Mun Redoubt. The 229th Regiment, crossing at Sha Tau Kok and by boat at Starling Inlet, proceeded via Taipo toward Tai Shui Hang and Ma On Mountain. Whenever confronted with strongly defended positions, the Japanese bypassed them entirely rather than engage. The first day brought scattered but spirited resistance. Around 1300 hours, the Punjabis inflicted the first serious check, drawing blood from advancing Japanese forces. At 1830 hours, they ambushed and decimated several Japanese platoons south of Taipo market town. The HKVDC's armoured cars and Bren carriers struck similar successes nearby. The 2 Royal Scots' reconnaissance platoon clashed with elements of the 229th Regiment around Yuen Long. Despite these minor victories, Japanese momentum continued. Armed with stolen British maps and guided by fifth columnists, they pushed forward relentlessly. By late afternoon on the 8th, the Punjabis withdrew toward Grassy Hill to avoid being outflanked. The artillerymen of the 12th Battery engaged an IJN destroyer and Japanese forces around Taipo, inflicting heavy casualties. Farther south near Shatin, on the Taipo–Kowloon highway, rapidly advancing Japanese troops surprised the defenders and severed the fuse at an HKVDC demolition point. Their triumph proved momentary; the engineers completed the backup circuit and detonated the bridge, destroying it along with the Japanese soldiers crossing it. By early morning on 9 December, orders came to withdraw all mainland units to the Gin Drinkers Line. The Punjabis, already at Shatin Wai overlooking Tide Cove, held their position under pressure and continuous shelling for the next two days. The HKVDC withdrew to Fotan, a village south of Shatin. Maltby ordered D Company, 5/7 Rajputs, under Captain H. R. Newtons to Smuggler's Ridge to close the gap between the 2 Royal Scots and 2/14 Punjab. HKVDC armoured cars and Bren carriers continued patrols along Castle Peak Road while HMS Cicala, having survived two air attacks, maintained station in Castle Peak Bay. Despite an IJN blockade, the destroyers HMS Thanet and Scout slipped anchor and escaped to Singapore around 2130 hours. The surviving CNAC and Eurasia aircraft took off with high-value evacuees: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's widow and her two equally renowned sisters—the Soong sisters—along with Chinese Finance Minister H. H. Kung. Also departing was Lieutenant-Colonel H. Owen-Hughes of the HKVDC, who carried orders to coordinate with the Chinese Nationalist Army for a rear-guard attack on Japanese forces to relieve the pressure on Hong Kong. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On 8 December 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong with the 38th Division, supported by naval and air forces. Despite British defenses manned by undertrained, under-equipped troops, Japanese forces advanced rapidly across three fronts. Within hours, the RAF was destroyed, demolitions proved futile, and British units withdrew toward the Gin Drinkers Line facing overwhelming odds.

A nurse who worked at a disability support facility in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, filed a lawsuit claiming it was unlawful for the facility to dismiss them after they made a public-interest whistleblower report about problems at the facility. The Sakai branch of the Osaka District Court ruled that the dismissal was invalid, finding that it was intended to remove the nurse from the workplace, and ordered the facility to pay unpaid wages and damages. The court ordered the facility to pay the three plaintiffs a total of more than ¥20 million in unpaid wages, damages, and other compensation. Episode notes: ‘Sakai District Court Rules Dismissal of Whistleblower Nurse at Disability Facility Invalid': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/07/31/sakai-district-court-rules-dismissal-of-whistleblower-nurse-at-disability-facility-invalid/

According to the complaint and a report by a third-party committee established by the city, the young woman, now a high school student, attended a municipal elementary school in Sakai. Between her third and fourth grades (2018–2019), she was bullied by classmates, who blacked out her name in a shared notebook and stuffed small stones and other objects into her shoes. She eventually stopped attending school and later transferred to another school. Episode notes: ‘Osaka High Court upholds dismissal of bullying lawsuit by schoolgirl with developmental disability': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/07/10/osaka-high-court-upholds-dismissal-of-bullying-lawsuit-by-schoolgirl-with-developmental-disability/

This week we get a masterclass in levelling up everyday essentials with Cynthia Sakai — founder of the impeccably designed beauty and lifestyle brand, evolvetogether. Cynthia's a former fashion entrepreneur and 2014 CFDA inductee who previously founded the jewellery line Vita Fede. Now, she's consciously created evolvetogether — a Gwyneth-approved brand that has Business of Fashion asking “Is evolvetogether the next Aesop?”Tune in to hear about:The Japanese ritual Cynthia has quietly practised her whole life that the internet just rebranded as "scentscaping" — and how to do it in your own homeWhy celebrity esthetician Joanna Czech lent her expertise to evolvetogether's travel-friendly collab cleanser (and yes, it's #DamnGood)The surprising reason that this founder is unbothered about being duped — and why she actually thinks it's a *good* thingWhy you won't catch Cynthia layering her fragrances — everStay tuned to the end to hear which dreamy vacation destination is topping her ultra discerning travel list

Most funnels assume your audience needs warming up. More content, more emails, more time. But what if that's not true? In this episode, I'm joined by Maiko Sakai, quiz strategist and founder of Airtight Concepts Inc., who breaks down how quizzes can act as a fast-trust entry point in your business—without relying on webinars, long nurture sequences, or constant content creation. We get into why most entrepreneurs misuse quizzes as basic lead magnets, and how to instead position them as a diagnostic tool that filters for ready-to-buy clients. Maiko shares how her proprietary quiz strategy turns cold interest into clear self-recognition, creating higher-quality leads, stronger conversions, and an asset that continues working long after it's built. We also unpack: – When a quiz actually makes sense in your business (and when it doesn't) – The difference between nurturing vs. converting decisive buyers – How to structure quiz outcomes so they lead naturally into your offers – Why most quizzes don't convert—and what to fix instead – How to build a quiz that reflects your framework, not just collects emails If your funnel isn't converting the way it should, this conversation will show you what might be missing—and how to build something that actually holds. Maiko's Website (Grab the Blueprint PDF here) Connect with Maiko on LinkedIn Maiko on Threads Follow Maiko on IG Kehla's Website Follow Kehla on IG

