Podcasts about Shimomura

Hello Youtube Members, Patreons and Pacific War week by week listeners. Yes this was intended to be an exclusive episode to join the 29 others over on my Youtube Membership and Patreon, but since we are drawing to the end of the Pacific War week by week series, I felt compelled to make some special episodes to answer some of the bigger questions. Why did Japan, or better said, why did Emperor Hirohito decide to finally surrender? It seems obvious on the face of it, but there is actually a lot more to it than bombs or Soviet invasions. I guess you can call this episode a teaser or a shameless plug for going over to my Youtube Membership or Patreon. There's honestly a lot of interesting subjects such as ‘why was the japanese army so brutal”, “Hirohito's war time responsibility”, “the 4 part Kanji Ishiwara series”. Thus if you liked this one please show some love and check out my other stuff on my Youtube Membership or over at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.   Stating all of that lets just jump right into it.   We first need to start off briefly looking at Emperor Hirohito.    Upon taking the throne, Emperor Hirohito in 1926 Hirohito inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. From the beginning, despite what many of you older audience members may have been told, Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. Hirohito chose when to act and when not to. When the Kwantung Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin, he indulged their insubordination. This emboldened them to invade Manchuria in 1931, whereupon Hirohito was furious and demanded they be reigned in. Attempts were made, but they were heavily undermined by radicals. Hirohito could have put his foot down, but he chose not to. On September 22nd, at 4:20pm Hirohito said to the IJA Chief of General staff, Kanaya Hanzo “although this time it couldn't be helped, the army had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito again acquiesced to the military, despite wanting them to stop or at least localize the conflict. The military had disregarded his wishes, they should have been severely punished. Why did Hirohito not take a firmer stance?    Again for older audience members you may have heard, “hirohito was a hostage at the whim of his own military”. This narrative made it seem he was some sort of hostage emperor, but this is not the case at all. In fact Hirohito was instrumental in many military decisions from 1931-1945. The reason this, I will call it “myth” , went on was because after Japan's surrender, the US basically rewrote the Japanese constitution and covered up the Emperor's involvement in all the nasty stuff, to maintain control over Japan. Yeah it sounds a bit conspiracy esque, but I assure you it was indeed the case. This narrative held firm all the way until Hirohito's death, when finally meeting notes and personal accounts from those close to him came out, illuminating a lot. Though to this day, many records are still red -tapped.   The reason Hirohito did not stamp his foot down has to do with the Kokutai.    The Kokutai   So before I carry on, I have to explain what exactly is the Kokutai.    The Kokutai, loosely translated as "national essence," refers to the qualities that distinguish the Japanese identity. However, this concept is remarkably vague and poorly defined; even Japanese historians acknowledge this ambiguity. In contrast to Kokutai is seitai, or "form of government." While the Kokutai embodies the eternal and immutable aspects of Japanese polity—rooted in history, traditions, and customs centered around the Emperor—Japan's seitai has evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. For instance, shoguns governed for over 700 years until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration reinstated direct imperial rule.   Nevertheless, Emperor Meiji's direct authority came to an end with the adoption of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, which established a constitutional monarchy, introducing significant complexities into the governance system.   Article 4 of the constitution declares: “The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, uniting the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, although subject to the consent of the Imperial Diet.” Under this framework, the Emperor alone possessed the power to appoint or dismiss ministers of state, declare war, negotiate peace, conclude treaties, direct national administration, and command the army and navy.   A glaring flaw in this arrangement is the inherent ambiguity of the Meiji Constitution. While it established a democratic parliament, it simultaneously afforded the Emperor absolute authority to usurp it. The document failed to clearly define the relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and its language was intentionally vague. Most critically, the military—the army and navy—were not directly accountable to the civilian government.    So with the kokutai, the Emperor is a divine figure who embodies the state's sovereignty. It was not necessarily the Emperor's job to surrender on behalf of the official government of Japan, but he most certainly could do so, given the Japanese people still remained faithful to the kokutai.    Now Hirohito did not live an ordinary life. According to the imperial custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. One thing that was absolutely indoctrinated into him was to defend the kokutai. It became his top mission as a monarch, it was the only mission in many ways. At the very core of how he saw the world and how he acted, it was always to protect the kokutai.    So when the Japanese military began these insubordinate acts, Hirohito's primary concern was to the kokutai, ie: anything that threatened his imperial authority and the imperial institution itself. Although the military usurped his authority, the operations had been successful. Hirohito was not at all opposed to seeing his empire expand. He understood the value of manchuria, he was fully onboard with the military plans to eventually seize control over it, but these radicals were accelerating things to quickly for everyone's liking. He turned a blind eye, dished light punishments and carried on. However the local conflict escalated. It traveled to Shanghai by 1932 and here Hirohito took action. He understood Shanghai was full of western powers. Nations like Britain and America could place economic sanctions on Japan if things were allowed to get out of hand here. So he ordered General Yoshinori Shirakawa to bring the Shanghai expedition to a close.    During this period, two factions emerged within the Japanese military: the Kodoha, or “Imperial Way,” and the Toseiha, or “Control” faction. The Kodoha was founded by General Sadao Araki and his protégé, Jinzaburo Masaki. Their primary objective was a Shōwa Restoration aimed at purging Japan of corrupt politicians and businessmen, especially those associated with the zaibatsu. Composed mainly of young army officers, the Kodoha espoused a romanticized and radical interpretation of Bushido, idealizing pre-industrial Japan, which Araki believed had been tainted by Western influences. To achieve their goals, they resorted to assassinations and planned a coup d'état.   In response, the Toseiha faction was formed, initially led by Lt. General Tetsuzan Nagata and later by Hideki Tojo. Like the Kodoha, the Toseiha sought a Shōwa Restoration but adopted a more moderate and conservative approach. They recognized the importance of preserving traditional values while integrating Western ideals, advocating for a balanced perspective. The Toseiha promoted pragmatic military strategies to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. Although they acknowledged the existence of corrupt politicians and zaibatsu, they preferred to work within the existing political system, anticipating that future total wars would necessitate a strengthened industrial and military capacity. Their ranks primarily included promising graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Academy, Army Staff College, and select naval members. The most significant distinction between the two factions was that the Toseiha explicitly rejected the use of a coup d'état in pursuit of their goals.   Between 1932-1936 radical officers, mostly of the Kodoha faction assassinated politicians and military leaders trying to usher in a showa restoration. You might be led to believe this was in the interest of Hirohito, you would be mistaken. Hirohito did not want a military dictatorship at the whim of the cult of the emperor. Ironic to say, given how WW2 turns out mind you. This really would have been a hostage situation. Hirohito wanted to maintain the exact ambiguous situation that was Showa Era Japan pre 1945. He saw this as the most ideal structure to defend the kokutai, because blame could not be placed solely upon his shoulders. He always maintained a get out of jail free card one could say.    The February 26 incident of 1936, was the climax of the Kodoha faction. They performed a mutiny trying to usher in a SHowa restoration. They assumed when their messenger came to the emperor he would join them and take direct rule. Instead Hirohito was furious. His first thought was the mutineers were trying to enlist his brother Chichibu to overthrow him. He dragged his brother who was a fraternizer amongst the kodoha members mind you, into a meeting, demanding he never associate with them again nor attempt to challenge him. Then Hirohito furious demanded the mutineers be dealt with. At one point he even threatened to lead the imperial guards to put them down. The coup failed, the kodoha faction was destroyed. Ironically the toseiha faction were the ones to do it and thus they became the defacto ruling clique.    The military, especially the kwantung army did not stop with their insubordination.    On July 8th of 1937 the Kwangtung army performed the Marco Polo Bridge incident, ushering in the second sino-japanese war. This was one of many false flag operations they had pulled off over the years. Upon being told about this Hirohito's first response was whether the USSR would invade Manchukuo over the matter. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito furious demanded to know what contingency plans existed and his advisors told him before he gave his red seal of approval to invade northern china.   Henceforth he micromanaged a lot of the military decisions going forward and he oversaw the forming and dissolving of numerous cabinets and positions when things went his way or did not in the military and political scene.  Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Nanking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer.   By 1939 the US began threatening sanctions for what Japan was doing in China. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”.   Fast forward a bit, with war raging in Europe Hirohito, on June 19th of 1940 Hirohito asked if chief of staff Prince Kan'in and Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” This question highlighted Hirohito's belief at that time that Germany was close to achieving victory, which led him to gradually consider deploying troops to French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies since neither of those parent nations was in a position to protect their territories and vital resources. Regarding the war in China, the Japanese aimed to stop the flow of materials entering China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicating that Britain would not agree to block the shipment of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military recognized that an invasion of Hong Kong might be necessary, which would mean declaring war on Britain. When this was communicated to him, Hirohito responded, “If that occurs, I'm sure America will enforce an embargo, don't you think?” In response, Kido, the lord of the privy seal, reassured him by stating, “The nation must be fully prepared to resist, proceeding with caution and avoiding being drawn into events instigated by foreign interests.”   Hirohito went through countless meetings, but eventually signed order number 458 authorizing the invasion of French Indochina, knowing full well the consequences. The US,UK and Netherlands began embargoes of oil, rubber and iron. In the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.   On October 13th Hirohito told his closest advisor Koichi Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.”   The reason I am bringing up all this stuff is to solidify, Hirohito had agency, he was micromanaging and forming decisions. After the war broke out with the west, Hirohito did have the ability to stamp his foot down. Of course there could have been wild repercussions, his military could have usurped him with Chichibu, it was definitely possible. But you need to keep this mind set, as far as why Hirohito acts or doesn't, its always to protect the Kokutai. Thus one of the levers for peace, solely rested on Hirohito's perception if the kokutai could be retained or not.    From the outset of the Pacific War, Hirohito believed Germany was going to defeat the USSR. In line with his military leaders, they all believed Japan had to seize everything they could in the asia-pacific and thwart off the US until a negotiated peace could be met. Hirohito committed himself to overseeing the war, determined to achieve victory at any cost. He was a very cautious leader, he meticulously analyzed each campaign, anticipating potential setbacks and crafting worst-case scenario predictions. He maintained a skeptical view of the reports from his senior officials and was often harshly critical of high commanders.   While he did not frequently visit the front lines like other commanders in chief, Hirohito wielded significant influence over theater operations, shaping both planning and execution whenever he deemed necessary. Similar to his approach during the war in China, he issued the highest military orders from the Imperial Headquarters, conducted audited conferences, and made decisions communicated under his name. He regularly welcomed generals and admirals to the imperial palace for detailed briefings on the battlefront and visited various military bases, battleships, and army and naval headquarters. His inspections encompassed military schools and other significant military institutions, adding to his comprehensive involvement in the war effort.   Now the war went extremely well for Japan until the battle of Midway. This was as major setback, but Japan retained the initiative. Then the Guadalcanal campaign saw Japan lose the initiative to the Americans. Upon receiving the initial report of the Ichiki detachment's destruction, Hirohito remarked, “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” Despite the numerous reports detailing the devastating effects of tropical diseases and starvation on his troops, he persistently demanded greater efforts from them. Hirohito exerted continuous pressure on his naval and land commanders to retake the island. On September 15th, November 5th, and November 11th, he requested additional Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops and aircraft to be allocated to the cause.   General Sugiyama expressed concerns about dispatching more IJA pilots due to their inexperience in transoceanic combat, preferring to reinforce the North China Army for an attack on Chongqing instead. Hirohito pressed the issue again, but Sugiyama responded that the IJA had diverted its air resources to New Guinea and Rabaul. Undeterred by the objections from senior commanders, Hirohito persisted in his demands. By late November, it became evident that Guadalcanal was a lost cause.   At an Imperial Headquarters conference on December 31st, 1942, the chiefs of staff proposed canceling the attempts to recapture Guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned this decision but stated, “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” He insisted on this point, leading to the selection of new strategic targets in the Solomons, north of New Georgia, and in the Stanley Range on New Guinea. Hirohito even threatened to withhold authorization for withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal until a new plan was established. He later opposed the withdrawal from Munda Airfield, as it contradicted the newly defined defensive line.   As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern Solomons began to crumble, Hirohito continued to insist that the navy engage in decisive battles to regain the initiative, allowing for the transport of supplies to the many soldiers trapped on various islands. When he learned of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd, he asked, “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for a while.” The phrase “Do this for me” would come to be his signature rallying cry.   After Guadal canal, it was loss after loss for Japan. By February of 1944, Hirohito forced Sugiyama to resign so Hideki Tojo could take his position as chief of the general staff, note Tojo was prime minister and army minister at this point. Hirohito worked alongside Tojo to plan some last ditch efforts to change the war situation. The most significant one was Operation Ichi-Go. As much damage as they did to China with that, Chiang Kai-Shek's government survived. Hirohito watched as island by island fell to the Americans. When the Americans were poised to take Saipan he warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” Saipan fell, so Hirohito stopped supporting Tojo and allowed his rivals to take down his cabinet by june 18th of 1944.    Hirohito remained resolute in his determination to wrest victory from the Allies. On October 18th, the Imperial Headquarters ordered a decisive naval engagement, leading to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Hirohito publicly stated, "Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I consented to the showdown battle at Leyte, believing that if we launched an attack and America hesitated, we might find an opportunity to negotiate." Leyte Gulf didnt work. The military began the kamikaze program. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?” On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    The Surrender time   Now we come to the time period where Japan seriously began looking for ways to surrender. In Europe Germany was heading to its defeat and Japan knew this. As for Japan, their army in Burma had been annihilated. Their forces in China were faring better after Operation Ichi-go, having opened up a land corridor along the main railway from Beiping to Wuhan and from throughout Guangdong but still stuck in a deadlock stalemate, facing a guerrilla war that was costing them 64% of their military expenditures. They deeply feared once the Soviets finished up with Germany, they would undoubtedly turn east against Manchuria. With the Soviets attacking from the north, the US would attack from the south, perhaps landing in Shanghai and the home islands. The Kamikaze tactics were proving formidable, but not nearly enough. By 1945, 43% of the IJA were now stationed in Japan, Korea and Formosa, bracing for the final stand. Former prime minister Reijiro Wakatsuki came out of retirement in may of 1945, having heard Germany collapsed, to urge Hirohito and the Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki to open negotiations with the US as soon as possible. However he also said “the enemy must first be made to see the disadvantages of continuing the war”. To this Hirohito's chief counselor Makino Nobuaki said that “the ultimate priority is to develop an advantageous war situation.” Advisor admiral Kesiuke Okada said Japan should wait for “a moment favorable for us,” then make peace. Advisors Kiichiro Hiranuma and Koki Hirota advised the emperor to fight on until the end.   Now I want to bring in a key player to the surrender decision, that of Prince Konoe. Konoe was very close to Hirohito and understood the emperors mentality, especially how he viewed things in relation to the kokutai.    The senior statesman Prince Konoe had been consulting with Hirohito for over 18 months at this point trying to convey the message that if the war continued it would threaten the kokutai. Many months prior, he confided in the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, that the army was suffering from “a cancer” in the form of the Toseiha faction. However, he noted that “Kido and others” did not share his perspective, while “his Majesty is relatively unconcerned with ideological issues.” For the past four years, he continued, the emperor had been advised and still believed that “the true extremists are the Kodoha faction.” In reality, the greater threat to the kokutai arose from the Toseiha faction. Konoe further asserted that if the war escalated, they would attempt to alter the kokutai.   Konoe speculated that whether the threat originated from communists within the nation, primarily referring to left-wing radicals in the Toseiha faction, or from the “Anglo-American enemy,” both would seek to preserve the emperor while pushing towards the country's communization.In his written report to the emperor on February 14, which Kido listened to attentively, Konoe elaborated on his conspiracy theory. He asserted that the Soviet Union regarded Japan as its primary threat in East Asia. The Soviets had allied with the Chinese Communists, the largest and most formidable Communist party in Asia, and were collaborating with the United States and Britain to drive Japan out of China. He warned that they would enter the war when the opportunity arose.   Defeat, he cautioned the emperor, was inevitable if the conflict persisted. However, he emphasized that a far greater fear was the potential destruction of the kokutai. The ongoing war was eroding the domestic status quo, unleashing forces that threatened Japan and its imperial institution from within as much as from external adversaries. The real danger lay in the emperor's and Kido's trust in the generals of the Toseiha faction, who were unintentionally facilitating the communization of Japan. Konoe implored for a swift peace settlement before a Communist revolution emerged, making the preservation of the kokutai impossible. Hirohito agreed with Konoe but stated “ To end the war would be “very difficult unless we make one more military gain.” Konoe allegedly replied, “Is that possible? It must happen soon. If we have to wait much longer, . . . [a mere battle victory] will mean nothing.” Hirohito replied “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.”   On February 15th of 1945, Hirohito's intelligence warned the Soviet Union would likely abrogate its Neutrality Pact with Japan. Even Tojo conceded there was a 50/50 chance the USSR would invade Manchuria. In March, the US began B-29 incendiary bombing raids over Tokyo, turning 40% of the capital into ash. On March 18th, Hirohito with some aides drove around the capital to witness the devastation. The civilians looked exhausted and bewildered to Hirohito. Factory production was collapsing, absenteeism was rising, instances of lese majeste were running rampant. For the next 5 months imperial family members and senior statesmen all began speaking to Hirohito about the “crises of the kokutai”. The threat Konoe had warned about for months was becoming the main talking point. It seemed like the Japanese people within the countryside and urban areas remained steadfast in the resolve to obey their leaders, work and sacrifice for their nation, but for how long would they feel so?    It was only after the battle for Okinawa was lost and 60 Japanese cities had been leveled by American incendiary bombs that Hirohito openly indicated he wanted to negotiate a surrender.   Kido's diary reveals the first clear indication that the emperor might be urged to consider an early peace on June 8, 1945, when Kido drafted his “Draft Plan for Controlling the Crisis Situation.” This marked a pivotal moment. It followed the unintentional bombing of the Imperial Palace, the complete loss of hope for saving Okinawa, and coincided with the day the Supreme War Leadership Council adopted the “Basic Policy for the Future Direction of the War.” With the fighting in Europe concluded, Japan found itself entirely isolated. Kido's plan, although vague, proposed seeking the Soviet Union's assistance as an intermediary to help Japan gain leverage in negotiations with its adversaries. By drafting this plan, Kido signaled the end of his long alliance with the military hard-liners. Hirohito's acceptance of it indicated his readiness for an early peace.   Hirohito was moved to an underground bunker in the mountains of Matsushiro in Nagano prefecture where upon those around him noted he fell into a deep depression. On June 22nd  Hirohito informed the Supreme War Leadership Council he wanted them to open diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. In early July Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik broke off inconclusive talks with Hirota. Hirohito stepped in immediately and ordered a new special envoy be sent to Moscow. However Hirohito nor the Suzuki government had concrete plans on how to mediate a surrender through the Soviets. The only things they did prioritize was a guarantee of the emperors political position and retainment of the imperial system, ie the kokutai. This was taken into consideration rather than ending the war as quickly as possible to save the lives of millions.    From April 8, 1945, until Japan's capitulation, the Suzuki government's chief war policy was “Ketsugo,” an advanced iteration of the “Shosango” (Victory Number 3) plan for defending the homeland. The hallmark of this strategy was a heavy reliance on suicide tactics, including deploying a massive number of kamikaze “special attack” planes, human torpedoes launched from submarines, dynamite-stuffed “crash boats” powered by truck engines, human rocket bombs carried by aircraft, and suicide assaults by specially trained ground units.   While preparations for Operation Ketsu progressed, the Imperial Diet convened on June 9 to pass a Wartime Emergency Measures Law, along with five additional measures aimed at mobilizing the entire nation for this final battle. On the same day, the emperor, who had yet to initiate efforts to end the war, issued another imperial rescript in conjunction with the Diet's convocation, instructing the nation to “smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations” and “achieve the goals of the war.” Concurrently, the controlled press launched a daily die-for-the-emperor campaign to foster gratitude for the imperial benevolence and, from around mid-July onward, initiated a campaign to “protect the kokutai.”   The Americans countered with their own propaganda aimed at breaking Japan's will to fight. B-29 bombers dropped millions of leaflets written in Japanese, announcing the next scheduled targets for bombing raids and urging surrender, while using the emperor to challenge the militarists. Leaflets bearing the chrysanthemum crest criticized the “military cliques” for “forcing the entire nation to commit suicide” and called on “everyone” to “exercise their constitutional right to make direct appeals [for peace] to the Emperor.” They asserted that “even the powerful military cliques cannot stop the mighty march for peace of the Emperor and the people.” One notable batch of seven million leaflets conveyed the terms of the “joint declaration” issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China. “Today we come not to bomb you,” they stated. “We are dropping this leaflet to inform you of the response from the United States government to your government's request for conditions of surrender.... Whether the war stops immediately depends on your government. You will understand how to end the war if you read these two official notifications.”   Amid pressures from imperial edicts to continue preparations for a final battle and focus solely on victory, the Japanese people were also subjected to an intense American psychological warfare campaign in addition to aerial bombardment. During late July and August, prefectural governors, police chiefs, and officers of the “special higher police” submitted reports to the Home Ministry detailing the rapidly deteriorating national morale.    Now on the other side, Roosevelt made it known back in January of 1943 at the Casablanca conference, the allies would only accept unconditional surrender. By 1945, the allies understood the predicament this left Japan with. On May 8th of 1945, Truman added “Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people” trying to indicate a non vindictive spirit. However the Kokutai question always remained ambiguous. State Department Joseph Grew, the former ambassador to Japan, began arguing to Truman they needed to make public a clear definition of the terms to persuade Japan to surrender. As he argued to Truman: Emperor Hirohito was seen as the key figure in Japan's surrender, likened to a "queen bee in a hive... surrounded by the attentions of the hive." Throughout the war, he was characterized in various ways—as a “puppet” of the militarists, a constitutional monarch, and a pacifist. Grew had immense faith in the influence exerted by what he referred to as the “moderates” surrounding the Japanese throne.    However many of Grew's colleagues argued the future existence of the monarchy was intolerable as it was akin to fascism. Many wanted to punish the emperor. Truman was in a tug of war. The Potsdam declaration issued on July 26th of 1945 came in the form of a ultimatum aiming to quicken japans surrender. Truman clarified the terms for the unconditional surrender at the end of its terms: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." Zero mention of the emperor. Grew had argued to add “this may include a constitutional monarchy under the present dynasty.” But it was deleted from the article. The status of the emperor was not guaranteed, the kokutai was thus up in the air.    The next day, the Suzuki cabinet rejected the terms. The Japanese leadership and Hirohito were still banking and awaiting Soviet replies to their terms.    Lets talk about the Soviet talks now   Back on July 12th ambassador Naotake Satō sent this message to the Soviets: “His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all the belligerent powers, desires from his heart that it may be quickly terminated. But so long as England and the United States insist upon unconditional surrender, the Japanese Empire has no alternative but to fight on with all its strength for the honor and existence of the Motherland”.  However the Soviets had made commitments to their allies, promising in fact to invade Japan to aid them.    As for the Soviets their primary objective was to ensure unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean. The year-round ice-free areas of the Soviet Pacific coastline, particularly Vladivostok, could be blockaded by air and sea from Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands. Securing these territories to guarantee free access to the Soya Strait was their main goal. Secondary objectives included acquiring leases for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Southern Manchuria Railway, as well as gaining control over Dairen and Port Arthur.   To achieve these aims, Stalin and Molotov prolonged negotiations with the Japanese, creating a false sense of hope for a Soviet-mediated peace. Simultaneously, in their discussions with the United States and Britain, the Soviets insisted on strict adherence to the Cairo Declaration, which had been reaffirmed at the Yalta Conference. This declaration stipulated that the Allies would not accept a separate or conditional peace with Japan; thus, the Japanese would need to surrender unconditionally to all the Allies. The Soviets aimed to prolong the war by opposing any efforts to dilute this requirement. This approach would provide the Soviets with the necessary time to complete the transfer of their troops from the Western Front to the Far East and to conquer Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles, and potentially Hokkaidō, starting with an assault on Rumoi. AUGUST 1945   Thus we come to at last the critical point, August of 1945.    The Americans prepared for the deployment of atomic bombs and for an invasion of southern Kyushu, known as Operation Olympic, scheduled to commence on November 1. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, a single B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped little boy, devastating much of the undefended city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people and leading to the deaths of possibly another 100,000 over the next five years. At the epicenter of the explosion, “a light appeared 3,000 times brighter than the sun,” creating a fireball that emitted thermal radiation capable of “instantly scorching humans, trees, and houses.” As the air heated and rushed upward, cold air surged in to ignite a firestorm. Hours later, a whirlwind escalated the flames to their peak until more than eight square miles were virtually reduced to cinders. Subsequently, black, muddy rain filled with radioactive fallout began to fall. Two days later, using Japan's rejection of the Potsdam Declaration as a pretext, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then on August 9, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, resulting in the immediate deaths of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people and injuring more than 60,000.   Meanwhile, in Tokyo, during the critical period between the Potsdam Declaration and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito remained silent about accepting the Potsdam terms. However, on July 25 and 31, he explicitly conveyed to Kido that the imperial regalia must be defended at all costs. The three sacred objects—a mirror, a curved jewel, and a sword—symbolized the legitimacy of his rule through the northern court and were integral to his identity as the divine sovereign. Hirohito's focus was on protecting these symbols of office, as he insisted on having them brought to the palace. This fixation on maintaining his symbols occurred during a pivotal moment when the pressing issue was whether to accept immediate capitulation. Reflecting on this, he was unprepared to seize the opportunity to end the war himself.   Prime Minister Suzuki, following his initial rejection of the Potsdam ultimatum, also saw no need for further action. His Cabinet Advisory Council, which included the president of Asano Cement, the founder of the Nissan consortium, the vice president of the Bank of Japan, and other representatives from the nation's leading business interests that had profited significantly from the war, convened on the morning of August 3. They recommended accepting the Potsdam terms, arguing that the United States would permit Japan to retain its non-military industries and continue participating in world trade.    Here are some reactions to the two bombs and invasion of Manchuria.    Yonai Mitsumasa said to admiral Takagi Sokichi, on August 12, that “I think the term is perhaps inappropriate, but the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war are, in a sense, gifts from the gods [tenyu, also “heaven-sent blessings”]. This way we don't have to say that we quit the war because of domestic circumstances. I've long been advocating control of our crisis, but neither from fear of an enemy attack nor because of the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war. The main reason is my anxiety over the domestic situation. So, it is rather fortunate that we can now control matters without revealing the domestic situation”.    Konoe's characterized the Soviet involvement in the war as “a godsend for controlling the army,”. Kido viewed of both the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the conflict as “useful” elements for ensuring a smooth transition. A nascent power struggle was unfolding, rendering the potential death toll—whether one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand—immaterial to those involved, as long as their desired outcome was achieved: an end to the war that would leave the monarchy intact and capable of managing the discontent that defeat would inevitably provoke. Throughout the final acts of this wartime drama, the Japanese “moderates” found it easier to capitulate to external pressures than to take decisive action on their own to conclude the war.   Another illuminating looks at Japan's elite's perspective on surrender terms was the document titled “Essentials of Peace Negotiations” (wahei kosho no yoryo). Drafted by Konoe and his adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Sakai Koji, after Konoe had reluctantly accepted a mission to Moscow, this document, stipulated the preservation of the emperor system, along with most of the imperial prerogatives, as the absolute minimum condition for peace. It defined the “original” or “essential homeland” as including the southern half of the Kurile Islands but showed a willingness to concede all overseas territories to the enemy, including Okinawa and the American-occupied Bonin Islands, as well as the southern half of Sakhalin. The “Essentials” also accepted complete disarmament for an unspecified period, thereby compromising on the issues of demobilizing and disarming the armed forces. More significantly, an “explanation” attached to the “Essentials” emphasized that “the main aim is to secure the imperial line and maintain the political role of the emperor.”    Why Japan surrendered   We come to it atleast after a long podcast. Why did Japan ultimately surrender?   The twin psychological shocks of the first atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war, combined with Kido's and the emperor's concern over escalating public criticism of the throne and its occupant, fueled an almost paranoid fear that, sooner or later, the populace would react violently against their leaders if the war persisted much longer. These factors ultimately led Hirohito to accept, in principle, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.   At the first meeting of the six member constituents of the Supreme War Leadership Council, held from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on August 9, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Chiefs of Staff Umezu Yoshijiro, representing the army, and Yonai, representing the navy, along with Tōgō, from the Foreign Ministry, were expected to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Instead, the conversation revolved around whether to attempt a conditional surrender—specifically, should they insist on one condition, the preservation of the kokutai, or four?   After Suzuki addressed the assembly regarding the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet attack, Yonai, as recounted by Navy Chief of Staff Toyoda, was the first to speak, framing the issue in terms of four conditions. “Let's start to talk, Do we accept the Potsdam Declaration with no conditions? If not, and we wish to insist on attaching hopes and conditions, we may do so this way. First, preservation of the kokutai; then for the rest, the main items in the Potsdam Declaration: treatment of war criminals, method of disarmament, and the matter of sending in an army of occupation.” Thus, the participants identified what they perceived to be the ambiguous points within the Potsdam Declaration and used them as the foundation for their discussions.   The army insisted on four conditions: First, the preservation of the kokutai, which they considered distinct from the Potsdam Declaration itself. The other conditions proposed were, second, that the Imperial Headquarters assume responsibility for disarmament and demobilization; third, a prohibition on occupation; and fourth, the delegation of the punishment of war criminals to the Japanese government. The army equated the kokutai with the emperor's right of supreme command. Their self-serving desire for autonomous war crimes trials was based on the belief that the Allies would use such trials to politically indict the military. Consequently, army leaders aimed to preempt the activities of any international tribunal by conducting their own trials—similar to the approach taken by the uninvaded and unrepentant Germans after World War I.   Supporting the military's views during cabinet meetings that day were three civilian members of the Suzuki cabinet: Justice Minister Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Home Minister Yasui Toji, and Minister of Health Okada Tadahiko. At the imperial conference that night, which extended into the early hours of the tenth, Foreign Minister Tōgō's interpretation of the “preservation of the kokutai” referred solely to the safeguarding of the Imperial House or dynasty, rather than the continuation of Hirohito's reign.   Hiranuma, another advocate for the single condition, interpreted the kokutai as the “emperor's sovereign right to rule the state [not] deriving from national law. Even if the entire nation is sacrificed to the war, we must preserve both the kokutai and the security of the imperial house.” This discrepancy illustrated that there was no completely unified understanding of what the kokutai entailed; the debate over one condition versus four represented conflicting visions for the future of the Japanese state and masked the competition for political power that was already unfolding.   It remains doubtful whether the emperor and Kido initially sided with Tōgō against the four conditions proposed by the senior military leaders. A more likely inference is that both men retained sympathies for the hardliners, both military and civilian, who preferred to continue the futile war rather than surrender immediately and unconditionally. This may explain why, on August 9, Konoe had Hosokawa Morisada approach Navy General Headquarters to urge the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, to pressure Hirohito (through Kido) to accept the Potsdam terms. Later that afternoon, Konoe enlisted the help of diplomat Shigemitsu Mamoru to persuade Kido to reconsider his stance on the four conditions. Ultimately, at the urging of Takamatsu and Shigemitsu, Kido did shift to support Tōgō's position.   At the end of the war, as at its beginning and throughout every stage of its progression, Emperor Hirohito played a highly active role in supporting the actions carried out in his name. From the very beginning of the Asia-Pacific war, the emperor played a significant role in the unfolding events around him. Prior to the Battle of Okinawa, he consistently advocated for a decisive victory. Afterward, he acknowledged the necessity of pursuing an early peace, although he did not favor an immediate cessation of hostilities. Instead, he wavered, steering Japan toward ongoing warfare rather than direct negotiations with the Allies. When the final crisis fully unfolded, the only option left was unconditional surrender. Even then, he continued to procrastinate until the atomic bomb was dropped and the Soviets launched their attack. The wartime emperor ideology that once sustained morale made it exceedingly difficult for Japan's leaders to accept the act of surrender. Aware of their objective defeat, yet indifferent to the suffering the war inflicted on their own people—as well as on the populations of Asia, the Pacific, and the West whose lives they had disrupted—the emperor and his military leaders sought a means to lose without appearing to lose. They aimed to mitigate domestic criticism following surrender while preserving their power structure.   Blinded by their fixation on the fate of the imperial house and committed to an overly optimistic diplomacy toward the Soviet Union, Japan's leaders missed several opportunities to end their lost war. Would Japan's leaders have surrendered more promptly if the Truman administration had “clarified” the status of the emperor before the cataclysmic double shocks of the atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war? Probably not. However, it is likely they would have surrendered to prevent the kokutai from being destroyed from within. The evidence suggests that the first atomic bomb and the Soviet declaration of war led Hirohito, Kido, and other members of the court to believe that continuing the war would inevitably result in that destruction. They recognized that the populace was war-weary and despondent, with rising hostility toward the military and the government, accompanied by increasing criticism of the emperor himself. More specifically, Kido and Hirohito were privy to Home Ministry reports, which contained information from governors and police chiefs nationwide. These reports indicated that citizens were beginning to label the emperor as an incompetent leader responsible for the deteriorating war situation.   This is the third variable, never spoken about. Many first look at the atomic bombs. Bigger brain people turn to the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria. But hardly anyone reads about how the collapse of Japan's social fabric, scared the shit out of the Emperor and his closest advisors. You can't have a kokutai, without a populace that worshiped you.    When the emperor expressed in February, “What worries me is whether the nation [could] endure” long enough to achieve victory, he was not merely voicing concern for the suffering of his subjects; rather, he feared that such suffering could lead to social upheaval—in short, revolution. At that time, he referred to the ordinary, war-related hardships of food shortages, air raids, devastated cities, destruction of homes, and the omnipresent grief from the loss of loved ones. The atomic bomb escalated death, pain, and suffering to unimaginably higher levels, intensifying the threat from within. After the bombings of Japan and two atomic bombs, Hirohito was in a dark way, given a golden get out of jail free card. Hirohito could now save his suffering people from further anguish by surrendering, allowing him to deflect responsibility for leading them into misery while adopting an air of benevolence and care. Indeed, Hirohito did care—though not primarily for the Japanese people, but rather for the survival of his own imperial house and throne.   After the bombing of Hiroshima, Hirohito delayed for a full two days before instructing Kido, shortly before 10 A.M. on August 9, to “quickly control the situation” because “the Soviet [Union]” had declared war. Kido immediately communicated with Prime Minister Suzuki, who began arrangements for an Imperial Conference scheduled for later that night. Following the seidan of August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu took charge of drafting the “Imperial Rescript Ending the War” based on Hirohito's directives. Assisted by two scholars of the Chinese classics, Kawada Mizuho and Yasuoka Masahiro, Sakomizu worked tirelessly for over three days before submitting a version of the rescript to the Suzuki cabinet. After six hours of contentious discussion on the night of August 14, the cabinet modified and approved the document. Hirohito promptly signed it, and Shimomura and Kido persuaded him to record a suitably opaque final version for broadcast to the nation.   On the night of August 14, the Suzuki government notified the United States and other Allied nations that it had accepted both the Potsdam Declaration and the Byrnes letter of August 11. Accelerating the emperor's actions during this climactic moment of the unconditional surrender drama was the American psychological warfare campaign. When a leaflet dropped from B-29 bombers came into Kido's possession on the night of August 13 or the morning of the fourteenth, he conferred with the emperor and explained the gravity of the situation. The latest enemy leaflets were informing the Japanese people of the government's notification of surrender under one condition, along with the full text of Byrnes's response. If this continued, it would undermine the imperial government's reliance on secrecy to obscure the true nature of the lost war and the reasons for the prolonged surrender delay.   Given Kido's and the emperor's concerns about rising signs of defeatism, including criticism of the throne, immediate action was necessary to prevent the populace from acting on their own initiative. Thus, the second seidan was convened. At noon on August 15, the Japanese people gathered around their radio receivers and heard, for the first time, the high-pitched voice of their emperor telling them:    “After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable”.   Clearly Hirohito sought to justify his decision to surrender by citing the dropping of the atomic bombs. He wanted to become the saviour of the Japanese people. Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai.  Interestingly, the surrender declaration to the civilian population was not the same one sent to the military. On August 17th Hirohito issued a second “rescript to soldiers and sailors” throughout the asia-pacific.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The lesser-known August 17 rescript to the army and navy specified Soviet participation as the sole reason for surrender, while maintaining the kokutai as the primary aim. Dissembling until the end—and even beyond—it was noted that the emperor presented two different justifications for his delayed surrender. Both statements were likely true.   Months later Hirohito's said this about his decision to surrender “The main motive behind my decision at that time was that if we . . . did not act, the Japanese race would perish and I would be unable to protect my loyal subjects [sekishi—literally, “children”]. Second, Kido agreed with me on the matter of defending the kokutai. If the enemy landed near Ise Bay, both Ise and Atsuta Shrines would immediately come under their control. There would be no time to transfer the sacred treasures [regalia] of the imperial family and no hope of protecting them. Under these circumstances, protection of the kokutai would be difficult. For these reasons, I thought at the time that I must make peace even at the sacrifice of myself.”    There exists this sort of childish argument today whether it was the atomic bombs or the Soviet Invasion that caused Japan to surrender. However, this overlooks as I think I've explained in 9000 words jeez, the influence of the kokutai. Defending the kokutai was Hirohito's number one priority. The Soviets threatened it. Communism threatened it. What Japan perceived to be “democracy” threatened it. American victory threatened it. And the destruction of Japan's social fabric threatened it. I love this one piece of history, that I have only come across in one book, that being the main one I am using here.   On August 12th, Hirohito came to the imperial family to tell them he had made the decision to surrender. His uncle Prince Yasuhiko Asaka asked him whether the war would be continued if the kokutai could not be preserved. Hirohito replied “of course”.