00:00:00:14 - 00:00:14:01 Unknown Gentlemen. I'm not supposed to be here. 00:00:14:04 - 00:00:31:21 Unknown This is a close call. Welcome to Close Course, presented by Pins and Aces, where the mic is open and the drinks are cold. This is the spot where golf meets good company athletes, artists, reality stars, and the pros who live on the greens. From tee boxes to tour busses, from green rooms to greens. We're asking the questions you won't hear anywhere else. 00:00:31:23 - 00:00:44:14 Unknown We talk sports. We talk life. We talk everything in between. No scorecards, no pressure, just good vibes and stories that will make you laugh, think and maybe even grab your clubs. So let's tee it up and let it fly. 00:00:44:16 - 00:01:05:07 Unknown Hello everyone and welcome back to your favorite golf podcast, Close Course, presented by Pins and Aces. I'm your host. Play Corson here with my co-host, as usual, Eric, Nick and Liam. And before we get into it guys, we got some exciting news regarding Closed Course the podcast. We are now partnering with Guerilla Sports. You guys, you're going to see us everywhere. 00:01:05:08 - 00:01:19:29 Unknown They're an incredible con, some new content, some new clips. We're just leveling up. We're leveling up and we want to hear a lot of what you guys want to hear to. We want more of what you guys want to see more of what you want to hear, more guests you want to hear from. But we're excited. We're excited to partner with Girls sports. 00:01:19:29 - 00:01:35:21 Unknown Going to be something big for close cause yeah, it's really good. And you know, we've talked about it for a while. It's like, hey, how do we level up close course, how do we pump out more content? And now we've got the professionals behind it, you know. So yeah it's great. I'm really looking forward to it. It's exciting. 00:01:35:21 - 00:01:50:20 Unknown It's funny thinking about it like two years ago when the podcast was like me, you, John, would like talk about conspiracies every week. Yeah. Like we would film it with like one camera. Then it got better with you guys and Evan. Then we got three cameras set up. But yeah, now with them, I think it's going to be even more legit. 00:01:50:21 - 00:02:05:09 Unknown Yeah. Next level. Exactly. I'm excited. Yeah. I mean, I feel like it's exactly what we've we've been the rebrand, if you will. Seven months. Five months. Yeah. Yeah five months. So no I'm excited because like like I said, I think the more content the better. I know people want to see a lot more from us and hear a lot more from us. 00:02:05:09 - 00:02:21:22 Unknown So. So yeah. And grow the sports. They're just a national media and production company based out here in Colorado. So it's local, which we love that we love that they're known for their high level content, athlete access and building shows that actually move online. So you're going to be seeing that you're going to see a lot of collaborations with girls sports moving forward. 00:02:21:23 - 00:02:43:10 Unknown The show is going to stay the same. Show is going to stay the same, you know, but it's still going to be us talking golf and interviewing celebrities. And I think it's cool because we're still in the same studio at our HQ, and these guys brought the professionals to us and got the new camera set up, you know, all these different things to elevate it, but keep it still in our studio here at HC. 00:02:43:10 - 00:03:00:04 Unknown So that's pretty nice. Yeah, I'm really excited guys. And leave the show and go back to work. Exactly. Yeah. People forget we got the day jobs. We were still run a company pens. And I honestly forget that sometimes. Yeah that's right. Yeah. Blake's like, can you guys make it there? It's like, yeah, we'll be here, man. It's Monday at 1:00. 00:03:00:05 - 00:03:13:25 Unknown It's so true. We'll definitely be here. Well, I don't think we've had a catch up since the Masters. I think the last time we talked, just us was. Yeah. Pretty master. Yeah, it's been a minute. We've had a lot going on. Yeah. Really busy voice right now. Yeah. If you can't tell, I've had a hell of an April man. 00:03:13:25 - 00:03:29:26 Unknown I've had a hell of an April. I did Coachella for seven days because I went to four days, Coachella, three days in LA, and then back for one day when Savannah, Georgia, for three days back for one day. Went to Stagecoach for five days. Now I'm back for one day. I go to Nashville for six days. So it's been a hell of a month. 00:03:29:26 - 00:03:51:24 Unknown It's been a hell of a month, but it's just thinking about to be back, man. Yeah, it's been a lot. I mean, that's that's a lot. So when you're at Coachella, I mean, I don't really know what it's like a music festival and there's different people. I saw this, like Instagram graphic that was like Coachella lost money in his first year, you know, and the guy put all this money into it and sold his house and you know, or whatever to, to fund it. 00:03:51:24 - 00:04:06:19 Unknown But what is Coachella like? Yeah. Where is what is it? It's funny you say that because I saw that too. And I was like, you know, I've never done research on Coachella. Like, how did it start? Would it begin in 1994? The the founder of what is now Goldenvoice that runs Coachella, Stagecoach and a bunch of other events. 00:04:06:24 - 00:04:25:08 Unknown He's all over the world. He had this back then. There was no music festivals like it wasn't a thing. So he was one of the first ones to do it. And so he created this music festival and everybody thought it was going to fail. They were like, this is ridiculous. But he was like, he had the idea of instead of getting one massive headliner, you get a bunch of smaller ones where people don't come for one person, they come for the entire lineup. 00:04:25:08 - 00:04:45:19 Unknown And that's like a revolutionary thing. But the first year got his ass kicked, lost $800,000, sold, is sold his house, lost everything, sold his car, started to build it up again. And then Woodstock 99 happened and scared everybody away from music festival because I was such a shit show. That was Limp Bizkit. Yeah, Limp Bizkit and corn. And it was like crazy, you know? 00:04:45:20 - 00:05:04:22 Unknown It was like, yeah, all the crazy, like it was horrible. So brands backed away and they were like, we're not touching music vessel. So then he lost everything again. Lost his house, lost his car, lost his wife. But he didn't give up. And he stayed on it and he slowly built it. And then I think he said in like 0304 he got Rage Against the Machines as a headliner and sold like, you know, 50,000 tickets. 00:05:04:22 - 00:05:23:13 Unknown And then from there, this last weekend was the biggest two weeks. So it's over two weekends, same lineup every day for two weeks. Well, the weekends. And he made $200 million in 14 days. What is it like? My buddy goes to this thing where they camp out in a desert, Burning man. Is it like that? Like, where is Coachella? 00:05:23:13 - 00:05:50:20 Unknown Where is it at? It is a desert. It is in the desert, but it is stage. And like people are just on the lawn. They camp out there still. And what do you do? There's like what, three know. There's big stages and then a bunch of little like activations I think Coachella. So there's 200 artists. It's massive. What Coachella I want to say there's yeah there's actually I think there's now like three main stages at Coachella and like 5 or 6 small stages and then like a whole bunch of even smaller like stages that you play like activation brands and things like that. 00:05:50:20 - 00:06:09:00 Unknown And it's I will say it's turned into it's more you go for the party now. Still there are still people go for the music. Don't get me wrong. And it's one of the most beautiful, well put together, cleanest festival you'll ever be. It's never art. It is. Yes, they have art installations. It's very California, you know. Where is it? 00:06:09:02 - 00:06:27:01 Unknown So it's in desert. Yeah. So palm flying to Palm Springs, and then you drive into Indio, India. Indio. And it's just a big open field, basically open. It's an old polo club that they turn into. Where do you stay there like hotel. So that's the hardest part. That is the hardest part. So you can camp but it's obscene like we're talking just for there was. 00:06:27:02 - 00:06:44:21 Unknown I remember we were looking because this year was crazy with Bieber like ticket. We broke all the records, tickets, price, everything. He broke everything. Merch. He sold like $7 million worth of merch the Friday before his show. The first weekend. Just alone. Just insane stuff. A we were looking online because we wanted to get our own place because we were bringing the kiddo. 00:06:44:23 - 00:07:00:13 Unknown I was working so like, it's hard because I was playing. So we were looking and for a truck bed in the campground where they have like a topper, $6,000 for three nights a week. That's when they supply the truck. They supply the truck bed, but you sleep in the truck bed for $6,000 for three nights. That's how insane it is. 00:07:00:14 - 00:07:28:24 Unknown So the house and the house is now the crazy part is it's become a business. Obscene. It's become a business where I remember brands and like rich people very well off successful people will buy houses out there and completely just redo them and make them massive. We're talking resort style pools, arcades, basketball courts, all this, and they will make their mortgage the month of April because they'll do three weeks of $20,000 a night, like just boom, because, you know, 12 bedrooms kind of thing. 00:07:28:24 - 00:07:50:20 Unknown So where did you guys stay? So for Stagecoach, we stayed that money. No, no, no. But why would you spend it if you did know. Exactly. Yeah. But remember. So I played Stagecoach, I played the honky tonk, which is like the big stage at Stagecoach in 2022. And we got remember that house we stayed in? Yeah, that was this massive house, like massive house for like I posted for it. 00:07:50:20 - 00:08:05:29 Unknown All of us posted for it and I think I paid like five K and it's normally like $60,000 for the weekend and I paid like five K. Wedding venue. It's a wedding venue. It had everything a recording studio. It had basketball court, pickleball court, tennis court, Olympic sized pool. It had like 12. It was insane. It was just insane. 00:08:05:29 - 00:08:27:05 Unknown So that is like it's one of those festivals where like, it is like when I was walking out on Sunday, I was walking out because we brought my kiddo and it's literally your FYP page, like it's just all celebrities. And I was going out through like the artists VIP area, just all celebrities, all the Instagram models you see on your FYP, all the fucking streamers. 00:08:27:06 - 00:08:45:21 Unknown You know, there's massive streamers right now, like speed, all those guys, neon, they're all walking by. It's a wild thing, man. And you see Ashton Kutcher, you'd be standing next Ashton Kutcher are those guys. Are they getting free like tickets just because they want to be there? It's it's not only from the festival that because that's three. Yeah yeah brands. 00:08:45:21 - 00:08:59:25 Unknown So I went I actually went to church with Stagecoach. So they gave me a bunch of artist passes. But usually it's brands like a brand like T-Mobile will be like, hey, we'll give you five passes you have to post for us, and they'll pay you sometimes and stuff and they'll put you up. And so it's just it's turned into a whole. 00:08:59:27 - 00:09:30:15 Unknown It's just a monster, man. It's just the most insane, exhausting, but also like, really cool, like I saw. I mean, the last couple of weeks I've seen obviously Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, hoodie and the Blowfish, Post Malone, third eye blinds. It just goes on and on. It's the most random musicians, but music and John was but it's it's incredible because I mean that was one of my favorite memories was I can't remember what year it was, but we were standing there in the VIP bar, artists backstage and Mila Kunis like fangirl too, over him and G. 00:09:30:16 - 00:09:48:18 Unknown Yeah, it was wild. And Mila Kunis is like talking to them. And I'm here having drinks and we're doing shots at the bar. It's me. Scooter Braun, Ashton Kutcher, and Matt Stafford. Yeah, yeah, we're just chopping it up for 30 minutes. Y Miller's fan girl. Yeah, yeah, it was wild. She was like, are you two? Because we weren't public yet, so we were so private. 00:09:48:19 - 00:09:59:06 Unknown And she was like, G and blade. She was like, are you two dating? And we were like, yeah. She's like, am I one of the first people to know this? And so is kind of we got all on film to every dog for got. It was a cool moment. We'll get you guys those photos. Yeah. Yeah, it's really cool. 00:09:59:06 - 00:10:15:12 Unknown But that's just the way it is. It's you'll you'll be in like, the artists VIP and you'll just be standing next to like, yeah, you'll be having shots with whoever. Imagine you'll just be, like, standing next to Sweeney or Kendall Jenner and. Yeah, thanks for inviting me. I remember that next year, Sidney, this year, like, who's the guy who? 00:10:15:12 - 00:10:35:04 Unknown Just one. Or he was like Frankenstein, you know? And he's part of euphoria. The tall guy that everybody fucking upset Jacob Elordi or something. Yeah. He got caught by like a fan in VIP making out with Kendall Jenner. I guess they're dating. You know what I mean? It's just it's a wild, wild experience. But if you haven't been, people get scared of it because, like, oh, it's just influencers and celebrities, like, don't get me wrong, it is. 00:10:35:06 - 00:10:52:08 Unknown But there's 250,000 tickets sold over two weekends for Coachella. 15% of that is influencers. So it's really an incredible festival. If you ever get a chance, there's a reason people go back, like there were people who were talking to have been like 15, 16 years. And it goes, it's not just like 7 to 10, is it like all day? 00:10:52:11 - 00:11:14:24 Unknown It's Torcello. Very much so. Yeah. Coachella. Ope door was at three, closes around 2 a.m. maybe. But then during the day the brands do like we went to Revolve Fest and you have huge, massive musicians playing, you know what I mean? You go to all these activities. Marvel have bigger artists better than Stagecoach. I was saying up to the point where, like, I kind of just want to go for the parties because they, they have a hell of a lineup, you know what I mean? 00:11:14:24 - 00:11:33:22 Unknown So it's just a beast, man. It's a lot. And you get 20,000 steps in a day. It's just it's crazy. But I always like, regret it. But then, you know, I finished and I'm like, I can't wait for next year. So how long is your set? Each day I play, so I play 19 for somebody or you just it's just you and just dancing and you're doing the shit in front of all this. 00:11:33:23 - 00:11:46:10 Unknown Yeah. I play in, like, this enclosed tent, which is. And I'm air conditioned, which is, there's not many air conditioned. So it's a pretty popular tent. And yeah, I play for 90 minutes. There's like, you know, they have like a lineup play for 90 minutes in this like little enclosed tent. And it's super fun, man. It's a vibe. 00:11:46:10 - 00:11:59:21 Unknown And it's it's like it'll get packed because like Sabrina Carpenter let out and it'll be packed in their shoulder to shoulder, like sold out. And then, you know, all of a sudden the strokes are starting on the next stage and then kind of empty in the next week. So it's a revolving door. But it's fun. It's a really fun spot. 00:11:59:22 - 00:12:16:04 Unknown They're really there for the AC not you. Yeah. No AC in the fucking misery. Yeah. It's so hot out there. Yeah I don't know if it was Coachella or Stagecoach, but Jake Worthington, who was on our pod, was singing with Post Malone. He they called it. Yeah. Last night he called him up and I was like, I literally turned. 00:12:16:05 - 00:12:30:24 Unknown I was like, he's been on my part. He was on a podcast. Yeah, I saw that clip today and I was like, what the hell? Yeah, he pulled up. He's like blowing up. Well, post is such a post. Loves post is such a historian of music. Honestly, like he he might be the most versatile artist of all time. 00:12:30:27 - 00:12:43:23 Unknown Like he could do everything he was. His set last night was really good to, which is insane to think I was just there. I was up till 2 a.m. and you were at when Jake Weddington was there? Yeah, I was, did you see him or say hi to him or anything? No. So I didn't know I didn't. Okay. 00:12:43:25 - 00:12:59:14 Unknown Because he was he was like back backstage okay. Yeah. But what I was gonna say. Yeah. So I posted, you know, obviously he's got this whole thing where he's like gone country now and he's like kind of rebranded. But he played a bunch of his old stuff, which was dope. He did a ton of covers, but he played White Iverson Celebration. 00:12:59:15 - 00:13:22:13 Unknown Yes. What ever since. Circles not celebration. Congratulations. Yeah, he played all those, but it had a country spin to it. But it reminded me of Old Post. And he's such a performer, man. He's such. Yeah. He's good. Incredible. So he was probably my second favorite. Bieber was the best of all three weekends. We were talking about that with thought because everyone was like complaining about the YouTube. 00:13:22:13 - 00:13:36:22 Unknown But then the it's the copyright of music because he sold his whole he sold his whole library, play anything live. Well, he could, but he would have to pay. Yeah, he'd have to pay royalties. So what did he do? So he used YouTube. That's why he used it. And how were how was that amazing. If he's just he was watching my YouTube video, so. 00:13:36:23 - 00:13:52:06 Unknown Okay. So I liked it because he was he was discovered on YouTube. So it was like a very full circle moment for him. He was showing the old YouTube videos that he got discovered on and was singing over top of his old baby voice, kid voice, so he was singing on top of it. To me, it was just very artistic, the way he like, did everything. 00:13:52:07 - 00:14:08:08 Unknown It was like, this is my new self, this is who I am now. Swag the new album. But he was still paying respect and like, you know, to who he was and who he became and how he became famous. And I thought it was like very therapeutic. I'm not the biggest Bieber in the world or believer or whatever they call him. 00:14:08:08 - 00:14:24:14 Unknown But like, even I walked away with that and I was like, so yeah, but I walked away with that and I was like, Holy shit. Like, I got goosebumps. I was like, this kid has been through. So, you know, we don't know. Yeah. But like, he's been through a lot. We know, you know what I mean. But and like we know. 00:14:24:17 - 00:14:41:03 Unknown So it's like it was like he was literally up there like healing. It was cool I enjoyed it. But I get why. Because Sabrina Carpenter's stage was like, well it's like sexual Sabrina. Super sexual. Well, yeah. But it wasn't even that. Like, I went to Lady Gaga last year and it was the most insane stage setup I've ever seen. 00:14:41:09 - 00:14:55:27 Unknown And then Bieber walks out there. It's just him, a fog machine and a laptop, and he crushes it, you know what I mean? So I think a lot of people, that's cool, probably a lot of people. So for a show like that where it's like someone huge, how many people are in the crowd for his stage? I've never so Bieber they oversold. 00:14:55:27 - 00:15:15:15 Unknown I've never seen artists was packed, VIP was packed, gay was I've never seen so many people for Bieber for a that's my fifth Coachella. I've never seen it. So they oversold like like dangerous. Oh no no no. Because I I'll show you some say close to over 100 probably. Maybe more 200. Yeah. Maybe for flat right. Elevated like. 00:15:15:19 - 00:15:32:26 Unknown Yeah. If you're if you're back there you're not seeing shit. Yeah. But they do a really good job of like putting another screen with speakers and another screen. It's crazy like like sounds like I get it, I get it. So you'll have the stage and then probably like 200, 300 yards out for the second half they put up big screens so those people can see the stage. 00:15:32:27 - 00:15:53:00 Unknown And this is going to sound douchey. But like I would never go if I didn't have the artist. Oh God bro I'm never I'm already in like the camp. I don't do many concerts, but the last couple last year Eric took us to Jason Aldean, were backstage. We meet Brittany, you get spoiled, and then we go to Jake Worthington's top at Red rocks. 00:15:53:00 - 00:16:08:23 Unknown We're on stage. We're in his fitting room. I'm like, look at those peasants out there. There. And I'm not, you know, I'm like, yeah, it spoils it for you. Yeah it does. It does for sure. Especially at festivals. It's just festivals are so brutal. But but yeah, that's what I've been up to. In April. So it's been a lot. 00:16:08:24 - 00:16:25:29 Unknown But so do you like baby baby baby pre nut drop or after. It's nuts dropped pre pre baby I like I like the OG the song. 00I like the ogg do the OG. And I was so worried that he wasn't going to play his old stuff. And then he played it all, which was so cool. It was, it was incredible. 00:16:25:29 - 00:16:40:22 Unknown And then I think there's word on the street that he's going to be first, he's going to do a world tour, and then there's word on the street that he's going to do the Super Bowl halftime show, really the world tour. So if he does world tour, he'll actually perform. But the label, the company who owns all the songs would get half. 00:16:40:23 - 00:16:54:09 Unknown And then he they pay him. So it's like, hey, you can sing our songs now, it's his. But then they'd pay him a fee. There would have to be some kind of mutual agreement. Yeah, I don't know what that contract looked like when he sold it. How much he sell it for? Hundred million. Because it's like when Taylor. 00:16:54:11 - 00:17:12:14 Unknown I mean, scooter has all the Taylor's music, so. Yeah. And she, like, recorded everything. Yeah. To big fuck you screwed. Up. I saw scooter fucking making out with Sydney Sweeney. This. Where was TMZ? Oh, no. They've been together for a while. Oh, I thought that. Yeah, that for a while. We could have clipped that here. I was like, man. 00:17:12:18 - 00:17:29:21 Unknown But yeah. So we went to. We went to Sydney soon. He's like little pop up. She had a siren pop up for her lingerie and they did a really good job. It was all karaoke. So she was in there seeing karaoke with fans. I saw her with Riley Green. She did with Riley Green. She did it with Who's the other podcast or the hilarious podcast or like a comedian, the biggest. 00:17:29:21 - 00:17:50:20 Unknown I can't think of the black guy. No goofy comedian. White hair has like a long good thing. Anyway, he was did the honky tonk with Caleb driving crazy. Anyway, he was in there singing with her and it was fun. It was. It was just a fun. What's his name? The guy in tires. 000, no, I love this is awesome. 00:17:50:25 - 00:18:13:02 Unknown I think it sounds like a busy couple weeks, but yeah, it's been it's been a lot. It's been a lot of us have day jobs. Yeah. Well, now for the boring stories. Yeah. Master's party. That was the best party. It was good. I would say that. I didn't know how serious people took golden tea. Oh, my God. Like, I knew people played and like, you know, had fun at the bars. 00:18:13:02 - 00:18:27:19 Unknown But it was like the Wednesday before I made a rule sheet and I just put it in ChatGPT. I was like, just make like a basic rules for golden tea. Print it out. Cool. I had like 25 people come up to me like, what about this? What about this? What if I tie? Can I log in? Can I change my ball? 00:18:27:20 - 00:18:44:25 Unknown Can I use my clubs? And I'm like, you can log in, you could bring your own. Yeah. Like you could log into your character using your email. And then they have all their clubs or custom balls. They have handicaps. And that's how I was like, no, no, we're we're just keeping it stuck. Like. And they're like, oh. 00:18:44:26 - 00:18:56:18 Unknown And I was like, I don't know. Well, one guy was flexing like he was a top 50 player in the world. Yeah, there was a lot of talk about it and it was like, come for that? Yeah. You know what I mean? I was probably the biggest draw was the golden tee. All for a free golf bag. Yeah. 00:18:56:19 - 00:19:11:13 Unknown For a goal. Get it though. Let's go back. And it was like a three hour tournament. Oh my god. And like, towards the end, like, people didn't really care like or at least I didn't. And there was like a table there and people were like asking people to move, get out the way because they would step back like five feet. 00:19:11:14 - 00:19:28:24 Unknown Yeah. And then like walk into it and then I'm like, this is great. I got eliminated first round by Nick. So I bald out and you guys playing around I we didn't I got lucky like I hit a good shot and I had like an eagle putt and Eric hit in the water was like I lost. Yeah I just conceded you know people were taking it. 00:19:28:27 - 00:19:43:29 Unknown Get my sandwich now that's so funny. I mean I've seen videos obviously on social, but I didn't realize it was so like widespread I guess, like people in Denver, you know what I mean? It was crazy, like people like a lot of people showed up because they knew pins or whatever, but some people showed up just to play Golden T. 00:19:44:05 - 00:19:58:16 Unknown That was a great test with it. Yeah. Videos and pics. Yeah, it looks great. I was like, that's awesome. I would, I would always I would love to know people do that, you know like what is their handicap in real life. Like are they big golfers. Like if you look at them you're like, oh yeah, you're a golden tee golf. 00:19:58:16 - 00:20:15:24 Unknown Yeah, you're a golden key guy. Yeah. All right. Yeah. They're virtual okay. Some people were like, yeah I'm like a plus 15. Can I log into my character? I'm like, how are you a plus 15 on Golden Teeth? Yeah, on Golden Team. But yeah, they were taking it real. I think golden years now I kind of want to play like I don't think I've ever played until like that. 00:20:16:00 - 00:20:32:03 Unknown I've never played golden. It's fun for like 20 minutes. Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. But I would never play. It was like, yeah, yeah like forever. Because what were we doing? Three holes. Yeah. It's like three whole matches and one guy lost. And it was single elimination because there was like 60 people in it. So I didn't want to go for eight hours. 00:20:32:03 - 00:20:47:28 Unknown And he came up to me and he's like, is it really single elimination? And I was like, yeah, we don't have all. He's like, damn it. I was like, sorry, man. Like, it's just a Saturday. Like we're just trying to drink and have a good time. Yeah, exactly. And like, don't take it out on me. I pointed at Rory. 00:20:47:28 - 00:21:03:29 Unknown I'm like, hey, he made the rules. You can talk to that guy if you have any shit to talk, talk to him. So what did we think about the Masters? What did y'all. I know that we we we we placed some bets there. My guy made Iran. Yeah, I took Rose. Oh, you took Rose. Oh, okay. I bet on him Sunday morning. 00:21:04:00 - 00:21:24:02 Unknown Did you? But yeah, it was fine. I took we talked about it like Bryson shut the bed on that. Looking back on it now, hindsight's 2020, but I should have gone with Rory. Well, we had nothing to prove. I think next reasonably well. Well, even like we were talking, Nick on that Saturday while we're at the stones, when he was slipping and dropping. 00:21:24:02 - 00:21:41:12 Unknown And his line at the time was, what, -150? And I was like, put everything on him. Yeah. And I didn't do it, I did it, I bet him. Did you? Yeah, I bet Rory. And then. And then he dropped even further after he said that and he was like plus 150. So I put another $50 on DraftKings. He had given up, like, what, 4 or 5 strokes? 00:21:41:13 - 00:21:56:13 Unknown Like in what, the first seven holes? Yeah. Wow. Kind of fell in apart. Yeah, I guess he kind of did. Yeah, yeah. Well, that was crazy, but. Yeah. And then Fitzpatrick's brother got his card. That was. That was cool. I didn't know how that worked. I didn't know, you know, because it's a team event. It's like you get points. 00:21:56:13 - 00:22:11:11 Unknown It looks like they got some points. He doesn't get into all the majors. He gets into the PGA Championship. He still got his two year card. He gets his two year card which is cool. But like you know when Rafa won a Bermuda it was a not a main of it. You know it was like an off week event. 