Show Notes:Life Updates & Pencil Parties- Eden recounts a surreal Minneapolis trip to witness the "sharpening" of a 20-foot neighborhood pencil statue.- Attendees included 1,500+ people, costumes, DJs, and a fake giant pencil sharpener hoisted into place.- Cassi already has cosplay plans for next year.Dollhouses, Gundams & DIY Projects- Eden builds a full miniature room box to pose model kits like Gundams in.- Explores the satisfying craft process of assembling furniture, windows, and baseboards in a modular design.Music Corner- New Katatonia album: promising with fresh energy, but Peter reserves judgment.- Rivers of Nihil: cool influence from Black Crown Initiate, but repeated saxophone use is a dealbreaker for Peter.- Vildhjarta: heavy, adventurous, and rewards deep listening.Gaming Talk- Peter's impressions of the Switch 2: improved Mario Kart experience with 24-player chaos, but still not a travel must-have.- Thoughts on the cult of Nintendo vs. more versatile handheld platforms like the Steam Deck.- Eden's attempt to play Synduality: Echo of Ada ends in a refund due to game-breaking texture issues.Cult & Camp Cinema- Eden attends a VHS screening of the awful-but-fun 1970s exploitation film White Fire with a themed drinking game.- Peter is tempted by the trailer but is firmly advised: "Don't watch White Fire."Reading Recommendations- Eden finishes all 11 published volumes of Adachi and Shimomura, including volume 99.9 (sci-fi time-jump bonus stories).- Enthusiastic recommendation of The Apothecary Diaries, a mystery series set in a fictionalized ancient China full of intrigue and clever deduction.What We're Watching- Peter enjoys Taskmaster Season 19 with Jason Mantzoukas, calling it chaotic, hilarious, and worth the YouTube binge.Main Topic: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)- Eden loved it: tense, stylish, electric; Peter found it frustratingly flat in tension and offensively dated.- Discussion touches on 70s NYC despair, racism and misogyny in period pieces, Walter Matthau's charisma, and how modern remakes miss the gritty charm of the original.- Fun fact: Robert Shaw (Mr. Blue) also played Quint in Jaws.- Finale: Walter Matthau's "Gesundheit" stare is iconic.

The compositions crafted by Yoko Shimomura for the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise represent a pivotal exploration of musical artistry within the realm of interactive entertainment. This episode endeavors to elucidate the profound impact of her work, particularly in relation to the previously discussed contributions of Hikaru Utada. As we delve into the intricate melodies and thematic elements that characterize Shimomura's compositions, we will uncover the emotional resonance they evoke within the gaming community. Furthermore, we will examine how these musical pieces intertwine with themes of identity and relationships, enriching the narrative experience of the franchise. By cross-posting this discourse to Systematic Geekology, we aim to illuminate the intersection of faith and fandom, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of these compositions.The intricate compositions crafted by Yoko Shimomura for the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise represent a remarkable confluence of musical artistry and narrative depth. Our discourse delves into the emotive power embedded within these melodies and their profound impact on the gaming community, transcending mere entertainment to forge genuine connections among players. We explore how these soundscapes, from the iconic 'Dearly Beloved' to the evocative themes associated with beloved characters, resonate on a personal level, articulating sentiments that often elude verbal expression. This episode serves not only as an appreciation of Shimomura's genius but also as a testament to the transformative role music plays in shaping our experiences within the fantastical realms of Kingdom Hearts, binding us together in shared nostalgia and emotion.Furthermore, we examine the essential role that music plays in the broader context of Kingdom Hearts, particularly in how it complements the narrative and enhances the gaming experience. The compositions are not merely background scores; they are integral to storytelling, enhancing emotional moments and deepening player immersion. We reflect on the cultural significance of these works, noting how they have become emblematic of a generation's formative experiences with video games. Our conversation also draws parallels to the previous discussions regarding Hikaru Utada's contributions, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between lyrics and melody in creating a cohesive artistic vision for the franchise. In essence, this episode is a celebration of the artistry behind video game music, illuminating how these compositions echo our own journeys and relationships in life. As we traverse the landscapes of Kingdom Hearts, we also recognize the collaborative spirit that defines the gaming community, where each note and rhythm invites dialogue and reflection. The episode catalyzes a conversation about the spiritual dimensions of gaming music, inviting listeners to contemplate how these compositions can evoke feelings of transcendence and connection to something greater than themselves. By engaging with the music of Yoko Shimomura, we engage not only with the artistry of video game soundtracks but also with the deeper narratives of identity, belonging, and the human experience. Join us as we navigate this rich tapestry of sound, emotion, and community, exploring how the music of Kingdom Hearts resonates within our lives and continues to inspire new generations of gamers.Takeaways: Yoko Shimomura's compositions for the Kingdom Hearts franchise resonate deeply with fans, evoking powerful emotions and nostalgia. The music of Kingdom Hearts has become integral to a community that cherishes its themes and melodies beyond mere gameplay. Yoko Shimomura's contributions to video game music, including Kingdom Hearts, have established her as a significant figure in the industry. The unique ability of Shimomura to blend original compositions with familiar...