00:22:11:11 - 00:22:28:09 Unknown But he still got an invitation to the Masters, the players, the British, you know, all the majors pretty much. He only got into the PGA Alex. But that's still cool. I mean he just went on the DP tour a couple of weeks ago. So he's a solid player. He's really good. And yeah, now he he gets to play with his brother. 00:22:28:12 - 00:22:48:23 Unknown And Matt Fitzpatrick is playing great. Obviously won back to back weeks one of the BC last week. And you know now wins with his brother this week. So he's a really good player. He's third third in the world. So what was the format. It was the last day of all that was alternate shots, what I thought. And so they shot like 100 alternate shot, which is pretty hard to play alternate shot. 00:22:48:23 - 00:23:06:20 Unknown But then I think in four ball they shot 57, which is 1400 in best ball. That's just best ball and that's balling. That's like yeah that's that's that's balling. And then I don't know if there's a scramble I don't know if it's one day's a scramble. I don't think they play a scramble. I think it's you're playing your own ball every time. 00:23:06:20 - 00:23:26:22 Unknown I think it's maybe three rounds of four ball and then final day is alternate shot. Yeah. Well, before this started, we're also talking about the nuggets. By the time this comes out, you know, we'll kind of see what happens. But they're down what 3131 right now playing at home tonight. Elimination game. What do you think's going to happen if you had to predict. 00:23:26:23 - 00:23:49:18 Unknown Do they advance from the series yes or no. Oh I they can do it because they've won three games in a row before in the playoffs. Yes or no and yes or no EV I'm going to you got to say yes or no. I have to say yes like I want to say yes to because it's like there's no excuse not to win the series with and even Kenzo out right now. 00:23:49:19 - 00:24:05:20 Unknown Yeah. It's just our guys just have to, like, make buckets and like, play with some, like, adversity. Like, it's like they're playing like their backs aren't against the wall right now and they need to come out swinging. I think they can I'm going to say yes. I think they definitely win tonight. And then if we go I think we win a game seven. 00:24:05:20 - 00:24:22:08 Unknown So if we win tonight and we go into Minnesota and win, they should have never lost game two and three, though. That's the crazy thing. Well it's like they were up big in game two. They had a 19.1 quarter lead. Or maybe that was game three. No no it was game two. How did they lose it up. Yeah. 00:24:22:11 - 00:24:39:03 Unknown And yeah yeah. Now you're up two. You go into minutes you might lose one. But now you go. Now it's probably reversed. It's probably three one if they win game two. What do you say yes or no. I say yes, I say I think if Ant's out and de la Kenzo is that even though he's a good little role player. 00:24:39:04 - 00:24:56:24 Unknown Yeah. If those guys are out, I think, I think they get it done. But they have to come in and play with like a ten city locked in. They get a little sloppy. Yeah, they're not disciplined. They need to get some discipline and and go forward. But we'll see. And everyone said to like if they would have lost that last regular season game. 00:24:56:24 - 00:25:14:25 Unknown They get the rockets in the playoffs and the rockets are down three one to LA. And everyone's like oh Minnesota. Now they got Minnesota. They could have lost had the rockets. And everyone's like oh Minnesota's a different team. But like Minnesota is the Nuggets Achilles heel I feel like starts with the avalanche. Yeah exactly. You know it's like I would have rather had the rockets. 00:25:14:25 - 00:25:33:19 Unknown But if they can get past the Timberwolves then you know I think they they could do well. The one tough thing about that is like we're kind of dug our own grave here because now it's like we have no choice but to go seven games. So if we win in seven, San Antonio is going to be rested. There are long women and then we're going to. 00:25:33:21 - 00:25:48:18 Unknown Oh he's played last night. Oh yeah. But then it's like the turnaround from the first series to the second round is going to be a day or two on us now. It's just like we already kind of look a little like Tired and Glass and it's like so it's a good transition because number one I'd agree with that. 00:25:48:19 - 00:26:04:16 Unknown But there are pros and cons. You're saying no you don't. I think they win tonight and lose Minnesota. Yeah. If if you're not well I get like the rest thing. But sometimes it can also hurt you like you can be. You're not as fresh and maybe they can just keep that momentum going. Hey we won three in a row. 00:26:04:17 - 00:26:26:11 Unknown Now we go into San Antonio and win. Flip side talking about more Denver sports is the avalanche. I was really hoping they would lose selfishly. Game five, game four, because in game five would have been Wednesday here and I would have begged you for tickets. But now, I mean, now they're going to have 8 or 9 days. All the other series are pretty close. 00:26:26:11 - 00:26:46:08 Unknown Let's see. Like hockey I think is great where you get the Rask especially like our second round series is against Dallas or Minnesota, where that should honestly be the Western Conference finals, the NHL playoffs. Eating is ridiculous. So let those two teams beat the shit out of each other for the seven games where rest is big in hockey. 00:26:46:09 - 00:27:04:12 Unknown Yeah, you got your legs back and everything like so. I think that works in our advantage completely. I think the eyes are going to sweep their way through the Stanley Cup. I don't see anybody given this. What? It's so good. I mean, I agree it's a possibility, but hot playoff hockey is crazy though. Like anybody any I mean any given Sunday. 00:27:04:12 - 00:27:24:05 Unknown But like you can these if you get a hot goalie that's what it is. It's a hot goalie and we have the hottest one right. We do wedges on. I don't know much about hockey, but that was like do you like their hockey? Their keeper didn't lose a game keeper. So whatever. That's a good soccer term. But what's crazy is I saw that. 00:27:24:07 - 00:27:43:01 Unknown Do you goalie. He shot the free throw before the game. Oh really I think game two. Oh nice. That is the littlest dude. Yeah. He's tiny, isn't he. He is maybe like five seven. He looks five seven. Like 140 pounds. Oh wow. Where like NHL, NHL goalies now are massive. Yeah. And this guy I'm like, how did this guy just win a national title? 00:27:43:02 - 00:27:59:18 Unknown Well it's crazy I can't remember. I'll I'll butcher it for sure. Maybe we get him on the pot and ask him about it. But there was a a story of how he was like going D3 like, wasn't even good. And I guess the coach he had sent tape to do and coach was just kind of browsing and looking look back. 00:27:59:18 - 00:28:13:10 Unknown And he's like, wait, who's this guy? He already committed and they had an injury for their current goalie due. And they're like, we need to find another goalie. And they're like, oh, look at this tape from this guy. They went and watched him and they're like, hey, you can come to do. So. He goes and then he wins the starting role and he's just balling. 00:28:13:10 - 00:28:31:08 Unknown It's crazy. But the hockey guys are for the most part Avs have actually have a big team. They're pretty small but their legs are just like oh they're tree trunks. Yeah it's crazy. But yeah Wedgewood is like hot. And that's where like Patrick wa in the you know Stanley Cup. He was never a good regular season goalie ever. 00:28:31:14 - 00:28:53:00 Unknown And then when he was in the Stanley Cup when he was I mean we were kids growing up watching him. It's just like Liam wasn't born. Liam wasn't born. He was still swimming around. You know, it's it's crazy. So yeah, hopefully, hopefully the nuggets make a comeback and the Avs keep it going. Yeah keep it rolling I mean we could have two I mean we could have two parades I mean we could have two parades. 00:28:53:02 - 00:29:08:19 Unknown We're definitely going to get one here I think so too I think so too. We got I mean Denver sports right now is on fire. They're good. They're good man. The Broncos are looking good. Rockies just swept the Mets. Yeah Rockies have a young team I don't want to get too excited I got a young fun. Yeah I want to sing team. 00:29:08:20 - 00:29:24:13 Unknown I went to opening day where they were just awful. Yeah yeah yeah. It was 19 first. Yeah, yeah. It was like seven zero. Top of the first in the crowd was just dead. That's terrible. Here we go again. But no, I mean they're young. I mean, yeah, you never know what the Rockies because we could trade away all of our. 00:29:24:14 - 00:29:39:29 Unknown I don't even tell you one player on the Rock. No. Me neither. Honestly, neither. And I used to like love when it was, like, too low. And Charlie Blackmon. Helton. He's retired. Yeah. He's gone. I couldn't tell you. Can't tell you either, to be honest. But I'll start paying attention, man. If they keep doing what they're doing, man, I start paying attention. 00:29:40:02 - 00:30:00:28 Unknown You want to talk about the tournaments that we're thinking about doing? Yeah. Maybe get some customer feedback. Yeah. You know, and what we're doing. So we've got a couple things. We've got the Children's Hospital NICU event June 1st that's already sold out. That sells out in like a day. All the proceeds, 100% of all proceeds go back to Children's Hospital, which is really cool. 00:30:00:28 - 00:30:23:20 Unknown Raised over $20,000 last year from the tournament. And then so that's June 1st. That's going to be a good time. A couple different things that we've got going on. We've got our Vail Classic, which what are the dates of that? Is that July the 9th to the 12th of July. Yeah, yeah that's up. And Vail, the one concern we have and we were talking about it is the weather. 00:30:23:22 - 00:30:40:14 Unknown Like number one you get weather always every afternoon up in the mountains. But number two we're like in major drought. I was just going to say, man they're talking about like for these mountain courses that the runoff you know, they get obviously the runoff but normally they get divert it. You know it's like okay, well the water the snowmelt is all up there. 00:30:40:14 - 00:30:58:27 Unknown Even though there's not a lot of it. There's some the courses would get the water there saying like you're not touching any of that. Like, we're not going to pull any of this water. It needs to go straight down to Denver. And so you're left with like Mother Nature. And so people who come up and play and Vail, is the course going to be in good enough shape to host a tournament. 00:30:58:27 - 00:31:18:04 Unknown So we're kind of debating on do we add another tournament kind of mid-summer. And we've always had a block party, had a big party open house here at HQ. People have loved that. So curious to see like what you know, the fans say, should we open up another tournament? People asking about doing that? Yeah. I feel kind of working on this right now. 00:31:18:06 - 00:31:34:27 Unknown Yeah. I think either way you got to add like a party scramble. I just feel like those are the best. Those are fun. Where was that last year? Raccoon. Raccoon Creek. But we've changed it every year. Like two years ago, we did two men scrambles and they were more just like, come party, drink, have fun. If you want to take it serious, take it serious. 00:31:34:27 - 00:31:53:00 Unknown Last year, since there was ten grand on the line in Vegas, it was two man best ball. Just got more serious, which some people like, like you. But I feel like most of the guys in Denver and even just our people fly in for, yeah, our customers and fans, they just kind of want to come out and golf and party and have fun. 00:31:53:00 - 00:32:06:22 Unknown So I want to do a four man scramble. We talked about I love a four man scramble, but the only bad thing is the cheating. We need to bring you up out. So we should get yep for sure. And then we were like, we should just we have enough employees. We should just put an employee on every hole. 00:32:06:23 - 00:32:25:12 Unknown Yeah, or every two goals and just do the scorekeeper, especially after last year because the biggest sandbag grabber, Chase Campbell from Mile High Spirits I think one right one. And people like yelling at me for it. And I'm like, guys, I don't really know. Oh, and I love the scrambles. It's just the cheating aspect. And I love Chase. 00:32:25:14 - 00:32:42:08 Unknown Yeah, I know that's friends in the world, but I know so he's not that good. Yeah, yeah, I forgot about the drama. So I think we do need to score keep I think we need to score keep. And then we can do the party here the night before. That's always a good time. I think we got to do it that way. 00:32:42:09 - 00:32:57:11 Unknown Yeah, but we'll see. Let us know what you guys want to see. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be cool. I think we should though. And then can of rumors of another NICU. But we'll see. Yeah. We're kind of looking on that if we could raise more money for the kids and we might as well. Right? Yeah, yeah. Amen. Cause that one's on a Monday, so it's not as hard to set up. 00:32:57:11 - 00:33:15:15 Unknown And. Yeah, that one's a little more serious, especially if that's close to your heart. Yeah. What's what you're involved in 100%. Yeah. And it's always good to give back to the kids. So, Yeah, there's some good. Curious to see what everybody says is like, should we do another tournament? If we do, what should the format be? What should we do here? 00:33:15:21 - 00:33:29:05 Unknown Before we wrap it up, you should talk about grass league. Oh, because I was trying to talk about it last week. Do you know anything about this? The Blake Pride doesn't even know. And I was kind of butchering it. I've learned more in the last week, but we had one of our guys go playing it last week. And there's actually some silver lining. 00:33:29:05 - 00:33:46:26 Unknown Good news about missing that. So grass League is like this par three event at grass clippings rolling hills in Arizona. And it's just like under the lights. And it's a par three. It's kind of like a mini league. And there's a bunch of different team owners. I don't want to compare it to live, but it's like, you know, you got the Minnesota muskies. 00:33:46:27 - 00:34:08:26 Unknown You know what a good owns a team golfer going comparable to it's probably ice cubes. Three and three. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. It's kind of like that. And so there was a qualifier and there's like a hundred teams, two men scramble on a par three. The top 22 or 23 teams of the hundred teams go into the draft. 00:34:09:03 - 00:34:25:22 Unknown And you got to shoot like six this. This year it was 600. So you got to just shoot 600 and a par three course, two man scramble for 18 for 18 holes. And Zachary and our other buddy went down there and they played in it and they shot 300, which is crazy. I'm not even going to get into it of like how awful that is. 00:34:25:24 - 00:34:48:10 Unknown Liam and I could have shot 660 and he was not happy. Six so they go down there, but you shoot and then from there, if you're a top 23 teams, you would get drafted onto the other teams that are already existing and you'd get to play in the grass leagues and there's like real money, 1500, 150,000 $950,000 first prize, like the process for first for first. 00:34:48:11 - 00:35:08:21 Unknown Now there's there's an interesting thing. There's caveat because the guy read all this, if you were to own the team, the owner gets the 150 grand. Oh, and then he pays his players and he has to pay him up to 12%, no less than 12%. So he ain't living that up a month. So 15 grand. Yes. Per per whatever. 00:35:08:21 - 00:35:22:26 Unknown If you're a pro, I don't know the exact logistics on it, but it's good marketing and branding. Next year, I want to go down with you. I think we could shoot six. That's good content. Why doesn't pass by a team? Well, how does that how much like a franchise? Oh, okay. I was like, it must be pretty hard to buy. 00:35:23:01 - 00:35:46:13 Unknown It's a lot of money. I don't know how to get some. Probably. And but. So Ben the other guy played the played was the key. He was talking to Grassley's about it. They want you to have access to a par three course in your state. So if we were going to do Colorado, you got to have access to a par three course to potentially expand and have events held at your par three course, which might be tough to get. 00:35:46:14 - 00:36:09:10 Unknown I'm sure we could find a par three course in Colorado. There's several of them hole or nine, because I can only it was nine because I can only think of like three. Par three is like not would. It's not many. I think that's it. I can think of well Harvard guilt and so like silverleaf has a par three course on like like so does Cherry Hills or Bear Creek has three course you know and but could they be a part of it. 00:36:09:12 - 00:36:31:26 Unknown But the good news is, is the PGA tour bans you from playing on any PGA tour related event if you're in the grass leagues. Really? Yes. So if Sakai would have made it. Oh, boom. Done with Korn Ferry, done with PGA tour. It's kind of like what happened with Wesley Brian and not getting led into the PGA tour event because he did some YouTube with the live got guys, you know in the live. 00:36:31:27 - 00:36:49:23 Unknown So it's a lifetime ban I don't know if it's lifetime. It's just you can't do it while you're on the grass leagues. So I'm like well what about Wyndham. Like he's he's the team owner. Cold knows he doesn't play on the PGA tour anymore. A lot of these guys don't slow. That being said is the key. Has a few Mondays and a few things we want to do with the corn fairy this year. 00:36:49:23 - 00:37:10:12 Unknown He went have been able to do it if he got in. So kind of a silver lining of him. Not should I not do the grass because you're not. Want to give up my corn? Yeah. You're very good. No more Mondays for you. Yeah. So that's qualifying. Yeah. That's that's tough. It's a tough scene. But yeah. So if you make the team whatever you get drafted onto a team, you're in the league. 00:37:10:14 - 00:37:28:26 Unknown So there's like a Minnesota team or whatever whatever. So how would that you would travel around and play. It's like a full time thing. Yeah. Yeah yeah I think it's just at right now I think it's just in Arizona they do it a couple times a year maybe. I think they're trying to expand it or like, hey, every month, you know, you go some different state that has access to the part three. 00:37:29:00 - 00:37:46:05 Unknown And then I take it the team owner with like pay travel and that's that's where the sponsorship comes up. Wow. Yeah. So when you get drafted to a team, are you on that team or do they redraft every event? I think on the season you're on that team. You're on that team. At the end of the season, the owners have to like get rid of team people. 00:37:46:07 - 00:38:03:02 Unknown People like drop out, you know, of like, okay, I'm not doing this next year. Whatever you probably got to pay to, to get down there to where people probably just. Yeah. But like I think Johnny Manziel played in it. Right? He beats the guy's ass. He beats a guy who you came in as part of something. Yeah. They didn't make it, but they I don't know who beat him was. 00:38:03:03 - 00:38:21:13 Unknown That's so disappointing. I know it was so funny because all of us here, like, we felt bad. I mean, you know, golf, it's like you just maybe didn't make a putt. You said it was windy. Whatever the case was, the guy walks back in Friday morning. Nick's like, well, that was fucking pathetic. First thing he says, everyone else is like, oh, sorry you didn't go. 00:38:21:14 - 00:38:42:27 Unknown Well, that was fucking pathetic. The guys like, yeah, it wasn't my best. And he's like, no, seriously, you suck. I'm like, nice man. So no mercy water. So you brought up Wesley Brian? He just started kind of his own thing too, didn't he? Yeah. On that. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but yeah, something like that with like, greater influencer type thing. 00:38:42:27 - 00:39:08:18 Unknown And he's gonna have millions really think that that's going to take over this influencer crater. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the industry and with the with the sport, because it's going to start getting to the point where the persons are like kind of similar to the PGA. Like I genuinely because some of these brands, man who aren't allowed on the PGA for whatever reason, are going to start throwing money at these invitational internet invitationals, and it's going to be really it's going to not as much as live, I don't think, or anything, but like it'll be interesting to see. 00:39:08:19 - 00:39:29:15 Unknown You might not competition these creators with like an AP Automator or like Netjets sponsorships, but you're going to be seeing them pushing Colgate or not NASCAR, you know what I mean? My back like and it's also and I wanted to ask you guys opinion on this because it's getting to it reminds me a lot of like when in the NBA it's really only NBA. 00:39:29:15 - 00:39:41:29 Unknown But when players will like sit out, you know what I mean. They're not hurt. They just want to rest. We're starting to see that in the I mean I shouldn't say starting, but it's getting more popular to see PGA like Rory. You know he's like I'm only going to play the what I want to play, you know, why wouldn't you? 00:39:41:29 - 00:39:57:00 Unknown So it'll be interesting to see if that starts to like the fans. Like well you know what? Fine. But I get to watch Bob does sports and all these guys so I can see every day. And they're not going to sit out. They know, you know, that's a hell of an opportunity. And it'll be interesting to see if the fans are like, do you think it's bad for the sport for people like Rory to sit out there? 00:39:57:03 - 00:40:16:11 Unknown Because Rory's also to piggyback off that, because we're always such a traditionalist. So like, how is that going to affect both worlds? Like, and you're well, remember when Rory won the Masters last year? He missed the he already missed a signature, which was the century at Kapalua before the Masters in January. He's like, I don't want to go out to Y and do that. 00:40:16:11 - 00:40:34:15 Unknown So PGA tour players are required to play in all of the signature events. If you're exempt to them, like Rory, the top players, because they want the top players in the top events with the biggest sponsors that like Rory's going to be here, right? Obviously it's a draw. So Rory missed the century, which was a signature event. You're allowed to miss one okay. 00:40:34:16 - 00:40:51:12 Unknown After he won the Masters, then he's like, I'm not playing RBC. And that was two. So they find him. I think it was 15% or 20% of his Pip, which ended up being $3 million. Yeah, that's a lot because he got second in the Pip. Tiger always wins and he's you know so he got it was like five 3 million. 00:40:51:12 - 00:41:09:07 Unknown So they're trying to prevent people from bailing. But if you're a Rory it's like okay take some of my Pip. I've got hundreds of millions. I'm going to play in my event. And I don't think it's a problem except for Rory. It's a bad look, but I don't think it's a big deal that he's doing that. So. But I mean, yeah, they want to get people to play him. 00:41:09:07 - 00:41:26:10 Unknown The thing with the creator network that they're building out in these tournaments is I hope it's inclusive. I think people are starting to get frustrated with like, it's the same guys. It's these creators. The creators are bugging me, which I liked about grass leagues. It's like you could be any Joe Schmo. And if you're if you got game, you can come play. 00:41:26:13 - 00:41:43:18 Unknown So I'm hoping this creators it's not just Barstool 2.0 and it's just you got to be not just good good in basketball. They should have like, hey, here's a qualifying event. And you could be, you know Liam, you could be whoever. It's like, you know. Or does DB like you have no falling but you're good. You can get in. 00:41:43:19 - 00:41:59:13 Unknown I think they were talking about doing that of having like an open to get in and get some really good players because otherwise it's just great trails. You know there's YouTube golfers that are really, really good and they're going to win. The rest of them are like, yeah, they're fun to watch, but they're not good. Yeah that's good. 00:41:59:14 - 00:42:16:29 Unknown Like, you know, they get a good following or whatever. Yeah, they have a good following but they're not good. That's a good point you know. So it'd be interesting to see I like the idea maybe of like blending the two together, like having, you know, let's say like a four people, you know, team, four people on team or scramble two are influencers or whatever you want to call it. 00:42:16:29 - 00:42:35:21 Unknown And then you have people who have been drafted or whatever, like jokes that'd be fun, that are good. Something like that. Yeah. That made the cut or yeah, I agree, that'd be fun. Yeah, I agree. It'll be interesting because it is cool to see, like when Bob does sports through their Joe versus schmo and Riggs does his hater things like it's cool to see the normal guy, like, go on camera and like how he handles that. 00:42:35:22 - 00:42:51:27 Unknown But like, you know, you can watch the Barstool guys play against each other all day. It's like, fuck me. It's the same thing all the time. But it's cool to see, like if the ZB would have qualified if he's playing against Grant Horvat, you know what happens. So we'll see. I think you would wipe the floor with Grant Horvath. 00:42:51:29 - 00:43:10:27 Unknown I would love to see that match, honestly. So yeah, it would be clip that. Yeah. With that. Yeah. Cool. Anything else we got coming up? We want to chat about any new drops coming out. Yeah. There's well maybe to talk about. We do have a summer drop coming. We got two new bag colorways dropping. Is this podcast come on me out? 00:43:11:03 - 00:43:33:00 Unknown Yeah. Bags will be dropped. Bags will be dropped. Crispy. That glacier, the glacier blue, which is super nice. And then I don't even. It's in the bottom right. That bottom right at an electric car not electric. It's crazy. It's the craziest color bag you've ever seen. It's like phosphorescent. Yeah, like bright construction. It's a very. Yeah, but it's more of like a it's just hard to explain. 00:43:33:00 - 00:43:52:23 Unknown It's like super, super bright really excited about that. So we've got those bags launching and now we're kind of like into summer. It's weird. It's cold this week and you know the next like next week a little bit. And then it starts to get a little nicer. So coming into summer golf looking forward to it. I mean we've been in summer golf though, so we could take a couple a couple of weeks. 00:43:52:24 - 00:44:08:26 Unknown Yeah, the rain will be good. Yeah. We need the rain Colorado needs it bad, bad, bad. Are you playing in the memory? Guess. Friday? Yeah. Are you. Who are you playing at? The dew thing. Oh that's right, that's right. You're at the weather. I play with Matt Meyer every year. It's a one day member. Guessed that 36 of them. 00:44:08:28 - 00:44:30:06 Unknown Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah. What's his handicap? 36. Yeah. You shouldn't be able to play an event. How is that fair? He's getting two pops. Yeah, well, it's 80%. He makes a point, makes three pars. You know that's three eagles. It's 80%. His first putt is his t shirt. Yeah, literally. You've seen his swing I might need to grow the swing out. 00:44:30:09 - 00:44:49:12 Unknown It's crazy. It is crazy. But craziest thing you've ever seen. But we'll see how that goes. Yeah. Kind of kicking it off. So cool. Sounds good. Yeah, yeah, I guess tonight and abs next series, but cool. Thanks for tuning in, guys, and let us know. Like I said at the beginning of the pod, we we want to know more of what you want to hear more of what you want to see. 00:44:49:15 - 00:44:57:16 Unknown And like I said, we're excited for guerrilla sports and what's to come. A lot more of closed course coming your way. Be sure to comment, like and subscribe and we'll see you next week. See you guys.  

Chef Kenya Sakai, of Kenya Restaurant in Kyoto's Okazaki neighborhood, is known for his unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisines. He shows us his playful take on penne pasta by serving hollowed out burdock root with tomato sauce, as well as a dish he calls “Rice Meeting” featuring small dishes arranged around a bowl of rice.   Find recipes, watch videos, read articles, and learn more about the CIA's programs with Japan at https://www.ciajapanesekitchen.org/

Har Bin Reh Na Sakai, ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਰਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 711 Sabad 1906)

EPISODE 287: Interview with Mariko Sakai. Mariko coaches Sovereign Feminine women to become magnets for men who adore and move mountains for them—and guides men seeking true partnership with powerful, self-led women. If you get value out of the Loving Without Boundaries podcast, then consider becoming one of our patrons! Not only will you enjoy exclusive content made just for you, your support will also help us continue creating educational content while helping more people have a deeper understanding of consensual non-monogamy and healthy, sex positive relationships in general. https://www.patreon.com/lovingwithoutboundaries

Maiko Sakai designs the front door of high-ticket businesses. After years in management consulting, she noticed a pattern: founders invested heavily in traffic and content but still relied on persuasion-heavy sales calls to close. The leak wasn't visibility—it was entry. Now she works with consultants, coaches, and service founders to build diagnostic entry systems (ie. Quizzes etc.) that let buyers self-identify before booking a call. Instead of pushing traffic toward webinars or lead magnets, she designs structured decision experiences that surface tension and accelerate clarity. Her work reframes quizzes from engagement tools into strategic infrastructure — reducing friction, shortening timelines, and attracting leads who already know why they're a fit. She believes marketing shouldn't convince. It should help buyers conclude. Maiko holds an MBA from Cornell, but her real expertise comes from studying how decisive buyers think—and designing entry points that respect their intelligence. Links https://maikosakai.com https://linkedin.com/in/maikosakai https://threads.net/maikosakaibiz https://instagram.com/maikosakaibiz https://x.com/maikosakaibiz If you're enjoying Entrepreneur's Enigma, please give me a review on the podcast directory of your choice. The show is on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show. iTunes: https://gmwd.us/itunes Podchaser: https://gmwd.us/podchaser TrueFans: https://gmwd.us/truefans Also, if you're getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://ko-fi.com/entrepreneursenigma Support me on TrueFans.fm → https://gmwd.us/truefans. Support The Show & Get Merch: https://shop.entrepreneursenigma.com Want to learn from a 15 year veteran? Check out the Podcast Mastery Community:https://www.skool.com/podcast-mastery-community-6116/about Follow Seth Online: Instagram: https://instagram.com/s3th.me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethmgoldstein/ Seth On Mastodon: https://indieweb.social/@phillycodehound The Marketing Junto Newsletter: https://MarketingJunto.com Leave The Show A Voicemail: https://podcastfeedback.com/entrepreneursenigma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lv.204配信です。今回はメンヘラリウムとざこのあひるの開発者さんをゲストにお迎えして感想トーク・裏話をしております。 #感想 #レビュー #解説 #考察 #ポッドキャスト //// キーワード ///////////////メンヘラリウム／ざこのあひる／Steamバンドル販売//// 出演 ///////////////こへい／HARUゲスト：YUKIさん／Sakaiさん //// チャプター ///////////////(00:00:00) ｜オープニング(00:00:46) ｜OP／ゲストはYUKIさんとsakaiさん(00:18:04) ｜本編／メンヘラリウム・ざこのあひるをなんとか(01:27:47) ｜エンディング //// 番組へのおたより ///////////////番組へのおたより・メッセージは番組ウェブサイト（ https://gamenantoka.com/ ）または gamenantoka@gmail.com へお送りください。 //// 番組YouTubeチャンネル ///////////////ゲームなんとかの今後の活動の幅を広げるため、さらなる番組リスナーさん増加を目指してYouTubeチャンネルを開設しました。ポッドキャストと同じ音源を配信だけではなく、動画ならではの取り組みも挑戦していこうかと思いますので、ぜひともチャンネル登録をお願いいたします。https://www.youtube.com/c/gamenantoka //// その他 ///////////////■ 番組の感想には #ゲームなんとか をお気軽にお使いください！■ X：@gamenantoka

Nirenberg's big win, Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez's big loss and the Democratic runoff for district attorney — host Greg Jefferson and reporters Saul Pink and Molly Smith talk about all of it in a special edition of ENside Politics. Suggested reading: Nirenberg wins Bexar County judge nomination in a landslide Indicted County Court Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez loses reelection bid Bexar DA election: Luz Elena Chapa and Jane Davis advance to primary runoff Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three nurses, including Ryusuke Asakura, a 50-year-old former staff member at a municipal support center for people with severe disabilities in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging they were retaliated against for reporting abuse of residents. The trio say they alerted authorities in 2019 after their concerns were ignored internally, leading the city to acknowledge multiple cases of abuse, but claim they were subsequently subjected to lengthy home suspensions, dismissal and job transfers by the facility's operator, prompting their legal action. Episode notes: ‘Western Japan Disability Nurses have Difficulties but “no regrets” in Reporting “culture” of Abuse': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/02/27/western-japan-disability-nurses-have-difficulties-but-no-regrets-in-reporting-culture-of-abuse/

Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's City Hall track record and whether it'll help him in his bid to unseat Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. Also: Does it matters that Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is getting along with many of her City Council colleagues? Suggested reading: Why did Ron Nirenberg replace the logo on his Tesla? What is a county judge anyway? Nirenberg and Sakai can't seem to agree Can Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones lead if she can't mend relations with City Council? Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai took time out from his Democratic primary fight against former Mayor Ron Nirenberg to talk with ENside Politics about improving the county lock-up, backing a new Spurs arena but not the sports district it would tie together, and why he's campaigning on balanced budgets -- which are required under the Texas constitution. Suggested reading: Should Bexar County build a new jail? Here's what Nirenberg and Sakai say Nirenberg, Sakai clash over leadership and Ready to Work in first debate See how Ron Nirenberg and Peter Sakai are doing in fundraising for county judge Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The race for the Democratic nomination for Bexar County judge is on. Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg joins us for the first half hour. He's followed by incumbent County Judge Peter Sakai. We'll hear from each candidate separately about his vision for Bexar County, Project Marvel, economic development and more.

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on Bexar County leadership and the ongoing challenges facing San Antonio's county government. In light of the upcoming March 3 primary election, Bob Rivard and Cory Ames interviews Judge Peter Sakai, the incumbent county judge seeking re-election.The conversation covers Judge Sakai's decades-long public service, his approach to “back to basics” government, and the county's response to acute issues, including economic instability, food insecurity, affordable housing shortages, and reforms within the county bureaucracy. Judge Sakai speaks to his non-political background, his philosophy of collaborative problem-solving, and recent crisis management with federal funding cuts and strained social programs.Topics discussed include:• The impact of federal policy changes on Bexar County agencies and vulnerable families• County government's evolving strategies regarding public safety, health care access, and workforce development• Efforts to make elections secure and transparent in the face of technical and legal challenges• Implementation plans and long-term goals for Proposition A—Bexar County's commitment to east side revitalization and major venue investments• Collaboration and tension between county leadership, city hall, and local nonprofitsThe episode also addresses Judge Sakai's record on immigration policy, the complexities of jail staffing and overtime, and the challenges of balancing immediate needs with future planning. With early voting approaching, Judge Sakai reflects on his leadership style, campaign strategy, and the stakes for Bexar County's direction over the next four years.RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:▶️ #153. The Race to Lead Bexar County: Ron Nirenberg – Catch last week's episode, where we interview opponent Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Bob Rivard and Cory Ames interview Nirenberg on why he is running, the state of the county, and what is at stake for this race. -- -- CONNECT

What if money decisions felt clear—not stressful?In this episode of The Business Ownership Podcast, I interviewed Lisa Sakai. Lisa is a Financial Consultant who works with clients on Bucket List Acceleration and getting to live the life they want now. As the co-founder of One Vision Retirement, she has been working with clients across the country for over 12 years. Lisa's advice provides easy to understand, logical steps and exercises that people can take action on right away.What does financial freedom look like for your life?Check this out!Show Links:Free resources: www.onevisionretire.com/resourcesLisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasakaiBook a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/

City Hall reporter Molly Smith talks to county government reporter Saul Pink and business reporter Madison Iszler about fundraising in the county judge's race, why Bexar County hasn't switched the software it uses to manage voter rolls, and where the sports and entertainment district stands. Suggested reading: Nirenberg outraises Sakai but trails in cash ahead of county judge primary Bexar County commissioners in turmoil over new voter registration contract What comes next in plans for sports and entertainment district downtown? Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enko Sakai joins My Life Now for a thoughtful conversation on mindfulness, creativity, and the human experience. A Buddhist monk from Japan and a filmmaker, Enko shares insights from his personal journey, his work in film, and his reflections on stress, presence, and meaning in modern life. This episode explores how creativity and stillness intersect, why mindfulness resonates across cultures, and how people can reconnect with themselves in an increasingly noisy world.Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and all major podcast platforms.

Bryan Gervais, head of UTSA's polling center, talks with City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson about the Ron Nirenberg-Peter Sakai race in the March 3 Democratic primary and the future of public financing for a Spurs arena downtown and Project Marvel. Suggested reading: Project Marvel, Spurs arena firing up the Bexar County judge race Jefferson: People like Ron Nirenberg, but do they like him enough to bounce Peter Sakai? Inside Prop B's win and what it means for Project Marvel's future Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Off The Ball's Matthew Brennan brings you a short & snappy round-up of all the latest from the greatest show earth - The World Darts Championship!Munyua delivers GREATEST shock of all time?

City Hall reporter Molly Smith and county government reporter Saul Pink talk to political consultant Andrew Solano about Texas Congressional District 35, the Bexar County judge's race and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to move city elections to November. Suggested reading: Who filed to run in the 2026 elections in San Antonio and Texas? Here are the major candidates Ron Nirenberg launches campaign for Bexar County Judge City Council to weigh in on pitch to move elections from May to November Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Bexar County commissioner Kevin Wolff, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' proposal to move city elections from May to November, her rocky start at City Hall and former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's run against County Judge Peter Sakai in the March Democratic primary. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones wants to move city elections to November to boost turnout Jefferson: People like Ron Nirenberg, but do they like him enough to bounce Peter Sakai? Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai launches bid for second term Ron Nirenberg launches campaign for Bexar County Judge Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the critical decisions facing Bexar County voters and their impact on the future of San Antonio's east side, the Spurs, and the Stock Show & Rodeo. Bob Rivard sits down with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai to discuss what's at stake in the upcoming countywide election, where voters will decide on two propositions affecting the Frost Bank Center, potential new development, and the future economic direction of the city.Judge Sakai shares his perspective on the use of the tourist tax to fund county facilities, clarifies public misconceptions around Referendums A and B, and details the legal constraints that govern how these funds can—and cannot—be spent. The conversation sheds light on long-standing issues of eastside economic revitalization, the importance of keeping the Spurs in San Antonio, and the unique roles played by both the Rodeo and Spurs in the city's civic, economic, and cultural identity.They discuss:What Referendums A and B would actually fund—and what they won'tHow the tourist tax works and why it doesn't impact local property taxesThe future of the Frost Bank Center and what losing the Spurs could mean for San AntonioLong-term visions for east side redevelopment, small business growth, and new public-private partnershipsHow state law restricts local governments' ability to redirect venue tax funds to other priorities like housing or educationLessons learned from previous facility deals and how new contractual stipulations could benefit the communityListen in for a fact-based, unvarnished look at one of the most consequential local decisions in recent years and the broader vision for Bexar County's future.▶️ #133. How the Spurs Arena Could Change the San Antonio Rodeo – As Judge Peter Sakai discusses the future of Bexar County venues and east side revitalization, dive deeper into how a new Spurs arena could transform the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and the surrounding community. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport to explore potential year-round impact, cultural shifts, and what these changes mean for local youth and economic development.CONNECT

durée : 00:59:22 - Toute une vie - par : Matthieu Garrigou-Lagrange - invités : Cécile Sakai; René de Ceccatty Auteur, traducteur, éditeur; Diane de Margerie Ecrivain, essayiste

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai joins "The Source" to discuss the coming vote on the proposed new downtown Spurs arena and revitalizing the rodeo grounds.

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On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I'm joined by Cynthia Sakai, Founder and CEO of evolvetogether—the personal care brand making waves for its beautifully designed, clean, and high-performing daily essentials. With a mission to create products that connect people, community, and the planet, evolvetogether is proving that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand.In our conversation, Cynthia shares her journey as a serial entrepreneur and how she's redefining what it means to scale a brand with purpose. We dive into the early days of product development, the non-negotiables behind her clean and sustainable formulas, and the strategy behind evolvetogether's rapid growth in both DTC and retail. She opens up about staying authentic in a category crowded with greenwashing, how she approaches storytelling that cuts through the noise, and what it takes to build real trust with consumers.Whether you're a brand builder, product founder, or someone who appreciates intentional design and high-impact entrepreneurship—this episode is full of insights you won't want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show. Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at karagoldin@gmail.com. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks. To learn more about Cynthia Sakai and evolvetogether:https://www.instagram.com/cynthiasakaihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-k-sakai-391abb48https://www.instagram.com/we_evolvetogether/https://www.evolvetogether.com/ Sponsored By:IDEO U - Go to IDEOU.com/KARAGOLDIN for 15% off!Open Phone - OpenPhone is offering 20% off your first 6 months! Just go to OpenPhone.com/KaraGoldinApple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn. Check out our website to view this episode's show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/711

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Enlightenment Isn't Loud. It Mops Floors.There's a saying in Zen: “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” It sounds violent, but it isn't. It's a warning — against false idols, against ego, against brandishing your enlightenment like a badge. Because the real Buddha doesn't announce himself. He doesn't post about it. He certainly doesn't go on speaking tours.The real Buddha might be mopping the floors after the high school prom. She might be your mother, quietly cooking soup for the neighbor with cancer. He might be the hospice nurse who holds your father's hand when the morphine finally wins. No livestream. No accolades. Just presence. Just grace.I've seen them. Not the floating monks — though I do believe some can levitate — but the ones who hover just above despair. The ones who carry the weight with silence and kindness. My teachers in Hawaii, Mrs. Kai and Mrs. Sakai, were Buddhas. They didn't teach Buddhism. They taught everything that matters. With chalk. With laughter. With patience for a kid who didn't always deserve it.In Nepal in the ‘90s, I met a monk who tapped me on the shoulder and asked for the International Herald Tribune. It was folded in my back pocket, under a jumper — completely invisible. He hadn't seen it. He knew. You don't forget moments like that. You just tuck them away, like seeds, until they bloom.The truth is: we miss most of the Buddhas. We're too distracted. We expect enlightenment to glow like Times Square. But it doesn't. It whispers. It blends in. You can sit next to it on the bus and never know. Our brains filter out the miraculous — and maybe that's part of the mercy.When I got my concealed carry permit in Arlington, the chief made me promise three things: Don't announce it. Don't let it print. And never, ever brandish. That's how I think about real spiritual power. If it's loud, it's probably not real. If it demands attention, it's probably ego. The Buddha doesn't brandish. The Christ doesn't post. The Tao doesn't demand followers.They serve.But that's the problem today. Everyone wants to be the vanguard. No one wants to be the janitor. Everyone wants to “lead the revolution” — once they finish their speaking engagement. Everyone wants to speak “for the trees,” as if the trees filed a request. But when it's time to wash dishes, sit with the dying, or change a stranger's wound dressing — they're suddenly busy.It's all mañana. Once the utopia arrives. Once the revolution is over. Once the equity audits are done and the right words are found — then we'll help. Then we'll serve. Then we'll be kind. But never now. Never dirty. Never humbled. Never barefoot in a borrowed kitchen, ladling stew for someone who smells like regret.I don't want that kind of progress.Buddha nature is not theoretical. It's incarnate. And it lives in the ones who do — not the ones who preach. It glows faintly behind the eyes of the ones who carry burdens and never mention it. It stirs in the hospice volunteers, the sandwich makers, the unknown caregivers, and yes, the sons who sleep on couches for a year while their mothers die slowly from cancer.That doesn't make me a Buddha. Far from it.But I've seen the ones who are.And they don't need followers. They don't need blogs. They don't even need credit. They just cut wood, carry water, and vanish before the applause.