Welcome to another episode of The Coral Capital Podcast, a show where we bring on guests from tech, business, politics, and culture to talk about all things Japan.VTubing, or virtual YouTubing, is a form of digital content creation where anime-style avatars—powered by motion capture and voice acting—engage audiences through livestreams, gaming, and interactive entertainment. This industry has rapidly evolved from niche internet culture into a multi-billion-dollar market, blurring the lines between content creation, technology, and intellectual property (IP).In this episode, we are joined by Sasuke Shimomura, Chief Strategy Officer of Brave group, one of Japan's leading VTuber production companies. Brave group is a global digital IP company which mainly consists of 3 business segments: IP Production which mainly focuses on VTuber production, IP Platform and IP Solution which focus on distribution and enhancing the monetization of digital IP. After graduating from Waseda University, Sasuke started his career in the Equity Research Division at Goldman Sachs Japan. He then played a key role in corporate planning, creator strategy, and M&A at UUUM Co., Ltd., Japan's largest influencer management company. He was also CFO of SoVa Inc., where he oversaw fundraising efforts from the company's founding. Sasuke later joined Eight Roads Ventures Japan, focusing on investments in Entertainment and Media, while also conducting M&A exits for several portfolio companies. In June 2024, he joined Brave group as CSO.In today's episode we break down everything about the VTuber industryThe VTubing movement began in 2016 with the debut of Kizuna AI, widely considered the industry's first VTuber.By 2018, major production companies like Anycolor (Nijisanji) and Cover (Hololive) emerged, professionalizing the space and scaling VTuber operations.Different styles of VTubing: 2D VTubing: An animated illustration that syncs with the talent's real-time movements.3D VTubing: Uses motion capture technology to replicate full-body movement in a 3D virtual space.2.5D Hybrid: A mix of virtual and real-world performances, where VTubers also appear in person The VTuber industry operates much like traditional entertainment businesses, with diverse monetization strategies: live streaming revenue, merchandising, advertisement tie-ups, direct fan monetization (ex. fan clubs), and IP expansion (ex. anime adaptations).While similar to a typical talent agency like K-pop's YG group, VTubing agencies like Brave group hold the rights to all of their IP, allowing for greater revenue diversification.VTubing is a rapidly growing market with the potential to reach anime's $20B+ industry size.Emerging technologies like AI, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Blockchain will diversify and expand revenue opportunities.AI is already being leveraged in processes like illustration, but larger shifts such as 24/7 AI streaming or “AITuber” are likely coming in the near future.Being a globally successful IP powerhouse requires 1. A deep understanding of content 2. The right technology 3. A cultural understanding to bring the content to the global market 4. A strong financial strategy to execute.-----For founder's building Japan's next legendary companies, reach out to us here: https://coralcap.co/contact-startups/If you're interested in joining a Coral startup join our talent network here: https://coralcap.co/coral-careers/

I learned to live half alive / Now you want me one more timeRetro Encounter's host demonstrates contrition in today's episode, admitting on-air that there's at least one good Kingdom Hearts game out there. The panelists also discuss their favorite boss fights, Disney worlds, and character struggles of Kingdom Hearts, which might differ if you're playing on Normal, Proud, or Critical. Today our Dearly Beloved panel discovers their personal Sanctuary in Retro Encounter. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul DennisOpening and ending music by Miles MorkriGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomKingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

In the night I hear 'em talk / The coldest story ever toldKingdom Hearts II, one of the most celebrated sequels in the Square Enix catalog, finally gets an episode (the first of two!) on Retro Encounter. Within, we discuss the game's dynamic combat, the earnestly made Disney worlds, and plenty about Kingdom Hearts II's mysterious black robed mostly-antagonists. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul DennisOpening and ending music by Miles MorkriGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomKingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

Mario? In my JRPG? It's more likely than you think.This week, Rick is joined by Matt "Stormageddon" Storm ("Fun" and Games, Screen Snark, and more) to talk over Mario's first jaunt into JRPG japes: Super Mario RPG! Whether you grew up with the SNES version or are a newcomer with the (terrific!) Switch remake, this episode will be for you. We talk about the beginnings of this Square and Nintendo collaboration, the "Saturday Morning Cartoon" feel, version differences, and more. With a killer OST by the one and only Yoko Shimomura, you won't want to miss this - do it up!More Matt Storm, aka StormageddonClick on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering the idea of suspending party heavyweights Hakubun Shimomura and Yasutoshi Nishimura from LDP membership as a punishment over a high-profile slush funds scandal involving factions of the party, it was learned Tuesday.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.10.25.513649v1?rss=1 Authors: Sato, R., Shimomura, K., Morita, K. Abstract: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been suggested to be associated with impairment of model-based behavioral control. Meanwhile, recent work suggested shorter memory trace for negative than positive prediction errors (PEs) in OCD. Relation between these two suggestions remains unclear. Based on the properties of cortico-basal ganglia pathways, we modeled human as agent having a combination of successor representation (SR)-based system that enables model-based-like control and individual representation (IR)-based system that only hosts model-free control. We show that if the SR- and IR-based systems learn mainly from positive and negative PEs, respectively, agent can develop obsession-compulsion cycle, similarly to the agent with memory trace imbalance in the previous study. Fitting of behavior of such an opponent SR+IR agent in the two-stage decision task resulted in smaller weights for model-based control than the SR-only agent. These results reconcile the previous suggestions about OCD, raising a possibility that opponent learning in model-based/free controls underlies obsession-compulsion. Moreover, together with a recent suggestion that the opponent SR+IR combination actually performs well in certain dynamic environments and its cortico-striatal implementation appears consistent with various findings, this possibility explains why human is prone to OCD and even healthy people tended to show shorter memory trace for negative PEs. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Check out Ratnado's Shimomura of a Yoko Variety playlist

Approval for the renaming of the religious group widely known as the Unification Church can be attributed to former Japanese Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura, a former bureaucrat said Friday.