In this episode of The Brand is Female, Eva Hartling sits down with Cynthia Sakai, founder of evolvetogether, the elevated personal care brand that took the world by storm with its mission-driven, design-forward essentials.Launched at the start of the pandemic with a medical-grade face mask that quickly became a celebrity favourite, evolvetogether has since grown into a full line of high-performance products for daily life—combining sustainability, science, and style.-Cynthia shares her journey from launching her first company at 18 to building Vita Fede, a luxury jewelry brand, and now creating a globally loved personal care company rooted in purpose. In this conversation, she breaks down:-The early days of evolvetogether and what led to its explosive growth-How her fashion and jewelry background informs her approach to product and brand design-The strategies behind building a loyal community through both DTC and retail-Why creating products that are beautiful, functional, and responsible is more than a brand philosophy—it's a personal missionTune in to hear how Cynthia is making everyday essentials anything but ordinary.This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Have you been thinking about where you wanna go next, but you aren't sure if you have the finances to do your dream life after corporate? Discover the secret to designing the life of your dreams with host Natalie Benamou and Lisa Sakai, Founder of One Vision Retirement and Bucket List Financial Planner. Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, exploring board service, or dreaming of starting a mosaic career, this episode will shift how you think about what's possible and how to fund it.3 Mindset + Money Shifts:✨ Let go of the word 'retirement' and embrace financial freedom. "I help women get to a place where they can do what they want, when they want and feel confident doing it.” – Lisa Sakai✨ You don't need all the answers, you need a plan that fits you. "Most women I work with are in the ‘I don't know yet' phase. That's exactly when we start building clarity.”-Lisa Sakai✨ Build your next chapter around what you truly value. "This isn't about copying what someone else is doing. It's about your vision and what lights you up."-Lisa SakaiLisa and Natalie are thrilled to be launching a Portfolio Career Program designed to help you move into your next chapter with clarity, confidence, and the right strategy.

Cynthia Sakai, the founder of clean beauty and lifestyle brand Evolve Together, comes to the ranch for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to evolve — as a woman, a mother, and a conscious creator. From launching the brand with medical-grade masks during the pandemic to becoming a wellness-savvy, soulful entrepreneur, Cynthia shares her journey of slowing down, showing up authentically, and building a business that prioritizes people and the planet. We dive into topics like: The power of presence in motherhood and business Ditching performative perfection for peaceful authenticity Her IVF journey and why she waited to become a mom The meaning behind “doing good every day”  How challenges can be catalysts for growth This episode is your reminder: love your life, live your values, and never stop evolving.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the conclusion of our two part conversation with Tariq Khan on his book The Republic Shall Be Kept Clean: How Settler Colonial Violence Shaped Antileft Repression. In part one of the conversation we laid out many of the general dynamics between anti-indigenous settler colonial violence in the 19th Century and the development of the earliest iterations of anticommunism in the so-called United States, long before McCarthyism or even what's recognized by historians as the first Red Scare. In this conversation we talk about some of the legal precedents that the Trump administration has dusted off for some of his attempts to remove or exclude people for political views.  Because we recorded this conversation in December before Trump took office for his second term, we did not directly address several of his actions that draw from this history. The renaming of Denali as Mt. McKinley, drawing directly on laws used to deport anarchists to go after immigrants for their political views, and continuing the genocidal legacy of this settler colonial empire in fueling the genocide in Gaza. In addition to McKinley who was assassinated by an anarchist motivated in part by the US's war in the Philippines, we talk about contrasting figures like Teddy Roosevelt, John Hay, and Albert and Lucy Parsons and the influence that the later half of the 19th century, and 1877 in particular, had on their political trajectories. In addition we talk about the history of lynching and sexual violence and the relationship this practice had to disciplining anarchists alongside its roles for white society and as a repression mechanism against solidarity across racial lines.  Dr. Tariq Khan is a historian with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the intertwined forces underlying and shaping our social, political, economic, and cultural institutions. He has wide-ranging research, writing, and teaching experience in the fields of global capitalism, transnational studies, U.S. history, psychology, sociology, ethnicity & race studies, gender studies, colonialism & postcolonialism, labor & working-class history, radical social movements, history “from below,” public history, and community-based research and teaching. A few things to shout-out. Recently I had the pleasure of joining the good people of Tankie Group Therapy on the East is a Podcast. I also recently joined Nick Estes from the Red Nation Podcast for a discussion of J. Sakai's book Settlers and went on Saturdays with Renee with Renee Johnston and Jared Ball. Recent episodes on our YouTube channel include Freedom Archives, Abdaljawad Omar, Momodou Taal, Steven Salaita, and a couple of discussions on Pakistan, India, and Kashmir. Make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel so you can catch all of that work as well. If you like the work that we do, please support our show via patreon you can do so for as little as $1 a month and now you can also make a one-time contribution through BuyMeACoffee. Your support is what makes this show possible.     

210 days ago, I was blinking into the sun at Go Media Stadium as Auckland FC strode out onto the pitch for their first-ever A-League game. The club was owned by a billionaire and the team's style of play wasn't immediately alluring – the very first goal in the club's professional history came courtesy of an opposition player. I knew about two of the players and had to keep cross-checking the action on the pitch with my gameday programme. Upon reflection, there were plenty of reasons why Auckland FC might not have taken off with fans quite as they have. And yet here we are, seven months on, in the semi-finals of the A-League. The crunchy end of the season for the team that has consistently drawn the biggest crowds in the competition. I can confirm I've crossed a sporting threshold this season. As much as I love the Crusaders, Auckland FC in my sporting priority each and every week. I've talked before about how the club really nailed the matchday experience. And let's not kid ourselves and imagine the season would have been quite the same if they hadn't been winning. But given they started from nothing, it's also notable the extent to which the club has actively tried to build and nurture a fanbase. It cannot be easy to snap your fingers and try to build a culture and fanbase overnight. But the club has held however many meet-and-greets. They've had an enduring outreach programme with local football clubs. They ‘ve held training days for kids and even made an appearance at my mate's local school fete last weekend. They've had autograph sessions and sponsor gigs and even shipped the regular season trophy around corporate offices in downtown Auckland – including this one! As an organisation, Auckland FC has hustled. And I think the same attitude permeates into their style of play. The players run hard. They try hard. And it's paid off however many times this season when the team has scored a goal in the dying seconds of a game to snatch a draw or even a win. I read an interview at the start of the season in which the players talked about their backgrounds. Apart from the captain, Hiroki Sakai, no one was a big league superstar, and honestly, they knew it. They were professional footballers, sure. But no one was signing perfume deals and earning half a million bucks a week. They had everything still to prove and the only way to do it was through graft. By the nature of an inaugural season, everything Auckland FC has done this year has been a first. But knock-out football is a different kind of pressure. It's a home-and-away semi, of course, with the away leg first. Part of me feels a bit anxious about that. Was it really in our interests to have a full week off before getting up for a critical match in opposition territory? Sport can be glorious, and sport can be cruel. Winning the Premier's Plate does not guarantee anything at this stage of the season. But like so many others, in a few short months, I've come to feel a deep affinity for this team. I now know the respective club histories of players who were effectively strangers in October. I know our defence is our greatest strength: Paulsen, Hall, Sakai, Smith, Pijnaker. That Louis Verstraete blends a technical finesse with an enthusiasm for a 50/50 physical challenge. That Francis de Vries will always whip in a ridiculously good delivery and Guillermo May is just waiting to lash it in with that left foot. I know how lucky we are to have had this season. How good it is for NZ football. And seven months since that first game, with the knock-out stages upon us, I know we can win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I sit down with business growth strategist Maiko Sakai to dive into the key strategies expert-preneurs need to scale their businesses sustainably. Maiko shares her insights on finding the right balance with delegation—avoiding both hesitation and premature delegation—while emphasizing the crucial role that intellectual property (IP) plays in creating a leverageable business.We explore how to develop unique frameworks, test and protect your IP, and transform your expertise into scalable assets. Maiko also breaks down how service-based business owners can structure their offerings to move beyond one-on-one work while still maintaining profitability. If you're looking to scale your business without burning out, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss!Key Takeaways:The Delegation Sweet Spot: Avoid being too hesitant or too aggressive in hiring; instead, build systems that allow for smart, sustainable delegation.IP as Your Growth Engine: Your intellectual property is your most valuable asset. Develop, test, and secure your frameworks before scaling them.Testing Before Scaling: Ensure your methodologies and frameworks are robust by stress-testing them before rolling them out widely.Creating Scalable Offers: Keep your 1:1 services as a stable revenue source while developing both a gateway product for new clients and a high-ticket offer for deeper transformation.Quizzes as a Lead Generation Tool: A well-structured quiz can help filter ideal clients and boost engagement.Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

**Producer's note: This episode went for an astonishing 2.5 hours -- our longest episode ever! We have released the first hour of the conversation on the free feed, and if you want to listen to the entire episode, become a patron for as little as $2 a month** Nick Estes was joined by Jared Ware (@jaybeware), host of Millennials Are Killing Capitalism, for a livestream conversation and analysis of J. Sakai's Settlers: The Mythology of the White Proletariat From Mayflower to Modern (1983). Watch the episode on The Red Nation Podcast YouTube channel. The Red Nation Podcast is a collaboration between The Red Nation and Red Media. Empower our work: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/empower-red-medias-indigenous-content  Subscribe to The Red Nation Newsletter: https://www.therednation.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redmediapr     

Last time we spoke about the Battle for the Great Wall of China. In 1933, the Kwantung Army faced logistical struggles and sought political deals with Chinese warlords to seize North China. Despite capturing key areas, chaos reigned as their unauthorized operations defied Tokyo's orders. When Emperor Hirohito demanded a withdrawal, the army reluctantly complied, derailing a coup attempt. Though peace talks followed, distrust persisted, and rogue Japanese commanders plotted fresh offensives. The Tanggu truce was anything but fair to China. The Japanese followed it up with continuous negotiations aimed at slicing more and more out of China. By 1935 North China was practically annexed if but all in official terms. The Japanese seized postal rights, train rights, airline rights, set up puppets to police a new demilitarized zone and seemed never appeased fully. Yet they did not only have their eye on Northern China.    #149 Incidents in North China: Operation Chahar Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. May 1935, marked the peak of Sino-Japanese efforts at reconciliation. Yet this quickly fell apart in June as the Kwantung Army continued to encroach in North China. More specifically they began to look at Chahar province. Between January and May of 1935 some 50 instances of anti-Japanese violence had broken out in North China and behind these outbursts seemed to be Yu Xuecheng, the chairman of Hubei's provincial Government. He was not alone in his efforts as many KMT members, generals in the Central Army and Blue Shirt Society also had helping hands to play. The Japanese were particularly infuriated by incessant attacks from the bandit army led by Sun Yungqin and the assassinations of two pro-Japanese figures operating in Tientsin, Pai Yuhuan and Hu Enpu. Even with th support of the Kwantung Army, maintaining law and order in the demilitarized region established by the Tanggu Trace proved a serious undertaking. The Nanjing government tried exploit the situation, encouraging Sun Yungqin's bandits to create chaos in the demilitarized region. Sun Yungqin's bandit frequently crossed the Great Wall into Rehe in raids. Each time the Kwantung Army attempted to catch them as they fled into the demilitarized region. They particularly liked to do so in the Zunhua district where the official He Xiaoyi supplied the bandits with munitions and provisions. On May 17th, the Kwantung Army was fed up and elected to cross the Great Wall to crush Sun Yungqin once and for all. The Japanese army attache at Peiping, Major Takahasi Tan, notified the Chinese authorities of this decision, claiming the Kwantung Army had the authority to do so under certain provisions within the Tanggu agreement. Beginning on May 20th, the Sugihara Mixed Brigade began its hunt and claimed to have uncovered evidence that Yu Xuecheng had helped guide Sun Yingqin's bandits away from their force. The Japanese also argued the bandits were operating in Manchuria and were calling themselves the “Northeastern Patriotic Volunteers” led by General He Yingqing, the current chairman of the Peiping Branch Military Council.  The bandits were said to have been completely crushed within 5 days by a single brigade. The Japanese also forced the resignation of Yu Xuecheng who refused to organize an anti-chiang kai-shek movement. Shortly before the operation launched, two pro-Japanese newspaper publishers, secretly supported by the Japanese Special Service Agency were assassinated in Tientsin. On May 2nd, Hu Enpu of the Kuochuan pao “national rights” was shot in bed at the Peiyang Hotel in the Japanese concession. That same night, Pai Yuhuan of Chen Pa was murdered in his home. Consul General Kawagoe reported to Tokyo, Hu Enpu and Pai Yuhuan were performing a mission through their newspapers to arouse anti-chiang Kai-shek sentiment in North China. As stated by Kawagoe "Hu and Pai did not have a particularly close personal relationship, but they were regarded with extreme suspicion by the Chinese. Since they were assassinated on the same night, we immediately suspected there was some political intrigue behind these crimes."   Japanese police looked into the matter and discovered the criminals had used a car bearing the plate number 1063 which was owned by Shen Qucheng who was a resident of the Japanese concession. Many suspects were interrogated, and given what they were saying, the Japanese suspected the man behind the assassinations was General Yang Hu, the peace preservation commissioners of Shanghai and an alleged member of the Blue Shirt Society. The Japanese also believed Yang Hu was hiding in the French concessions in Shanghai. In protest of this, the Japanese invoked the Boxer Protocol and Tanggu Truce: “1) The Sun incident and the assassinations of the pro-Japan, proManchukuo newspaperpublishers violated the North China [T'angku] Cease-fire Agreement of May 1933. The North China Cease-fire Agreement stipulated that China would not take any action disturbing the peac e on either side of a line from Lut'ai to Paoti and T'ungchou. The above provision extends to all of China and should of course be applied to any defiant deeds of Chines e officials that threaten the peac e in the Peiping-Tientsin region. The Sun incident and the assassinations of Pai and Hu are clearly contrary to the above agreement.  2) The official note exchanged by China and Japan upon the return of Tientsin in 1902 is applicabl e to the murder of Pai Yühuan. This note stated: "In the event a Chines e national who is employed by a foreign army is accused of disobeying the law, the commander of the army that employs the said Chines e national, in order that the matter may be decided in the most suitable manner has the option of punishing him personally or voluntarily delivering him to the appropriate Chinese authorities. Your government must agree to this arrangement.” Since Pai, as already stated, was in the employ of the Japanese army, his murder is clearly a deed which violates the above note."  Thus the Japanese invoked the right that the commander of the Tientsin garrison had the authority to maintain security and try any criminals. Because the Japanese Army claimed it had authority to conduct investigations, trials and deal punishment within two miles of the Peiping-Shanhaigaun rail line it insisted to do so given the recent events. This actually distorted some of the specifics of the Tanggu Treaty, thus the Japanese were on loose grounds. On May 25th, Tokyo HQ was forewarned of the actions the Kwantung Army would undertake in North China. So Tokyo sent Colonel Sakai Takashi the Tientsin army chief of staff and attache Takahasi Tan called upon Yu Qiaqi, the secretary general of the Political affairs council and General He Yingqin. In fact Sakai backed this up with a threatening public statement: “The execution of anti-Manchukuo plots under the direction of the Chinese authorities, assistance to the "Chinese Patriotic Volunteer Forces," and various acts of terrorism directed against Japan are destructive of the cease-fire agreement. The headquarters for these crimes are in Tientsin and Peiping. Should this state of affairs continue, it will become necessary to incorporate the above two cities in the demilitarized zone. The murders of Hu and Pai are violations of the provisions of the Boxer Settlement and a challenge to Japan. If similar acts hereafter occur, Japan will, on the basis of its treaty rights, be forced to consider what action is necessary for the defense of its rights”. Additionally, Sakai demanded the withdrawal of all KMT aligned units, Blue Shirt Society members, the Political Training Corps of the Peiping Branch Military Council and the 3rd Regiment Military Police from North China. He also wanted Yu Xuecheng dismissed as chairman of Hubei. The next day in a move to intimidate Yu Xuecheng, the Tientsin Army deployed armored vehicles, artillery and machine guns directly in front of his official residence. It seemed now the Japanese sought to incorporate all of Hubei into the new demilitarized region. To make this happen, Sakai had independently put forward these demands, but they were recognized as an ultimatum from Japan, one for which for now had no deadline.  Chiang Kai-Shek, Wang Jingwei, Huang Fu and He Yingqin conferred over the situation and chose to informally talk with the Japanese while they kept the press quiet on the matter. The Chinese took their time, so to pressure them further, the Kwantung Army deployed a infantry battalion and one cavalry brigade at Shanhaiguan, while the Kawaguchi detachment concentrated around Gubeikou and two air force squadrons were brought over to Jinzhou. The Tientsin Army readied two battalions at Tientsin and Tangshan, both prepared to advance to Peiping at a moments notice. After sending numerous orders not to escalate things, Tokyo HQ sent Colonel Kita Seiichi, the chief of its China desk to demand the Kwantung Army not use anymore force. Meanwhile the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the fear of Anglo-American intervention avoided escalating the situation, but kept the 3rd fleet on full alert.  Under immense pressure the Chinese buckled. At 6pm on June 10th, He Yingqin orally advised Major Takahashi that Nanjing would issue a directive ordered the immediate withdrawal of local KMT organs from Hubei; that the 51st NRA Army would depart by rail from Hubei between June 11th and 25th; that the end and 25th NRA divisions of the Central Army would also depart Hubei and that the KMT would issue a directive prohibiting anti-japanese activities throughout China. It was an incredibly embarrassing act and became known as the He-Umezu agreement. Under its provisions the Japanese had expelled the Central Army from North China, Yu Xuecheng's forces, all anti-Japanese organizations of any sort and all anti-Japanese officials were removed. The Japanese had heavily capitalized on the assassinations in Tientsin, however other incidents enabled our good friend Doihara to cause further mayhem.  Following the Tanggu truce, Song Queyuan's 29th Army, consisting of the 37th, 38th and 132nd divisions had been deployed throughout Chahar with his headquarters based at Kalgan. His troops understandably displayed a lot of anti-japanese attitude and behaviors. Like a broken record, it was only a matter of time until an incident organically presented itself. One of the first ones broke out in Changpei. According to the Japanese, so get your grains of salt ready, a group of 8 led by staff officer Kawaguchi Kiyotake of the Tientsin garrison and Ikeda Katsumi of the consulate at Kalga and planned an excursion to Inner Mongolia late October 1934. After completing all the necessary paperwork and procedures, such as securing visas and giving advance notice to the Chinese officials in the areas they would voyage, the Japanese departed Kalgan for Tolun on October 27th. Upon entering Changpei's south gate they were suddenly stopped by troops under Song Queyuans 132nd division alongside some Peace Preservation Corps men. Their commanding officer punched Ikeda as the rest of the party were threatened with Dao swords and rifles. After 40 minutes a Chinese security officer showed up to allow them all to pass through the South Gate.  The Japanese foreign Ministry and Army were obviously outraged by this incident. The vice Consul at Kalgan, Hashimoto Masayasu complained to the chief of staff of the 132nd division and Major Takahasi at Peiping lodged an official complaint with Song Queyuan. On November 25th, Song Queyuan ordered the general commanding the 132nd division, Chao Tengyu, to apologize and dismissed the officer who punched Ikeda. Song Queyuan then guaranteed safe travel for all Japanese throughout Chahar, without any inspection of their possession and he promised to withdraw his troops west of the Great Wall. All of this because a guy was punched, you can really get the sense the Chinese were walking on eggshells. In late 1934, a large contingent of Song Queyuan's cavalry had deployed to the area around Fengning in Rehe. They were defending strategic positions and establishing large peace preservation corps. The Kwantung Army repeatedly demanded they withdraw from the area and the Chinese had made promises as to such by December 31st. Rather than comply, the Chinese launched an offensive and captured 40 Manchukuo militiamen. Song Queyuan rewarded his men with a bounty of 300 silver yuan and ordered the arms of the enemy by handed to the district government of Kuyuan.  On January 17th, the Kwantung Army moved the Nagami detachment of the IJA 8th Division from Chengde to launch a punitive expedition against Song Queyuan's forces in the Kuyuan area. On the 20th the Peiping Branch Military Council informed the Kwantung Army Song Queyuan was already withdrawing his men. Thus the Nagami detachment who had advanced as far as Tat'an turned around for the Great Wall on the 22nd, when they were suddenly attacked by Song Queyuan's troops near Hungnit'an. The Kwantung Army were outraged by what they were calling the first incident in western Rehe. The so-called incident would be resolved on February 2nd nar Ta'an when Zhang Yueting acting on behalf of the NRA 37th division and Major General Tani Hisao on behalf of the IJA 7th division agreed to the following terms: “1) In the future China will strictly prohibit actions that antagonize the Japanese army and will neither move troops into Manchukuo nor adopt a threatening attitude toward Manchukuo. The Chinese will completely suspend their current spying activities, such as scouting the movements of the Kwantung Army.  2) If China violates the above pledges in the future, the Japanese  army will act independently and firmly, but the responsibility will be borne by the Chinese . If the Chinese forces increase their military strength or contemplate strengthening their fortifications, the Japanese army will regard these moves as hostile acts.  3) China is to have the government of Kuyuan district return all arms confiscated (from the Manchukuo militia and turn them over to the Japanese army at Nanweitzu by February 7.  4) The outcome of this conference will be jointly announced on February 4. In particular, the Chinese should be careful that in making their announcement they do not distort the contents of the agreement or engage in counterpropaganda”. Can you imagine there was a second incident at Changpei? 4 members of the Japanese Special Services Agency based out of Abga, some 40 miles northwest of Tolun had come to the same southgate around 4pm on June 5th, traveling to Kalgan. There they were detained by units of the 132nd division who refused to recognize their identification papers. They were apparently held without proper bedding or food, threatened with Dao swords and bayonets. The Japanese claimed it was all done under orders from Song Queyuan's chief of staff and that their officials were interrogated by the chief of military police at Changpei. On June 11th, Lt Colonel Matsui Gennosuke, the head of the Japanese Special Service Agency at Kalgan, demanded an apology from Song Queyuan and for the men responsible to be punished and for further guarantees for safe travel. Matsui also insinuated that unless Song Queyuan severed ties to Nanjing and became Pro-Japanese he might suffer the same fate that had befallen Yu Xuecheng. Clearly the Kwantung Army was looking to remove Song Queyuan's army from Chahar province. There were two major reasons for such a thing, so they could better protect the northwestern flank of Manchukuo and to support Prince De who was attempting a campaign to make Inner Mongolia independent from China.  On June 11th the Kwantung Army directed the Mukden Special Service Agency chief of staff, our old buddy, Doihara, currently in Peiping, to confer with the army attache there and with the Tientsin garrison. They were to push for Song Queyuan's army to be withdrawn south of the Yellow River as rapidly as possible. Tokyo HQ always keeping a close eye on their troublesome Kwantung Officers dispatch this notice to Doihara "Although we desire the evacuation of Song Queyuan's army from Chahar province, we disagree that we should, at this time, demand its withdrawal south of the Yellow River. Rather, its transfer to the Peiping-Hankow Railway line would be advisable." On June 13th, the General Staff advised the Kwantung Army the same message. The General staff then ordered every detachment in North China to act discreetly "If we shun excessive publicity at this time, we should, in view of the present situation, be able to achieve practical results without publicity." Since they were already getting their way in Hubei, Tokyo HQ did not want to risk rocking the boat in Chahar concurrently.  Then came a second western Rehe incident, according to the Chengde Special Service Agency, "On June 11, when a party led by a senior official of Fengning hsien was about to enter the town of Tungchatzu [in Manchukuo, about eight kilometers north of Tushihk'ou], it was attacked by rifle fire from Sung Che-yuan's troops stationed at Tushihk'ou. The next day, June 12, a member of the border police force in Hsiaoch'ang [in Manchukuo, about fifteen kilometers north of Tushihk'ou] was also fired upon by the same troops of Sung in the vicinity of Hsiaoch'ang."  On June 17th, the Kwantung Army General Minami Jiro met with the Tientsin Army chief of staff Sakai and the Special Service Agency chief at Kalgan, Matsui for a full report on the incident. After reviewing it, Minami drafted a policy to guide the Kwantung Army:  “The withdrawal of Sung Che-yuan's army will worsen the confusion in the Peiping-Tientsin region. This incident should be handled separately from the North China problem and should be negotiated locally with Sung Che-yuan. Our demands will be limited to the following:  1) withdrawal of the troops invading Manchukuo, together with their advance unit at Tolun;  2) removal of the forces back to the Kalgan area;  3) an apology by Sung Che-yuan;  4) punishment of those directly responsible for the Changpei incident; and  5) prohibition of anti-Japanese actions in the future.” The Chinese realized they needed to reach a quick settlement with the Kwantung Army. On the 18th He Yingqin met with Consul General Suma over in Nanjing. Suma was presented with a set of harsh demands from the Kwantung Army and that same day reported to the Executive Yuan he had decided to relieve Song Queyuan of his posts as governor and commander of the 29th Army. He then appointed as acting governor and provincial commissioner of civil affairs, Qin Dechun, who would take the 132nd division implicated in the Changpei incident south. The message was relayed to the Japanese military attache in Nanjing, Lt Colonel Amamiya Tatsumi. The man who relayed the message was Vice Foreign Minister Tang Yujen who also stated this "In view of the fact that China has moved voluntarily to dismiss Sung Che-yuan, to transfer his army, and to punish those responsible, we request that we not be confronted with an ultimatum in the form of various demands from the Kwantung Army with a deadline for reply." On June 19th, Nanjing officially implemented the promises made by He Yingqin and Tang Yujen and in turn the Kwantung Army wired Doihara in Peiping to stand down and wait to see if the Chinese did what they said they would. Doihara was probably disappointed he could not perform his 100th false flag operation he must have been cooking up. For any of you who watch my Youtube content, I used clips from the Chinese WW2 Drama series “Young Marshal” that depicts Doihara hilariously. You can check it out in my long format documentary on the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, its meme gold Doihara's clips, freaking out and smashing phones and such.  At 10 pm on June 23rd, Doihara, alongside Matsui and Takahasi visited Qin Dechen at his residence to negotiate a final understanding. There Doihara demanded China implement several measures to promote better relations with Japan such as withdrawing Song Queyuan's army southwest; give an apology for the Changpei incident; punish all those responsible; dissolve all the anti-japanese organizations in the region; ban Chinese immigration into Inner Mongolia; cease any oppressive actions against Mongolians and cooperate and encourage trade between Manchukuo, Inner Mongolia, North China; and appoint more Japanese military and political advisers. Just a laundry list he had worked up. So Qin Dechen apologized for the Changpei incident, stated they were already withdrawing Song Queyuan's men and dissolving all the anti-japanese organizations. Now he was orally agreeing to all of this, but he refused to put it in writing, prior to receiving the greenlight from Nanjing. Doihara understood and gave him time to talk to his government. The next day however another incident occurred, this time near Tuxukou. There a contingent of Song Queyuan's withdrawing troops fired upon Manchukuo police forces and in response the Tolun Special Service Agency dispatched a Mongolian unit led by Li Shuxin. It was not really much of an incident, just a minor confrontation all things given, so the Kwantung Army told Doihara to deal with Qin Dechen in private about it.On June 27th, Qin Dechen sent a formal reply to Doihara's demands in what became known as the Qin-Doihara agreement. It conformed with all the demands, seeing Song Queyuan's troops depart southwest while the security of Chahar was entrusted to two peace preservation units. One unit was responsible for the Chinese population, the other over the Mongolian. On August 28th, Song Queyuan was appointed garrison commander over the Peiping-Tientsin region with his 29th division joining Chao Tengyu's 132nd division and Liu Juming's 2nd division. Thus after the He-Umezu and Qin-Doihara agreements the Japanese had now expanded their influence into both Hubei and Chahar. 1935 saw a wave of incidents break out in the demilitarized region, prompting the Japanese to go into numerous negotiations with the Chinese to clamp down on anything they didn't like. Then on October 4th, Japan unleashed a document titled  “Concerning Policy towards China”: “The goal of our foreign policy is the development of East Asia and the maintenance of the security of East Asia through the cooperative concert of Japan, Manchukuo, and China, with Japan as the nucleus; this is likewise the objective of our policy toward China. To realize this objective on the basis of the outline below, the central and regional authorities of China must, by fair and just means, adjust their relations with Japan and Manchukuo so as to bring about an environment favorable to the establishment of basic relations between Japan, Manchukuo, and China.  1) China should adopt a good neighbor policy toward Japan, thoroughly suppress anti-Japanese activities, and abandon its policy of reliance on Europe and the United States. It should put this policy into practice and as a matter of course cooperate with Imperial Japan on practical problems.  2) Although China must eventually extend formal recognition to Manchukuo, until then it must recognize de facto the independence of Manchukuo and abandon its anti-Manchukuo policy. At least in North China, which borders on Manchukuo, the Chinese should promote economic and cultural cooperation with Manchukuo.  3) In view of the Communist threat emanating from Outer Mongolia and posing a common menace to Japan, Manchukuo, and China, China should cooperate in measures aimed at eliminating this menace from the region bordering Outer Mongolia.  4) When the above points have been put into effect and we recognize the good faith of China concerning friendly cooperation with Japan and Manchukuo, we shall first conclude comprehensive agreements on friendly cooperative relations between China and Japan, and thereafter draw up the agreement needed for regulating new relations between Japan, Manchukuo, and China” To this Chiang Kai-Shek replied could not recognize Manchukuo but that his government would do whatever it could peacefully to maintain economic activity between the people north and south of the Great Wall. He also stated no other country on earth was more concerned with the Communist menace in Mongolia than China. All of the appeasement efforts had brought Wang Jingwei to his boiling point and on August 8th he departed for Shanghai as he and his entire cabinet resigned. Chiang Kai-Shek personally came over and asked Wang Jingwei to withdraw his resignation given he offered him further support, and Wang Jingwei relented. Then on the morning of November 1st, after attending a meeting, Wang Jingwei was shot by a Chinese reporter for the Chenkuang Press, a company notably associated with Chiang Kai-Shek. Rumors spread the assassination attempt was inspired by anti-japanese elements such as Generals Yang Qi and Tang Shengzhi. With Wang Jingwei in the hospital, Chiang Kai-Shek was forced to take a larger role with the North China situation. Then Wang Jingwei departed for Europe seeking better medical care and wired his resignation on November 29th. Thus Chiang Kai-Shek succeeded him as president of the Executive Yuan and the coalition between him and Wang Jingwei had officially ended. With Chiang Kai-Shek now the only funnel from which action could be directed, the Japanese sent Ambassador Ariyoshi to China to persuade Chiang Kai-Shek to grant some form of autonomy for North China. By this point autonomy for North China had become part of Japan's national policy. Chiang Kai-Shek in response to this growing threat went to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi, to meet with Yan Xishan. There he proposed that if Yan Xishan could unite the Northern Warlords, Chiang Kai-Shek would appoint him chairman of the political affairs council, with added authority over finances and diplomacy. Chiang Kai-Shek urged him to come attend the 6th plenum of the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee scheduled for November 1st. At this time Yan Xishan's Shanxi was struggling financially so he reconciled with Chiang Kai-Shek. To this effect Chiang Kai-Shek sent his vice chief of the Army General Staff Xing Pin to tour the north trying to persuade those like Song Queyuan and Han Fuju to not support the North China autonomy movement. The Japanese interpreted these efforts to thwart the autonomy movement as the underlying cause of all the anti-japanese incidents breaking out continuously. To this the Nanjing government disclaimed no responsibility and insisted they were doing everything the Japanese asked of them.  The Japanese began a massive campaign aimed at all the important leaders in North China. One man they managed to gain influence over was Yin Jukeng who on November 25th at Tungzhou, announced the inauguration of the East Hubei Anti-Communist Autonomous Council, claiming autonomy for the entire demilitarized region. Yin Jukeng's council consisted of 9 members whereupon he was chairman and took charge of foreign relations and military affairs. As you can imagine Nanjing immediately labeled him a traitor and ordered his arrest. Chiang Kai-Shek then rapidly sent word to the Japanese an official response to their “Concerning Policy towards China” document:  “To satisfy the various demands from the Japanese side, there should first of all be established in Hopei province an autonomous political administration; ultimately, this administration should be similar to that governing the southwestern region. Whether or not this administration should be extended to other regions will be determined after the results in Hopei have been ascertained.  1) Although the campaign to wipe out the Communists is progressing, the Communist bandits have fled toward Kansu. Since this raises the danger that the Communists may spread into Inner Mongolia, the defense against the Communists in North China should be conducted jointly.  2) Certain aspects of the new monetary system are not suited to North China, and appropriate modifications will be made in this respect.  3) Efforts are to be made to harmonize economic interchange among the people on both sides of the Great Wall.  4) To meet the special needs of the region, the local administration should be given authority to enable it to exercise suitable control over financial matters in North China.  5) Pending issues are to be settled locally in a rational manner.  6) The aim will be to employ talented people to carry out the above tasks and to establish an ideal government.” Chiang Kai-Shek dispatched He Yingqin to reign in the situation at Peiping, but upon his arrival he believed the situation was beyond his control. He Yingqin reported that it was his belief the only way for Nanjing to retain some degree of authority in the region was to create a new political organ to do so. Thus on December 11th, the Nationalist government established the Hubei-Chahar Political Council chaired by Song Queyuan. Song Queyuan declared the new council would assume all responsibility for administering Hubei and Chahar and promised  "to respect the wishes of the people, endeavor in particular to relieve the economic distress of the region, and maintain the peace of East Asia on the basis of Sino-Japanese amity."  Thus within all this madness now two autonomous regimes co-existed in North China. The East Hubei Anti-Communist Autonomous Council would administer 22 prefectures while the Hubei-Chahar Political Council would administer Hubei, Chahar, Peiping and Tientsin. As you might imagine, relations between these two councils was complex and ambiguous. The 22 prefectures the former administered were under the jurisdiction of the other. One was a Japanese puppet, the other was controlled by Nanjing who refused to recognize the other. Japan immediately exploited their newfound chaotic gains in North China. In May of 1936 the 2000 troops of the Tientsin garrison army was boosted to 5600 led by General Tashiro Kan'ichiro. This was done under the guise it was to defend against communists and protect Japanese citizens. The position of the commander of the Tientsin garrison was officially promoted to encompass full responsibility for the situation in North China, exactly the same as the Kwantung Army's role over Manchukuo. Thuse both the Kwantung Army and what was henceforth called the China Garrison had clearly defined roles. One would be responsible for Manchukuo, the other over North China. Japan had neutralized Rehe, Chahar and Hubei, all of whom would fall directly under their influence. But was Japan satisfied?  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Its not always through military means that nations can encroach upon other nations. Japan was showcasing how it could bully away parts of China through threats alone it was working miracles. How long could Chiang Kai-Shek carry on like this? Would it be Japan or his own people that would hang him for losing China?