About: I had an extremely hard time choosing only four composers for the last episode, so I'm doing a whole honourable mentions follow up. Another four composers which are extremely synonymous with the art form. For this episode, I'll be showcasing the music from Yuzo Koshiro, Yoko Shimomura, Noriyuki Iwadare and Shoji Meguro. 00:00 - Colony 9 [Xenoblade Chronicles] by Shimomura > 02:51 - Life Goes On [Persona 5] by Meguro > 05:13 - Enemy Army BGM 1 [Langrisser] by Iwadare > 07:10 - Make Me Dance [Revenge Of Shinobi] by Koshiro > 09:08 - Investigation ~ Opening 2004 [Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations] by Iwadare > 11:07 - Go! Raidou [Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Souless Army] by Meguro > 13:18 - Soldier's Triumph [Sol Cresta] by Koshiro > 16:47 - Graveyard of Darkness [Etrian Odyssey V] by Koshiro > 20:00 - Muladhara [Digital Devil Saga] by Meguro > 22:00 - Out Of Phase [Parasite Eve] by Shimomura > 24:19 - Invitation Of A Crazed Moon [Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin] by Koshiro > 26:49 - Brave Warriors [Lunar 2: Eternal Blue] by Iwadare > 29:59 - Under Logic [Streets Of Rage II] by Koshiro > 32:01 - Ken's Theme [Street Fighter II] by Shimomura > 34:15 - Keep Your Faith [Persona 5 Royal] by Meguro > 37:54 - Omnis Lacrima [Final Fantasy XV] by Shimomura > 42:01 - Wave Of Darkness I [Kingdom Hearts III] by Shimomura > 45:12 - At Last [Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker] by Meguro > 47:40 - Last Battle [Langrisser II] by Iwadare > 50:14 - Keep The Groovin' [Streets Of Rage] by Koshiro > 53:30 - Specialist [Persona 4] by Meguro > 55:36 - Welcome To Bukki Tower [Super Mario RPG] by Shimomura > 57:11 - Domu Ruins [Grandia] by Iwadare > 01:01:33 - Stray Sheep [Catherine] by Meguro > 01:04:00 - Northwall [ActRaiser Renaissance] by Koshiro > 01:07:43 - A Prayer For The Holy Capital [Heroes of Mana] by Shimomura > 01:11:04 - Misty Ravine [Etrian Odyssey IV] by Koshiro > 01:14:15 - Memories Of The City [Persona 3] by Meguro > 01:16:49 - Mechanical Kingdom [Radiant Historia] by Shimomura > 01:19:58 - The Journey Without End [Last Ranker] by Shimomura > 01:24:03 - Reach For The Front [Lunar: Silver Star Story] by Iwadare > 01:26:58 - Village Of Carbo [Grandia II] by Iwadare > 01:31:44 - Devote For Nature [Radiata Stories] by Iwadare > 01:35:19 - The Days When Mother Was There [Persona 5] by Meguro > 01:39:11 - Main Theme [Senri No Kiffu] by Iwadare > www.pixelbeatpod.com > 

Greetings, Gamers! For this episode we're joined once again by Skeletroy as we go through the NES library (plus a couple of bonus Bat-tracks) of renowned Sunsoft composer Naoki Kodaka. We have a blast[er Master] discussing one of our very favorite composers who, while he definitely gets attention, is not as widely-known as industry titans like Kondo, Uematsu, and Shimomura. Still, as this episode will show, few could rival the talents of Kodaka and his team in the realm of Very Good Music on the Famicom/NES. Thanks as always to our amazing patrons and the artists who made our show art and theme song. You, too, can become a patron at patreon.com/vgmvgm, and you can reach out to us one of these ways: Discord: https://discord.gg/qpbXPdCf2N Twitter: @VGMpod and @Shootkapow E-mail: verygoodmusicvgm@gmail.com Voicemail: Anchor.com/vgmvgm. You can also leave us a comment on YouTube and while you're at it, please let us know if you like the video, and subscribe and ring the bell to be notified of future episodes! We look forward to hearing from you! Playlist: (all games by Sunsoft, all for the NES except where noted) 10:28 - Main BGM 2 - Batman: The Video Game (TG-16) (1990) 17:34 - Zone Theme 1 - Atlantis no Nazo (1986) 22:38 - Tower/Castle - The Wing of Madoola (1986) 28:52 - Stage 5: Terrorist Hideout - Freedom Force (1988) 36:28 - Area 2- Blaster Master (1988) 43:21 - Boss Battle - Fester's Quest (1989) 53:07 - Stage 3 - Journey to Silius (1990) 1:01:49 - Stage 1-2: The Office - Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 1:12:56 - Slippery Slope - Uforia: The Saga (1991) 1:21:09 - Ending theme - Batman: The Video Game (GB) (1990) Links mentioned in show: Skeletroy's Journey to Silius Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMDd3tSfLEk BGMania Kodaka Episode: https://anchor.fm/bgmania/episodes/Composer-Appreciation-Naoki-Kodaka-e1272ns/a-a5pn5de Shmupulations Interview: http://shmuplations.com/sunsoftmusic/ Special thanks to our Patrons: Alex Messenger, host of A VGM Journey Skeletroy, creator of SNES Thrash Remixes on YouTube Ryan Steel, composer of Catlandia: Crisis at Fort PawPrint "Kung Fu" Carlito, host of Heroes Three: Adventures in Asian Cinema Forrest Shamlian, creator of Castle Corp and Bomb Show on YouTube SprintCade The Mysterious Nathan Artist Links: Naomi Rubin - patreon.com/naomirubin | comics at moonsproutstation.com Carlos Leon Roman - Instagram.com/kf_carlito Ben "The Diad" Dishman - @TheDiad Skeletroy - patreon.com/skeletroy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/vgmvgm/message

The whole crew watches the 2005 Japanese fantasy action film. The directorial debut of Yûji Shimomura, mostly known for action choreography and starring Tak Sakaguchi and the awesome hair of Kentaro Seagal.

For two years, super-hacker Kevin Mitnick eludes the FBI by living under a series of false identities. But in a fit of hubris, he hacks Tsutomu Shimomura, one of the country’s leading computer security experts. It’s hacker vs. hacker as Shimomura sets out to do what the FBI can’t: stop Kevin Mitnick once and for all.Listen to new episodes 1 week early and ad free, and access exclusive seasons of American Innovations with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/innovations.Support us by supporting our sponsors! Peloton - Go to onepeloton.com to learn more. ZipRecruiter - Try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at ziprecruiter.com/ai.

Daniel Rosenqvist skrev merparten av 198X-soundtracket tillsammans med sin kollega Anton Dromberg. I Tredje Gången Gillt 314 snackar han om Yoko Shimomuras arbetsmoral, David Wises vänliga lynne, Secret of Mana, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time och vad det är som gör japansk spelmusik så...japansk.

On February 19, 1942 Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 after the tragic Pearl Harbor attack. Over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into concentration camps. Today, we had the chance to speak with Yukio Shimomura, one of the survivors from these camps. Our conversation focuses on the recent hate crimes happening around the United States against the Asian community and patriotism in a time of injustice. Music Composed by Jaimie Pangan. oursmallmajority.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/our-small-majority/message

Welcome to the EXP Podcast hosted by Tim Burroughs and co-hosts Kem Yaralioglu and Luan Vetoreti. Each episode we will have 2 guests join us to talk about various topics related to Environment Art. This episode features Ray Vanderhaegen, Junior Environment Artist at nDreams and Kenji Shimomura, Environment Artist at Rebellion. https://www.artstation.com/holygan https://www.artstation.com/rookieray Intro Music by A Himitsu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQjgHuUDWU&feature=youtu.be https://www.exp-points.com Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/exppoints Discord - https://discord.gg/hdv6ZEb Twitter - https://twitter.com/exp_points_int Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/experiencepoints.international LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/experiencepoints/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/experiencepointsinternational/

La bioluminiscencia es la capacidad que tienen algunos seres vivos –como las luciérnagas y medusas– para emitir luz. Este proceso ha fascinado a nuestra especie desde la antigüedad y el trabajo de un científico japonés que sobrevivió al bombardeo de Nagasaki abrió la puerta a la comprensión del mecanismo de emisión de luz de una medusa que décadas más tarde generó toda una revolución en la biología celular de finales del siglo 20. Esa revolución reconoció a tres investigadores con el premio Nobel de química del año 2008, pero un nombre quedó fuera y su historia nos enseña una lección muy importante sobre el mérito y el reconocimiento en ciencias. De luces y sombras es la historia de hoy en La Ciencia Pop *** La Ciencia Pop cuenta con el auspicio de CGESTA, gerenciamiento e inspección técnica de alta eficiencia para proyectos de construcción, con más de 2 millones de metros cuadrados de experiencia en los ámbitos de retail, industrial, oficinas, salud, educación e inmobiliario. Para más información, visite la página www.cgesta.cl ***Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/LaCienciaPop)

¡¡¡Xenogamers!!! buenas noticias, ya tenéis a vuestra entera disposición una nueva entrega de nuestro podcast. En él podréis encontrar secciones como: Xenogames Responde. Reseña de Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ por Enrique. Xenoculto, repasamos la vida de Y?ko Shimomura. Noticias Chorra. Now Playing. Xenoventas. No olvidéis dejarnos vuestros comentarios de que os ha parecido el podcast. ¡¡¡A disfrutarlo!!!