Send us a textThis week we look to deunk myths about rising autism rates and explain the genetic and environmental factors at play, while exploring the resurrection of dire wolves through genetic engineering and how puppy cognition predicts adult dog behavior.• CDC data shows autism diagnoses increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 31 in 2022• Approximately 80% of autism cases stem from inherited genetic variations with 200+ genes linked to early brain development• Better screening, diagnosis, and awareness accounts for much of the increase in autism rates• Scientists have genetically engineered puppies with dire wolf traits using DNA from ancient remains• The three pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—received 20 gene edits targeting coat color, body size, and facial features• Study of 1,400+ puppies shows early cognitive traits persist into adulthood• Puppies good at following pointing gestures became more trainable adults, while those with better impulse control grew into calmer dogs• Understanding puppy cognition allows for customized training approaches that support lifelong well-beingSome Links and Studies:https://www.sciencenews.org/article/autism-adhd-risk-not-linked-prenatal-exposure-antidepressantsS. Gilman et al. Rare de novo variants associated with autism implicate a large functional network of genes involved in formation and function of synapses. Neuron, Vol. 70, June 9, 2011. DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.05.021D. Levy et al. Rare De Novo and Transmitted Copy-Number Variation in Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Neuron, Vol. 70, June 9, 2011. DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.05.015Y. Sakai et al. Protein interactome reveals converging molecular pathways among autism disorders. Science Translational Medicine, Vol. 3, June 8, 2011. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002166Sanders et al. Multiple Recurrent De Novo CNVs, Including Duplications of the 7q11.23 Williams Syndrome Region, Are Strongly Associated with Autism. Neuron, Vol. 70, June 9, 2011. DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.05.015C. Schaaf et al. Oligogenic heterozygosity in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Human Molecular Genetics. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddr243. Available online: [Go to]C.P. Schaaf and H.Y. Zoghbi. Solving the autism puzzle a few pieces at a time. Neuron, Vol. 70, June 9, 2011. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.05.025I. Voineagu et al. Transcriptomic analysis of autistic brain reveals convergent molecular pathology. Nature. doi: doi:10.1038/nature10110Our links:Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.comSign up for our Weekly Newsletter!Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:Bunsen and Beaker on TikTokSupport the showFor Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!Being Kind is a Superpower.https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

With Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums, Stan Sakai enters his forty-first year as the rabbit ronin's chronicler. Each decade represents about a year in the title character's life, which you can track if you're paying attention to the seasons surrounding Usagi's adventures. If you're paying even closer attention, you can map his footsteps across sixteenth-century Japan and anticipate his next conflict or reunion, but don't worry if you lack such concentration. As you'll hear in today's episode, Sakai certainly does not. Usagi Yojimbo Ten Thousand Plums begins with a fox spirit and her daughter struggling to survive. Sickness has taken the child, and the mother seeks help from a nearby village. They reject her despite having access to the Shogun's prized plum orchard and the healing umeboshi (pickled plums) it produces. By the time Usagi, his cousin Yukichi, and the bounty hunter Gen arrive, fury has rained down upon the town, creating a dangerous suspicion of outsiders. With Ten Thousand Plums, Stan Sakai continues to explore the themes of deceptive appearances, selflessness, and selfishness, which he thoroughly dug into with the previous Usagi Yojimbo storyline, The Crow. We chat with Sakai about this current preoccupation, how it challenges Usagi and Yukichi, and where it could lead the cousins. No major spoilers lie within our conversation, but Stan Sakai does tease a few things that will undoubtedly spark intense curiosity for longtime Usagi Yojimbo readers. The Sword of Narukami is in play. Could another famous sword re-appear, too? Following Ten Thousand Plums' first three issues, a new story entitled "Tabo" should prove to be Stan Sakai's most personal comic yet. It was written shortly after his younger brother Kenneth passed away, and Sakai kindly expands on what this tale means for him and his family. You'll hear how "Tabo" places Usagi and Yukichi on a pilgrimage in search of the miraculous goddess called "The Mother," forcing Usagi to confront his skepticism in ways he never has before. The first issue of Usagi Yojimbo Ten Thousand Plums is now available from Dark Horse Comics and Dogu Publishing. The second issue will arrive on April 16th, and we have an exclusive preview of its first five pages on the Comic Book Couples Counseling website. Make sure to keep up to date on all things Usagi Yojimbo by visiting Stan Sakai's website and Instagram. This week's episode is sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. We're also sponsored by the Beyond the Cape Podcast. If you enjoy Comic Book Couples Counseling, you'd undoubtedly enjoy their show. Beyond the Cape is a laid-back talk show in which every episode highlights their love of this beautiful comic book medium, their personal journey with it, and the respective artists they feature on each podcast. This June will mark their second anniversary, which we certainly recognize as a massive accomplishment. So, follow them on Instagram @BeyondTheCapePodcast and Spotify with The Uncensored Nerds Network. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Stan Sakai on CBCC: Samurai Rabbit Stan Sakai and Julie Sakai on CBCC: Ice and Snow This Ink Runs Cold Kickstarter Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Zach is joined by the host of the I Read Comic Books podcast, Mike Rapin to discuss the much heralded, deeply beloved stories of a ronin Samurai rabbit: Usagi Yojimbo!Delving into several of the original stories from the 1980s, Zach and Mike talk the history of the comics beginnings, gush over Sakai's brilliant work and talk about why the series has stood the test of time for over 40 years.---------------------------------------------------Want to hear more from Mike? Check out I Read Comic Books!And go here to see the amazing IRCB 10th anniversary Zine titled: Totally Not A Cult: An Anthology Art Zine curated by IRCB---------------------------------------------------Check out Dreampass and all their killer tracks on Spotify!---------------------------------------------------Join the Patreon to help us keep the lights on, and internet connected! https://www.patreon.com/tctwl---------------------------------------------------Listen to my other podcast!TFD: NerdcastAnd I am also part of the team over at...I Read Comic Books!---------------------------------------------------Want to try out all the sweet gigs over on Fiverr.com? Click on the link below and sign up!https://go.fiverr.com/visit/?bta=323533&brand=fiverrcpa---------------------------------------------------Follow on Instagram!The Comics That We LoveFollow on Tiktok!The Comics that We LoveFollow on Twitter!@Z_Irish_Red

Happy Halloween, and welcome to another chilling episode of the NAVAS podcast, where we venture into the eerie depths of veterinary anesthesia! Join us as we lift the curtain on a topic that, while vital to advanced anesthesia practice, often sends shivers down the spine of even the bravest veterinary professionals—neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in veterinary patients. While paralytic agents play an important role in providing excellent quality muscle relaxation that can help facilitate a variety of procedures, their use often spooks even the seasoned anesthetist, as they can cause frightening problems if not used with great care. After listening to this episode, we hope you can avoid a jump scare anytime you need to use NMBA. Our guest for this spine-tingling episode is the highly esteemed Dr. Daniel Sakai from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sakai, boarded veterinary anesthesiologist, has conducted extensive research on NMBAs, exploring their invaluable role in patient immobilization as well as how to optimize recovery from neuromuscular blockade. He's here to help us demystify these powerful agents, dissect their practical applications, and reveal how to use them safely and effectively to prevent any nightmarish outcomes for your patients. So, as the leaves fall and the shadows lengthen, grab a cozy blanket, tune in, and get ready to learn from one of the top minds in veterinary anesthesia. Just be warned—this episode might leave you spellbound!If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:Become a member of NAVAS for access to more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content.Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education. Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at education@mynavas.org.All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.

Cookbook season is back, and we talk to the authors of some of our favorite picks. We're joined by Carolina Gelen, who talks to us about learning how to cook, her favorite Romanian dishes, and how she comes up with her signature recipes like Butter Beans alla Vodka, a fast, one-pot dish inspired by the famous vodka pasta sauce. Carolina is the author of Pass the Plate: 100 Delicious, Highly Sharable, Everyday Recipes. Then, Sonoko Sakai tells us how to “wafu” our food! Wafu means Japanese in style, and Sonoko takes familiar dishes and adds a little Japanese flair. Check out her recipe for her Pasta with Miso Bolognese Sauce. Sonoko is the author of Wafu Cooking: Everyday Recipes with Japanese Style. Then, Jody Eddy talks to us about the incredible food she found and cooked in religious communities around the world. She walks us through some of her favorite recipes, from condiments and Chicken soup in Tibet to a recipe she learned from a Minnesotan monastery, Honey Glazed Turkey Tinga. Jody's book is Elysian Kitchens: Recipes Inspired by the Traditions and Tastes of the World's Sacred Space.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 25, 2024 (originally aired)Sign up for our Weeknight Kitchen newsletter here and enter to win one of the incredible cookbooks featured in this episode.Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

Last time we spoke about the battle of the Driniumor River. In July and August, American and Japanese forces clashed near Afua in New Guinea. Troop A of the 112th Cavalry engaged Japanese units, pushing them back temporarily. Troop C replaced Troop A but was soon isolated by Japanese attacks. The American TED Force, including the 124th and 169th Infantry, launched a counteroffensive, facing heavy resistance. Despite supply and terrain challenges, TED Force advanced, forcing the Japanese to gradually withdraw. By early August, the Japanese launched fierce and desperate attacks, but American defenses held firm. TED Force continued its advance, encountering further fierce Japanese resistance but successfully disrupting their supply lines. The Japanese, suffering heavy losses, were finally forced to begin a general retreat, as the American forces consolidated their positions by early August. It seemed Green Hell was still living up to its dreadful nickname. This episode is Operation Dan Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  This week we are picking up with the action along the CBI theater. In Yunnan, by the end of July, General Wei's Y Force was still engaged in efforts to eliminate the resilient but small Japanese garrisons at Tengchong, Mount Song, Pingda, and Longling. Simultaneously, the 33rd Army was striving to accelerate preparations for Operation Dan, anticipating resistance from General Honda's main garrisons until September's end. Following the fall of Myitkyina in August, Honda recognized the need to expedite his offensive plans, despite delays in the deployment of the 2nd and 18th Divisions. Additional reinforcements from the 49th Division were expected in Mandalay by September, bolstering Honda's position. Meanwhile, General Matsuyama faced the challenge of isolated garrisons cut off from his 56th Division, surrounded by superior enemy forces. With his main forces focused on imminent offensive preparations, Matsuyama could only provide moral support through radio messages. Colonel Matsui's recent successes reduced Chinese activity on the Mangshi front, allowing for the rehabilitation of the 113th Regiment by August, despite occasional small-scale raids. At Tengchong, Colonel Kurashige resolved to defend the Walled City to the last man against relentless infantry assaults, air bombardments, and continuous enemy artillery preparations. Compared with the defenses of Lameng, the positions at Tengchong were much less effective due to the factors of disadvantageous terrain and the lack of time to make defense preparations. Tengchong Castle covered an area slightly over a half-mile square; and was surrounded by a rampart 16 to 20 feet in height and over six feet thick at the top. Although the rampart had a stone facing and was backed with clay, it was not proof against an artillery bombardment and considerable work was required to strengthen it. Concrete or stone pillboxes were constructed adjacent to all gates and at the four corners. Shelters were built to protect guns and machine guns mounted on the rampart as well as for the troops and supplies inside the wall. Other entrenchments were prepared within the castle itself. While these measures greatly strengthened the defenses, the castle was still not proof against an intensive air or artillery bombardment. Recognizing the southeast as the primary avenue of approach, General Huo directed his forces to concentrate their main efforts in that direction. On August 2, following another bombing raid by twelve B-25s that created a gap fifteen feet wide, the 36th and 116th Divisions initiated a new general assault. The Japanese quickly worked to repair the breach and fired machine guns to cover it. It was only after concentrating guns, rockets, and flamethrowers on the southwest pillbox, along with five waves of fighter cover fire, that the Chinese were able to position scaling ladders against the wall. Two companies then seized the top of the wall just east of the southern corner on August 3. Overnight, Kurashige led a successful counterattack that restored defenses along the rampart, except for one platoon that held its ground all night. This platoon's resilience allowed Chinese reinforcements to pass through the breach on August 4 and seize a pillbox inside the city. With the walls breached, the fall of Tengchong became inevitable, but the determined defenders continued to resist fiercely in the coming days, inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese attackers. Meanwhile, Major Kanemitsu's Lameng Garrison defended Moung Song fiercely. After the Hondo Position fell, the 308th Regiment resumed the advance on 3 August it had flamethrowers which it used with devastating effect to take the crest of Kung Lung-po. There the Chinese found several Japanese tankettes, which had been dug in for use as pillboxes. Despite repelling enemy attacks with great effort, the Japanese faced dangerously low ammunition supplies. As a result, Kanemitsu decided to raid the 8th Army's artillery positions and supply dumps to replenish his ammunition stocks. Twenty-nine men, selected from the artillery battalion, were divided into two teams for the purpose. One team was to raid the artillery positions on Shirakabe and Haraguchi Hills as well as to attack motor vehicles on the road between Lameng and Huitung Bridge. The second team was to operate in the area to the south and west of the Gake and Hondo Positions. On the night of August 9, seven groups of Japanese volunteers launched a surprise attack, destroying several howitzers and seizing light weapons and ammunition. Despite Kanemitsu's initial success and his troops' resilient defense against Chinese infantry assaults, General Song opted to revert to conventional siege tactics starting August 11. His divisions began digging tunnels beneath key Japanese strongholds in the Mount Song triangle, each tunnel stretching 22 feet to accommodate two powerful mines aimed at enemy pillboxes.One mine held 2,500 pounds of TNT, the other mine held 3,500 pounds of TNT.  The mines detonated on August 20, causing significant damage that engineers exploited swiftly with flamethrowers, capturing Kanemitsu's primary stronghold. In one pillbox forty-two Japanese were buried alive, of whom five were rescued. The prisoners stated that they had been asleep and had never suspected that they were being undermined. At 0920 the 3d Regiment against light opposition took the few strongpoints that remained on Sung Shan proper. In spite of particularly heavy pressure being exerted against the Sekiyama Position, the enemy had made little progress. However, on 19 August, following a heavy bombardment three tremendous blasts shook the Sekiyama Position. The Chinese, becoming discouraged with trying to storm the position, had tunneled under it, the defenders of the Sekiyama Position were virtually annihilated and the position fell to the enemy. On 23 August the Lameng Garrison regrouped to make final resist- ance in the Otobeyama, Nishiyama, Matsuyama, Yokomata and Urayama Po- sitions. The total number available for defense had been reduced to about 150 men, all of whom were wounded, some seriously. Even those who had lost an arm or a leg were propped up in positions where they could fire a rifle or sight a gun. The Lameng Garrison continued to resist in scattered pockets, launching futile counterattacks, Song recognized the battle's turning point.  During the latter part of July and early August, the Yunnan Force made new troop dispositions and moved in three divisions to attack the town. The main force of the Chinese 87th Division was on the east front, with an element along the Tien-Mien Road; the New 28th Division was between the two elements of the 87th; elements of the 1st Honor Division were on the north front with the New 39th Division on the south and west of Longling. At dawn on 14 August, preceded by an intense concentration of artillery fire and air bombardment, the Chinese forces launched a coordinated attack from all sides. Hill 6 bore the brunt of the enemy attack for eight hours but managed to hold, as did the defenders on the main line of resistance. After the attack had ceased, the Garrison spent the entire night rebuilding defenses, using rubble and half-burned mate- rial from the town. However, five days later, Chinese forces captured the eastern hills, weakening the entire Japanese defensive line. Consequently, by August 23, the eastern front collapsed, compelling the Japanese to retreat from their main defensive positions to reserve positions within the town. Matsuyama was aware that under the current conditions, Longling would likely fall before September began. While the timely reinforcement of the 3rd Battalion, 148th Regiment would enable the garrison to hold out for a few more days, he understood the urgency of accelerating the Dan offensive to relieve Longling. Starting on 26 August, the 2nd Division began moving from Namhkam to Mangshih under cover of darkness, requiring three nights to complete the movement. Shortly thereafter, the headquarters of the 16th Regiment was called from Bhamo to Mangshih and Col. Hara Yoshimi, commanding officer of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment, succeeded Col. Sakai as commander of the Bhamo Garrison, which was placed under 18th Division control. On 30 August, the Division conducted a war game followed by a conference to brief subordinate commanders on the plans and missions of the Dan Operation. With the recent arrival of the 4th and 146th Regiments, Matsuyama planned to send Matsui's Task Force and the 146th Regiment northwestward to clear the western sector. Meanwhile, General Okazaki's 2nd Division would attack northeastward to defeat the main enemy force in the eastern sector, thus fully relieving Longling. Subsequently, the 56th Division would advance towards Tengchong, while the 2nd Division moved towards Lameng, to relieve both isolated garrisons. However, before this offensive could begin, new developments emerged from Tengchong. Realizing that assaults on the ramparts were too costly, Huo ordered his Chinese troops to start tunneling under the walls. Additionally, air attacks increased in intensity, and on August 13, several large bombs struck the headquarters, killing Kurashige and leaving the garrison nearly leaderless. The following morning, after a heavy artillery bombardment of about 20,000 rounds, Huo launched his second general attack. Despite the garrison's determined defense against Chinese attempts to breach or scale the ramparts, Huo reinforced his southern assault with the 198th Division, applying intense pressure. While defenders held against the combined attacks of more than two divisions, the 198th Division, which had made several ineffectual attacks in the northwestern sectors, was brought south to reinforce the units already there. Three divisions pitted against the badly damaged southern wall could not be held off and Chinese troops began infiltrating beyond the rampart. The garrison launched successive counterattacks and, while they were successful in driving the enemy out on the first two occasions, the third counterattack so exhausted the defenders that the enemy held the southwest corner of the compound. The Chinese were not, however, able to make any appreciable headway in breaching any other part of the castle's defenses. Three days later, following another heavy air and artillery bombardment that succeeded in making seven breaches in the southern rampart, the Chinese resumed the offensive and managed to force the garrison to relinquish all but the southeast corner of the southern part of the castle compound. On August 22, a fourth attack was then launched; and, in spite of valiant efforts by the defenders, the west gate of the castle was finally taken by the 198th Division early in the morning of August 24. The following day, about 500 grenades and medical supplies were dropped by 12 Japanese fighters, which bolstered the garrison's morale even though their fate was pretty much sealed already. Simultaneously, Matsuyama initiated Operation Dan on August 26, with Matsui's Task Force struggling for six days to secure control of Komatsu Hill before advancing towards Shuangpo on September 1. The Dan Offensive opened inauspiciously with an unsuccessful attack on Komatsu Hill, about three miles south of Lungling. Launched by the 1st Battalion, of the 113th Infantry (Takeda Battalion), on the morning of the 26th, the attack was thrown back and it was not until the following morning after the 3d Battalion, of the 113th (Murakami Battalion) had been thrown into the attack that the Takeda Battalion succeeded in seizing the western half of the hill. Upon achieving the objective, the Murakami Battalion was withdrawn and the Takeda Battalion was exposed to severe counterattacks which the enemy repeated for four days. The Takeda Battalion sustained extremely heavy losses, including the loss of three company commanders. The Inose Battalion attacked the hill from the northeast on 30 August and succeeded in making contact with the Takeda Battalion the following day but the northern part of the hill still remained in the possession of the enemy. Unable to hold up the advance any longer, the Inose Battalion was left at Komatsu Hill to clean out the remnants of the enemy and the main body of the Matsui Column advanced to Shuangpo on 1 September, fighting their way through enemy resistance. The 146th Regiment successfully bypassed Chinese forces blocking the Tien-Mien Road, reaching the ridge west of Shuangpo. The 113th and 146th Regiments continued their northwestward advance, reaching the Longling River line by September 6, where they nearly wiped out the New 39th Division. Meanwhile, Okazaki assembled his 4th, 16th, and 29th Regiments at Shuangpo, preparing for an offensive. To the south, the 76th Division persisted in defending Komatsu Hill despite heavy casualties. Okazaki directed the 4th Regiment to attack the enemy's northern positions on September 3, resulting in repeated assaults over the next three days. Despite suffering significant losses, the Japanese were compelled to halt their local offensive. In the meantime, the 16th and 29th Regiments moved northeastward. The 29th Regiment successfully breached enemy positions and linked up with the besieged garrison by September 6. Despite this victory at Longling, subsequent events at Mount Song and Tengchong rendered Operation Dan futile. On August 29, following the fall of the Otobeyama Position, Kanemitsu realized that resistance could only last a few more days. On September 5 Major Kanemitsu sent to the commander of the 56th Division a final radio message: “All of my brave officers and men have determinedly defended our position for 120 days since May 10 with a sublime spirit of self-sacrifice and an attitude of absolute obedience. However, our ammunition has been entirely expended and practically every officer and man is wounded. The final moment has come. We will burn the colors and code books and make a suicide stand with what strength remains. I do not have the words to apologize for the fact that, because of my unresourceful command, we have been unable to hold out as long as expected. We are deeply moved by your long and special consideration of our situation. I respectfully ask that everything possible be done for the bereaved families of the officers and men of the Lameng Garrison. Our souls will continue to pray for the eternal prosperity of the Imperial Throne and the final victory of the Japanese Forces.” Consequently, on September 5, he concentrated his remaining forces in the northernmost positions, which came under heavy enemy fire the next day. After Kanemitsu's death from a mortar shell, the Japanese burned their colors and euthanized their wounded. They launched a final suicide charge on September 7, resulting in the death of the remaining 50 survivors. Of the 1260 Japanese at Lameng Garrison, only 9 were captured and 10 believed to have escaped, with the rest perishing at the hands of Song's divisions, totaling approximately 41,675 troops. The significance of Mount Song lies in the four-month siege to clear the block from the Burma Road, during which the Chinese suffered 7675 casualties, including around 5000 from the 8th Army, leaving it with only two understrength regiments fit for further combat at Longling. Meanwhile, on August 31, Huo's fifth attack pressed with great enthusiasm, eventually succeeding in taking the southeast corner, which had withstood the onslaught of two divisions for over a month. The garrison was then pressed back to a line running from the east gate through the center of the palace grounds to the northwest corner of the castle grounds. The number of survivors had been reduced to approximately 350, virtually all of whom were wounded. Five days later, the Chinese attacked once again, successfully effecting a breakthrough of the defensive line which split the defending force into two groups. By September 9, the northwest corner had been completely overrun and only 70 men remained to hold the northeast corner. Realizing that the end was near, the Japanese burned their colors and on September 14 launched a last suicide charge in which the remainder of the garrison was finally cut down. In a valiant defense, rivaling that of the Lameng Garrison, the 2025 men of the Tengchong Garrison held off the Chinese 20th Army, numbering an estimated 50,000 troops, for approximately 80 days. Despite this, the capture of Tengchong marked a significant victory for Y Force, as it opened a viable route to Myitkyina known as the "Tengchong cut-off". Moreover, the fall of Tengchong and Lameng allowed the Chinese to deploy more troops to counter the Dan offensive. In the early hours of September 7, the 113th and 146th Regiments crossed the Longling River and launched an assault on the 1st Honor Division, entrenched in strong defensive positions. Although General Matsui's battalions were repelled by determined defenders, the 146th Regiment made notable progress on the left, gradually pushing the Chinese forces northward. By September 9, the western and northern sectors had been partially cleared, and the Longling Garrison was nearly completely relieved. Simultaneously, the 29th Regiment, supported by remnants of the 16th Regiment and the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, advanced northeast towards the eastern hills, encountering difficulty in capturing them. By September 9, they had only secured one of the hills. With Honda growing impatient due to the slow progress of the 2nd Division. Okazaki directed increased attacks in the following days. An attack was launched on 11 September but did not succeed. Then an attack conducted on the 12th, y the 3d Battalion, 29th Infantry was successful in seizing the hill, however a counterattack by the enemy resulted in the annihilation of the Battalion and the retaking of the hill by the Chinese. Furthermore, Okazaki also noted that the Chinese were still holding their ground to the south. Consequently, orders were issued for the 1st Battalion, 16th Regiment to address this lingering threat. However, the battalion exhibited such limited initiative that Colonel Tsuji Masanobu of the 33rd Army staff assumed direct command of the frontline units. With the addition of another battalion, this proactive commander led his troops in a series of vigorous assaults, culminating in the capture of the southern hill by September 15. Meanwhile, to the north, Matsuyama successfully relieved Longling, yet a new challenge emerged. The formidable 200th Division had arrived from Kunming and launched immediate attacks against the 113th and 146th Regiments by September 9. Fortunately, Matsuyama received reinforcements in the form of the 3rd Battalion, 148th Regiment and the reserve 168th Regiment, effectively clearing the northern sector by September 11. Positioned defensively, Matsuyama's forces continued to fend off repeated counterattacks from the aggressive 200th Division, while the 168th Regiment moved westward to confront a significant element of the 36th Division advancing south from Tengchong. At this juncture, the Japanese had suffered approximately 1800 killed and 2500 wounded, while Honda estimated inflicting over 63,000 casualties since May. Despite the costly relief of Longling by mid-September, the 33rd Army had failed to reach the Nu Chiang River or rescue the Lameng or Tengchong Garrisons. Moreover, with Tengchong's fall, the entire 20th Army Group was mobilizing to reinforce Chinese forces engaged in the Longling campaign. Realizing that Operation Dan faced inevitable failure, Honda opted to halt the offensive. Instead, he directed the 2nd Division to undertake a defensive stance south of Longling. Simultaneously, the 56th Division and the 168th Regiment disengaged from the enemy, moving southwards to relieve the Pingda Garrison. On September 16, the divisions rotated smoothly: the 56th Division gathered east of Mangshi, while Colonel Yoshida Shiro's 168th Regiment initiated a covering attack to the east. This left the Longling Garrison vulnerable, prompting its commander to defy Honda's orders and withdraw during the night. Lt. Col. Komuro's action came as a shock to Army and Division headquarters and, although he later committed suicide to atone for his act, the commander and the Garrison were considered to have disgraced themselves and the Japanese Army. Lt. Col. Nagai, a staff officer of the 56th Division, when questioned in 1959 made the following statement: "The Longling Garrison had twice before made great and courageous stands against tremendous odds. They were all exhausted by their efforts and had expected to be relieved. It is understandable that the Garrison should bitterly resent being placed in a position where they might possibly be surrounded in Longling a third time. The defense line of the 2nd Division was so drawn as to leave Longling projecting and constituting a primary target for enemy attacks. It should also be borne in mind that the Garrison was not an organic unit but was, instead, a composite group composed of various elements without the esprit de corps of a regular unit. Although Lt. Col. Komuro was a respected officer, his tendency toward a philosophical approach to life may have made it impossible for him to hold out against the unanimous discontent and resentment of his subordinates." Fortunately, Matsui's 3rd Battalion arrived in Longling two days later without encountering Chinese forces. Despite being outnumbered, the 2nd Division managed to maintain its extended front by destabilizing the enemy and conducting nightly raids. On September 17, Matsui launched a successful relief operation, driving the 9th Division from the Sahngzhai area. Concurrently, the 146th Regiment embarked on a forced march towards Pingda; by September 22, it breached the enemy lines, reaching the besieged city. Having been isolated for nearly six months, there were scenes of wild rejoicing as the besieged Garrison welcomed the Imaoka Column. Carrying about 150 casualties on stretchers the combined forces of the Imaoka Column and the Pingka Garrison broke through the enemy lines at night and, on the 24th, reached Liangtzuchai where they were covered by the Matsui Column. Both units withdrew to Mangshih and, when the Yoshida Force subsequently pulled back from Isao Hill, the Pingka relief operation was concluded. Following the conclusion of the Pingda relief operation, Honda began preparations for the impending enemy offensive.  Subsequently, the 56th Division was tasked again with defending Longling and Mangshi, while the 2nd Division relocated to Muse to prepare for a potential counterattack in the Shweli River valley. Meanwhile, the rested and reorganized 18th Division, now under Lieutenant-General Naka Eitaro, successfully concentrated at Namhkam by the end of September. The 33d Army expected that the main force would arrive prior to the end of the month, but the movement was executed very slowly and units were arriving in Namhkan throughout the month of September. Upon arrival of the Division at Namhkan, the units continued the work on fortification construction that had been started by the 2d Division. The main body of the Division moved via rail through Mandalay, while the 55th Infantry Regiment, with one artillery battalion and one engineer company advanced through Katha, Kunchaung and Sikaw on foot. The Division was gradually built up and, by the end of September, had achieved a strength of about 7,000 men. Since the replacements for the most part consisted of men recently discharged from hospitals, the complete recovery of the Division was understandably slow. The 18th Division finally managed to concentrate in Namhkam by 1 the early part of October. On 2 October, when Lt. Gen. Naka, who was replacing Lt. Gen. Tanaka, arrived at Namhkam, he found that the Division still had not fully recovered from the effects of the Hukawng Operation. However, abundant food supplies in the area, combined with excellent climate, enabled the division to make an unexpectedly rapid recovery during the month of October. By early November, the strength of the Division had been built up to about 9,000 men of whom about 3,000 were reinforcements from Japan. Some tanks and two 149-mm howitzers had been supplied and six mountain guns repaired. During this period of rehabilitation the Division engaged in the construction of defense positions on both sides of the Shweli River in the general area of Namhkam. This period allowed the Japanese ample time to strengthen their defenses, as Y Force had suffered significant casualties. General Wei found it necessary to retrain and reorganize his depleted divisions before resuming the offensive in Yunnan. Because all of his immediate reserves had been drawn into the fight for Longling, and considering that the Chinese Government had ignored his earlier pleas, Wei Lihuang asked General Dorn, chief of staff of the American personnel working with Y-Force, to present his further requests for 20000 trained replacements (Wei had not received one since the offensive began); for two more divisions; for permission to use the 5th Army's tank battalion; and for Baoshan to be developed as a supply base. Dorn, however, was only partially successful in that the National Military Council renewed its promises to send replacements. Shifting focus from Yunnan, we turn to the new operations of the 20th Bomber Command. Following the unsuccessful Yawata strike on August 20, Saunders continued planning for the return to Anshan, initially set for August 30 but postponed to September 8. On August 29, Major-General Curtis LeMay assumed command of the 20th Bomber Command. Despite the change in leadership, Saunders' plan remained unchanged: to deploy every serviceable B-29 aircraft. Saunders' plan was to dispatch every B-29 fit to fly; and so, by September 8, 115 bombers had gathered in the forward area and 108 successfully got off the runways. Of these, 95 reached Anshan to find good weather, with 90 of them dropping 206.5 tons of bombs at the Showa works and 3 bombing other installations while another 5 hit the Xinxiang Railroad Yards and 3 others hit various targets of opportunity. Total losses for the mission were four: a crack-up near Dudhkundi on the way up; two forced landings in China, one destroyed on the ground by enemy planes and one partly salvaged; and a plane listed as missing. The crew of this last plane later walked out with the loss of only one man. The Americans in turn claimed 8 kills, 9 probables and 10 damaged. The following day, a B-29 reconnaissance plane reported significant damage to the steelworks. Out of the sixteen coke oven batteries, three were estimated to be out of commission for a year, and another three for six months. Additional damage to related installations and the byproducts plant further compounded the impact. Overall, command intelligence officers calculated that the two attacks had reduced Showa's coking output by 35.2%, which in turn would decrease total Japanese rolled steel production by 9.3%. In response to the extensive damage, the Japanese launched their first counterattack against the 20th Bomber Command. Shortly after midnight, Japanese bombers came over Xinjin and attacked the American headquarters, storage areas, and the parked B-29s. Aided apparently by ground signals, the intruders made four runs, dropping fragmentation and high explosive bombs to inflict minor damage on one Superfortress and a C-46, and to wound two soldiers. Meanwhile, LeMay, who had accompanied the mission to Anshan, was encouraged by the promising results. Despite this, he had been tasked with implementing significant changes to the command. He began revising tactics, tightening and expanding formations, and enhancing training for greater bombing precision—effects that would become evident in the following months. Specifically, LeMay intended to substitute for the current 4-plane diamond formation a 12-plane formation similar to one he had used with his heavies in the ETO. He proposed further to follow 8th Air Force practice by subordinating night missions, so far numbering four of the command's eight strikes, to daylight precision attacks. This would not mean the abandonment of radar bombing, so vital in variable weather. LeMay's doctrine called for “synchronous bombing” in which both the bombardier and radar operator followed the bomb run in, with visibility determining who would control the plane during the crucial seconds before release. Precision bombing required training more sustained than the sporadic sessions which the command's crews had undergone, and fortunately new arrangements for nourishing strikes out of China would release B-29s and their crews from much of the Hump transport duty which had handicapped training. On September 5 LeMay had ordered each group to select 6 lead crews (later increased to 8) upon which other crews in a formation would drop. A week later a school was set up at Dudhkundi, occupied since early July by the 444th Group. Ground training and a simulated mission and critique on each of 10 successive days made the 11-day course at “Dudhkundi Tech” both strenuous and valuable. Meanwhile, the other crews of the 4 combat groups had been working with the 12-plane formation and had made some progress when training was interrupted for the ninth mission. Most of September was spent initiating LeMay's reforms, leaving time for only one major operation at the end of the month. Consequently, LeMay decided to finish off Anshan with another 100-plane strike. By September 26, he consequently had 117 B-29s forward, with 109 of them successfully getting airborne the following morning. Though take off had been improved since the last mission, bad weather and a cold front would see only 86 bombers reaching Anshan; 73 of them actually bombing the Showa works, all by radar. Subsequent photographic coverage, however, indicated absolutely no new darnage. In addition, two B-29s bombed Dairen, four Xinxiang, and nine bombed various targets of opportunity. Japanese opposition was likewise ineffective, with the Americans suffering no losses. but during the night, enemy bombers managed to sweep into the Chengdu area to drop three strings of bombs and damage five bombers, two of them seriously. The Chinese warning net had tracked the Japanese planes in from Hankow airfields and the 317th Fighter Control Squadron at Chengtu had ample time to alert command personnel. But the one P-47 up could not make contact. The 312th Wing had suffered with other China-based units from lack of supplies, and in the interest of economy of fuel one of its P-47 groups had been exchanged for the 311th Fighter Group, equipped with P-51B's. Chennault, reluctant to tie down two full groups for the static defense of Chengtu, had disposed part of the wing forward where the planes could take a more active part in the war, and events were to prove that this policy constituted no serious danger to the B-29 fields. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. By mid-September, intense battles in the CBI theater saw the Japanese forces grappling with diminishing supplies and overwhelming Chinese offensives. Despite heroic defenses at Tengchong and Lameng, Japanese positions fell after heavy casualties and strategic missteps. General Matsuyama's relief efforts at Longling achieved temporary success, yet the broader objectives of Operation Dan were unmet, marking a turning point in the campaign.

This week, Jim welcomes Isabelle Sakai–the Global Chief Marketing Officer of Vancouver-based Mark Anthony Brands–to The CMO Podcast. The company was founded in 1972 by Anthony von Mandl. Mr. von Mandl's is a classic entrepreneurial story; at 22, he began selling imported wines out of his car, and now the company–which is still private–is estimated at about $4 billion in revenue. Mark Anthony Brands is best known for its top selling consumer brands, White Claw and Mike's Hard Lemonade, but they have a much larger portfolio, including a variety of higher-end British Columbia wine labels. Isabelle has worked at Mark Anthony for about 16 months in her second CMO role. She was previously the CMO at the Bata Group, a multinational footwear, fashion and accessories company, based in Switzerland. Isabelle and Jim have a shared experience; she spent nearly 18 years at P&G in Europe, whereas Jim spent five of his P&G years in Europe. Open a crisp White Claw, find a seat in the sun, and enjoy a conversation with a professional who loves to move fast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton interviews Isabelle Sakai, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Mark Anthony Brands International. Isabelle shares insights on driving innovation through deep consumer understanding, the importance of global experience, and the strategies behind creating and sustaining market-leading brands like White Claw. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Isabelle Sakai on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

今回のゲストは、国立研究開発法人 防災科学技術研究所 水・土砂防災研究部門上席研究員 酒井直樹さんです！ 土砂災害の研究をされている酒井さん。防災科学技術研究所では、1時間に300mmの雨を降らすことができる大型降雨実験施設があり、土砂災害などの実験が行われています。地震や噴火、津波など自然災害が多い日本。被害を少しでも減らすために最新技術を活用しながら様々な研究が進められています。興味深いお話満載なので聴いてみてね！