We pay our respects to one of the best composers in the video game industry. On the panel: Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek Talk Nintendo Host - Perry Burkum Twitter: @TheThirstyMage Discord: discord.gg/kwR9kxC Email: David@TheThirstyMage.com

Hard to believe it, but 1999 was 20 years ago, so we decided this was the time to revisit some of our favorites from the end of that wonderful decade! We've got cancelled cartoons, cancelled David Fleming, games we've been mispronouncing, systems that were never popular, fishing with metal bands, a sequel that is definitely different than it's predecessor, and of course, AWESOME VGM TUNES! Enjoy! Check out our Patreon page! Patreon.com/GameThatTune is the home for exclusive content! We've got Jessie's Covered Up, John H's GTT GEMS and great new stuff in the works, including more movie commentaries and more game streaming, so check out the page and consider supporting the show as we attempt to grow and create more great stuff! Special thanks to our super-fan tier Patreon producers: Alex Messenger, Lance Riviere, Damian Beckles, Bradford Stephens, Daniel Perkey, and xxCRONOxx! Our 24/7 VGM stream has been online for over a year! Check out our YouTube channel for a radio station featuring games we've used on the show! We've loaded up over 700 soundtracks in our stream and have more coming all the time! New episodes of Game That Tune record LIVE on Wednesdays at 9 PM EST on numerous platforms: Twitch Facebook Twitter YouTube The show takes podcast form and becomes available for download Wednesday mornings! Find it on iTunes or GameThatTune.com and enjoy! We always want to hear from you, especially if you have a request! Email us at GameThatTune@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or on Twitter @GameThatTune

Hard to believe it, but 1999 was 20 years ago, so we decided this was the time to revisit some of our favorites from the end of that wonderful decade! We've got cancelled cartoons, cancelled David Fleming, games we've been mispronouncing, systems that were never popular, fishing with metal bands, a sequel that is definitely different than it's predecessor, and of course, AWESOME VGM TUNES! Enjoy! Check out our Patreon page! Patreon.com/GameThatTune is the home for exclusive content! We've got Jessie's Covered Up, John H's GTT GEMS and great new stuff in the works, including more movie commentaries and more game streaming, so check out the page and consider supporting the show as we attempt to grow and create more great stuff! Special thanks to our super-fan tier Patreon producers: Alex Messenger, Lance Riviere, Damian Beckles, Bradford Stephens, Daniel Perkey, and xxCRONOxx! Our 24/7 VGM stream has been online for over a year! Check out our YouTube channel for a radio station featuring games we've used on the show! We've loaded up over 700 soundtracks in our stream and have more coming all the time! New episodes of Game That Tune record LIVE on Wednesdays at 9 PM EST on numerous platforms: Twitch Facebook Twitter YouTube The show takes podcast form and becomes available for download Wednesday mornings! Find it on iTunes or GameThatTune.com and enjoy! We always want to hear from you, especially if you have a request! Email us at GameThatTune@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or on Twitter @GameThatTune

In 2008, he shared the Nobel prize in chemistry for his work with green fluorescent protein. Its best known application? “It’s the reason they give in the movie for why Bruce Banner, when he gets angry, turns into the Hulk and becomes green.” Is it any wonder he’s proud? An episode from our vault, recut, remixed, refinanced, or something.

Episode 248 is a brief overview and breakdown on the all new formula for ProjectAD's RAGING FULL! This is their intra workout carbohydrate and hydration blend that has some awesome new aspects to it! This is a brief overview which should help you guys understand why I am a huge fan of this new formula! There will be an extreme in depth breakdown in the future for those science nerds like me that LOVE the details!   INTRAWORKOUT CARBOHYDRATE/AMINO ACID REFERENCES Bird SP, et al. Liquid carbohydrates/essential amino acid ingestion during a short-term bout of resistance exercise suppresses myofibrillar protein degradation. Metabolism. 2006 May;55(5):570-7.   Bloom PC, et al.  Effect of different post-exercise sugar diets on the rate of muscle glycogen synthesis.  Med Sci Sports Exerc.  1987 Oct;19(5):491-6.   Desbrow B, et al. Carbohydrate-electrolyte feedings and 1h time trial cycling performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Oct;14(5):541-9.   Erith S, et al.  The effect of high carbohydrate meals with different glycemic indices on recovery of performance during prolonged   Haff GG, et al. Carbohydrate supplementation and resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Feb;17(1):187-96.   Ivy JL, et al. Muscle glycogen synthesis after exercise: effect of time of carbohydrate ingestion. J Appl Physiol. 1988 Apr;64(4):1480-5.   Jentjens RL, et al.  Oxidation of combined ingestion of glucose and fructose during exercise.  J Apply Physiol.  2004 Apr;96(4):1277-84.   Jentjens RL, et al.  Oxidation of exogenous glucose, sucrose and maltose during prolonged cycling exercise.  J Apply Physiol.  2004 Apr;96(4):1285-91.   Jentjens RL, Jeukendrup AE.  High rates of exogenous carbohydrate oxidation from a mixture of glucose and fructose ingested during prolonged cycling exercise.  Br J Nutr.  2005 Apr;93(4):485-92   Jeukendrup AE. Carbohydrate during exercise and performance. Nutrition. 2004 Jul-Aug;20(7-8):669-77.   Keizer HA, et al.  Influence of liquid and solid meals on muscle glycogen resynthesis, plasma fuel hormone response, and maximal physical working capacity.  Int J Sports Med.  1987 Apr;8(2):99-104. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25080121 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/fstr/21/3/21_499/_html   Ferrando, A.A., et al., Oral branched-chain amino acids decrease whole-body proteolysis. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition, 1995. 19(1): p. 47-54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7658600   Ruderman, N.B., et al., Regulation of alanine formation and release in rat muscle in vivo: effect of starvation and diabetes. The American journal of physiology, 1977. 233(2): p. E109-14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/888947   Shimomura, Y., et al., Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise. The Journal of nutrition, 2004. 134(6 Suppl): p. 1583S-1587S. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15173434   Fujii, H., et al., Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase content in rat skeletal muscle is decreased by endurance training. Biochemistry and molecular biology international, 1998. 44(6): p. 1211-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9623776   Lamont, L.S., et al., Comparison of leucine kinetics in endurance-trained and sedentary humans. Journal of applied physiology, 1999. 86(1): p. 320-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9887146   Wagenmakers, A.J., et al., Carbohydrate supplementation, glycogen depletion, and amino acid metabolism during exercise. The American journal of physiology, 1991. 260(6 Pt 1): p. E883-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2058665   Louard, R.J., et al., Effect of infused branched-chain amino acids on muscle and whole-body amino acid metabolism in man. Clinical science, 1990. 79(5): p. 457-66. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2174312   Gualano, A.B., et al., Branched-chain amino acids supplementation enhances exercise capacity and lipid oxidation during endurance exercise after muscle glycogen depletion. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2011. 51(1): p. 82-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21297567   Shimomura, Y., et al., Branched-chain amino acid supplementation before squat exercise and delayed-onset muscle soreness. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 2010. 20(3): p. 236-44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20601741 Coombes, J.S. and L.R. McNaughton, Effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase after prolonged exercise. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2000. 40(3): p. 240-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11125767   Bolster, D.R., et al., Regulation of protein synthesis associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy by insulin-, amino acid- and exercise-induced signalling. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2004. 63(2): p. 351-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15294054   Atherton, P.J., et al., Distinct anabolic signalling responses to amino acids in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Amino acids, 2010. 38(5): p. 1533-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19882215   Kimball, S.R. and L.S. Jefferson, Signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms through which branched-chain amino acids mediate translational control of protein synthesis. The Journal of nutrition, 2006. 136(1 Suppl): p. 227S-31S. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16365087   Gran, P. and D. Cameron-Smith, The actions of exogenous leucine on mTOR signalling and amino acid transporters in human myotubes. BMC physiology, 2011. 11: p. 10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21702994   Greiwe, J.S., et al., Leucine and insulin activate p70 S6 kinase through different pathways in human skeletal muscle. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 2001. 281(3): p. E466-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11500301   Atherton, P.J., et al., Muscle full effect after oral protein: time-dependent concordance and discordance between human muscle protein synthesis and mTORC1 signaling. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2010. 92(5): p. 1080-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20844073   Matthews, D.E., Observations of branched-chain amino acid administration in humans. The Journal of nutrition, 2005. 135(6 Suppl): p. 1580S-4S. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15930473   Paddon-Jones, D., et al., Amino acid ingestion improves muscle protein synthesis in the young and elderly. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 2004. 286(3): p. E321-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14583440     Wolfe, R.R., Effects of amino acid intake on anabolic processes. Canadian journal of applied physiology = Revue canadienne de physiologie appliquee, 2001. 26 Suppl: p. S220-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11897897   Floyd, J.C., Jr., et al., Evidence That Insulin Release Is the Mechanism for Experimentally Induced Leucine Hypoglycemia in Man. J Clin Invest, 1963. 42: p. 1714-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14083162   Chow, L.S., et al., Mechanism of insulin’s anabolic effect on muscle: measurements of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown using aminoacyl-tRNA and other surrogate measures. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2006. 291(4): p. E729-36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16705065   Shimomura, Y., et al., Nutraceutical effects of branched-chain amino acids on skeletal muscle. The Journal of nutrition, 2006. 136(2): p. 529S-532S. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16424141    •••SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR••• (COACHING) Alex - www.theprepcoach.com   (FREE OPEN FORUM w/ EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS) http://www.theprepcoachforum.com (SUPPLEMENTS) www.projectad.me___use discount code “BFR25” to save off your order! www.maresearchchems.com___use discount code “alex15” to save off your order! www.masupps.com___use discount code “alex20” to save off your order! (INJECTABLE L-CARNITINE) www.synthetek.com___use discount code “alexkikel” to save off your order! (BULK SUPPLEMENTS) www.truenutrition.com___use discount code “AXK5” to save off your order!   •••FIND THE EPISODES••• ITUNES:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beastfitness-radios-podcast/id1065532968 LIBSYN:http://beastfitnessradio.libsyn.com VIMEO: www.vimeo.com/theprepcoach YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrepCoach    •••PREP COACH APPAREL••• https://teespring.com/stores/the-prep-coach-apparel

By God's Method

When you walk away you don’t hear me say pleeeeease listen to this episode! Featuring the verbose Chris of Overthinker Y (aka the Sometimes Vaguely Philosophical Mage), we dig deep into the labyrinth that is Kingdom Hearts, trying to untangle the maze that is the KH series while focusing on the first game. We also discuss the problems of online communication, Squaresoft and Square Enix, how Disney repelled or pulled us in, game rental stores, the similarities and differences between “heart” and “soul”, KH’s fusion of Western and Eastern philosophy, our favorite Disney worlds and films, the incredible compositions by Shimomura, and exactly why you need subtitles for Donald Duck.Website: https://thewellredmage.com/Patreon: www.patreon.com/thewellredmageGuest: https://twitter.com/overthinkery1Cited articles: https://overthinkeryblog.com/2019/01/24/kingdom-hearts-is-light-the-under-the-radar-humanist-tale-part-one-humanism/https://normalhappenings.com/2018/11/21/kingdom-hearts-the-game-that-defines-overthinkery/Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/thewellredmage)

En 2008, los investigadores Shimomura, Chalfie y Tsien recibieron el Premio Nobel de Química “por el descubrimiento y desarrollo de la proteína fluorescente verde GFP”. Este descubrimiento tuvo su origen en la fluorescencia natural de la medusa Aequorea victoria, un ser que se agrupa en enormes cantidades en las aguas del Pacífico que bañan las costas de Norteamérica y las ilumina con un pálido resplandor azulado. El descubrimiento de GFP permitió desarrollar métodos para integrar la proteína en las células e iluminar los procesos bioquímicos que tienen lugar en ella. En el equipo de Robert Tsien, recientemente fallecido, trabajaba en nuestro invitado, Juan F. Llopis, director del Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB) de la Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha. Hoy hablamos con él de proteinas fluorescentes.

Dr. Jon Pierce-Shimomura, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas Austin talks about their unique program that pairs neuroscience graduate students with those that suffer from neurological diseases to better understand the whole patient and provide opportunities for everyone to learn about treating the ill and disabled. #neuroscience @SfNTweets #SfN16 University of Texas Austin Graduate School of Neuroscience

It's that time again here at the Retro VGM Revival hour, where you, the fellow listener, have entered another BONUS STAGE. Time to take a little break from the action and distract yourself with something to reward your progress thus far. These are just a selection of random tracks of the past and present as a reward for showing much love and respect to the art of Video Game Music. So sit back and Listen to some amazing tracks to get you excited to take on whatever lies a head. =====Game - Composer - Title - Year - Company - System==== 1.) UnderTale - Toby Fox - “Death by Glamour, Spider Dance & Bonetrousle " - September 15, 2015 - tobyfox - Windows & Mac OS X 2.) Dragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Frieza - Takeshi Ichida - "Space Map & Gravity Machine - August 10, 1991 (Japan Only) - TOSE/Bandai - NES (Famicom) 3.) Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam - Yōko Shimomura - "Big Bang! (Boss Theme)” - January 22, 2016- AlphaDream/Nintendo - 3DS 4.) Super Spy Hunter - Naoki Kodaka, Nobuyuki Hara & Shinichi Seya - "Ending (Staff Roll)” - September 27, 1991 - Sunsoft - NES 5.) Borderlands 2 (Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep DLC) - Raison Varner, Sascha Dikiciyan, Cris Velasco, Kevin Riepl & Jesper Kyd - “Battling the Handsome Sorcerer” - September 18, 2012 (original game)/June 25, 2013 (DLC release date) - Gearbox Software/2K Games - PC,PS3,Xbox 360, Playstation Vita, OS X & Linux 6.) Project X Zone 2 - Yuzo Koshiro - “You Will Know Our Names” - November 12, 2015 - Monolith Soft/Bandai Namco Entertainment - 3DS 7.) Mega Man Battle & Chase - Yoshinori Ono - “Over The Top (Theme of Rockman/Mega Man)” - March 20, 1997 - Capcom - Sony Playstation, PS2 & Gamecube (as part of the Mega Man X collection 8.) Super Street Fighter 2 TURBO - Isao Abe & Syun Nishigaki - “Cammy's Theme- November 13, 1994 - Capcom/Panasonic - Panasonic 3DO 9.) Super Turrican - Manfred Trenz (which David Whittaker helped by giving Manfred his sound driver) (Arranged Originally by Chris Hülsbeck & Markus Siebold) - “Title Screen & Stages 2-3/4-2" - 1992 (Europe Only) - Rainbow Arts/Imagineer - NES 10.) Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number - Magna - “Divide“ - March 10, 2015 - Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital - Windows, OS X, PS3, PS4, Playstation Vita & Android 11.) The Adventures of Batman & Robin - Jesper Kyd - “Boss Battle (Robo Cheshire Cat) & Boss Battle (Harley Quinn)“ - 1995 - Clockwork Tortoise/SEGA - Sega Genesis 12.) Freedom Planet - Leila Wilson, Stephen DiDuro & Shane Ellis - “Final Dreadnought 1" - July 21, 2014 - GalaxyTrail - Windows, OS X, Linux & Wii U 13.) God Hand - Masafumi Takada - "Sunset Heroes & God Hand (English)” - September 14, 2006 - Clover Studio/Capcom - PS2 14.) Mario Strikers Charged - Mike Peacock, Darren Radtke, Chad York, Scott McFadyen & Davor Vulama - "Peach's Theme & Daisy's Theme” - July 30, 2007 - Next Level Games/Nintendo - Nintendo Wii Edgar Velasco: @MoonSpiderHugs FB: www.facebook.com/groups/vgmrevivalhour/ Tumblr: retro-vgm-revival-hour.tumblr.com/

George Tait Edwards delivers a lecture on the life and times of Dr Osamu Shimomura (1910-1989) and his Harrod-Domar Model of a High Growth, Low Inflation Japanese Economy. The lecture all examines what the west might learn from this great Japanese economist.The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/elizabeths-ghost-the-afterlife-of-the-queen-in-the-stuart-eraGresham College has been giving free public lectures since 1597. This tradition continues today with all of our five or so public lectures a week being made available for free download from our website. There are currently over 1,700 lectures free to access or download from the website.Website: http://www.gresham.ac.ukTwitter: http://twitter.com/GreshamCollegeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/greshamcollege

REJUGANDO THE KING OF DRAGONS Celebramos nuestro 2º aniversario (entre otras cosas) y lo hacemos con un título que lo merece. Uno de los arcade de Capcom que sentaron precedentes. Elfos, Orcos, Magos, Guerreros, Esqueletos y como no, Dragones en un beat'm up legendario de CPS1. Vamos a hablar de Capcom, de Kinu Nishimura, la autora de los ArtWorks, de la música de Shimomura y de otras muchas cosas que giran alrededor del título y su temática. Por supuesto desgranaremos el juego, versiones y leeremos vuestros recuerdos sobre él. Para el próximo episodio toca hablar de DONKEY KONG COUNTRY

REJUGANDO THE KING OF DRAGONS Celebramos nuestro 2º aniversario (entre otras cosas) y lo hacemos con un título que lo merece. Uno de los arcade de Capcom que sentaron precedentes. Elfos, Orcos, Magos, Guerreros, Esqueletos y como no, Dragones en un beat'm up legendario de CPS1. Vamos a hablar de Capcom, de Kinu Nishimura, la autora de los ArtWorks, de la música de Shimomura y de otras muchas cosas que giran alrededor del título y su temática. Por supuesto desgranaremos el juego, versiones y leeremos vuestros recuerdos sobre él. Para el próximo episodio toca hablar de DONKEY KONG COUNTRY

Este programa lo dedicamos al festejo de los 25 años de carrera de esta gran compositora, además escucharemos temas de su más reciente disco Memoria que reconoce el gran trabajo de una de las más importantes compositoras de música de videojuegos en Japón. Si te gusta la musica de Kingdom Hearts, Parasite Eve o Street Fighter no debes perderte este capítulo.

Este programa lo dedicamos al festejo de los 25 años de carrera de esta gran compositora, además escucharemos temas de su más reciente disco Memoria que reconoce el gran trabajo de una de las más importantes compositoras de música de videojuegos en Japón. Si te gusta la musica de Kingdom Hearts, Parasite Eve o Street Fighter no debes perderte este capítulo.

It's in your coffee, it's in your candles, and now it's in your favorite RPG music podcast.

El ministro japonés para las Olimpiadas, Shimomura, ha anunciado que el presupuesto para la construcción del Estadio Olímpico de Tokio 2020 se triplica...para llegar a los 2242 M€. Hoy repasamos esos estadios que se han construido en los últimos años y reflexionamos sobre su coste y uso...y la hipoteca para clubes, ciudades, países, etc...

Roger Shimomura, artist