Episode 41 - Striking from the Shadows

FromHistory of Japan

Start listening View podcast show

Episode 41 - Striking from the Shadows

FromHistory of Japan

ratings:

Length:

23 minutes

Released:

Feb 14, 2014

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

This week, we're going to discuss the ninja, or at least what we can discern about them from the limited information that's out there. We'll discuss their origins, historic exploits, and the mythologization that turned them into the pop culture warriors we know and love today.

Released:

Feb 14, 2014

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

A weekly podcast on Japanese history, covering everything from prehistory to the modern era. Additional information available at the podcast blog, at www.historyofjapan.wordpress.com

Skip carousel

Episode 4 - The Golden Age of Heian: This week's episode will discuss the Heian Period (794-1185), one of the golden ages of Japanese history. We'll talk about the politics and culture of the period, covering the structure of government, literary styles, and why it is that I think the... by History of Japan
18 min listen
Episode 11 - The End of an Era: This week, we'll be talking about the period called the Bakumatsu, or the end of the Bakufu. We'll be tracing a complex, but very interesting narrative describing how the Tokugawa went from masters of all they surveyed to defeat and destruction in a... by History of Japan
27 min listen
Episode 3 - The First Capitol: Today we will be discussing the Asuka and Nara periods, and the formation of a centralized, Chinese-style government based in a permanent capitol city. There's intrigue, backstabbing, and stories about poop; should be fun! by History of Japan
18 min listen
Episode 6 - A New Order: This week we will cover the structure of the Kamakura bakufu, the Hojo triumph over the Mongols, the fall of the Hojo, and their replacement by the Ashikaga family. We'll also cover some cultural developments in the fields of Buddhism and Noh... by History of Japan
23 min listen
Episode 12 - Civilization and Enlightenment: This week, we're going to cover the early Meiji Period (1868-1900 or so). We'll be covering a wide range of topics, ranging from international relations to politics to social developments. This is one of the most interesting and tumultuous periods in... by History of Japan
27 min listen
Episode 10 - A Day in the Life of Edo Japan: This week, I'll be talking about the life of the average city-dweller in the Edo Period. This is a very wide-ranging episode, covering everything from the schools in which young samurai were trained to the kabuki-based prostitution which those same... by History of Japan
28 min listen
Episode 24 - In Buddha's Name: The Rise and Fall of the Ikko Ikki, Part 2: We'll be wrapping up our discussion of the Ikko Ikki this week, as the unstoppable force of the militant wing of Jodo Shinshu meets the immovable objects of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga. What follows is a tale of treachery, war, and revenge worthy... by History of Japan
25 min listen
Episode 8 - The Three Unifiers: This week, we will be discussing the reunification of Sengoku Japan under the three Sengoku Unifiers -- Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. We will be discussing the trajectory of their careers and the nature of their characters.... by History of Japan
27 min listen
Episode 15 - The Homefront: This week, we'll be discussing domestic developments in Japan, and the path by which a reasonably (if not totally) liberal democracy in the 1910s and 1920s morphed into a military dictatorship in the 1930s. We'll talk about the various means by which... by History of Japan
21 min listen
Episode 2 - A Kingdom Called Wa: In this second episode, we discuss the earliest periods of Japanese history (the Jomon, Yayoi and Tumulus/Kofun periods), covering the years from prehistory to 538 AD. It's a long haul to cover! by History of Japan
13 min listen
Episode 5 - Dream on a Spring Night: This week, we will be covering the fall of the Heian system, the massive Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira families, and the rise of the first shogunal government (called a bakufu) under the auspices of the brutal Minamoto no Yoritomo. by History of Japan
19 min listen
Episode 49 - The History of Video Games: This week, join us for a very special podcast where we talk about the rise and not-quite-fall of Japan's video game industry. We'll cover the histories of the major Japanese gaming companies, and even discuss my own very tangential involvement in... by History of Japan
23 min listen
Episode 34 - Japan and Okinawa, Part II: This week we'll finish up our two-parter on Japanese-Okinawan relations with a look at Okinawa during the Imperial Period. We'll be focusing heavily on the bloody Battle of Okinawa, and then wrap things up by looking at the relationship between the... by History of Japan
21 min listen
Episode 16 - And Then the War Came: We've arrived, finally, at the Pacific War -- this week, we'll be charting the course Japan took to war, briefly summarizing the cours of said war, and then discussing how the war ended. by History of Japan
33 min listen
Episode 22 - The Way of the Warrior: For our first listener-submitted topic, we're tackling Bushido: the warrior code of the samurai class. We'll discuss the evolution of the bushido ideology, the role it played during the ages of warfare in Japan as well as during the Tokugawa, and its... by History of Japan
23 min listen
Episode 1 - Introduction: Welcome to our introductory episode! Today we will be covering the basic ideas behind this podcast, including: Who I am What I'm planning to do here Why you should care about history Why Japanese history is important What I need from you, my... by History of Japan
5 min listen
Episode 18 - Enduring the Unendurable: This week's episode is an overview of the Allied Occupation of Japan. In just seven years (1945-1952), the Allies undertook a massive effort to overhaul Japan's politics, economy, and society. We'll discuss the ways in which they tried to do so, and... by History of Japan
28 min listen
Episode 26 - The History of Manga: This week, we're going to talk about the evolution of manga. We'll discuss the roots of the comic form in Japan, both Eastern and Western, and its rapid explosion in popularity after World War II. by History of Japan
22 min listen
Episode 13 - Take Me Out to the Shiai: This week, it's time for a story of triumph and tragedy, racism and acceptance, international relations, and most importantly: baseball! by History of Japan
21 min listen
Episode 7 - Descent into Chaos: This week, we're going to cover the fall of the Ashikaga and the early Sengoku period (rougly 1400-1550 AD). I'll also be briefly discussing the arrival of Westerners and the rise of the militant Ikko Ikki movement. Enjoy! by History of Japan
19 min listen
Episode 33 - Japan and Okinawa, Part 1: This week, we'll begin a two-part series on the relationship between Japan and what is now her southernmost province: Okinawa. We'll cover the founding of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus, its relationship with Japan, and finally its incorporation into the... by History of Japan
20 min listen
Episode 23 - In Buddha's Name: The Rise and Fall of the Ikko Ikki, Part 1: For our first two-part episode, we're going to discuss the Ikko Ikki, a militant insurrection of believers in the faith of Jodo Shinshu, or True Pure Land Buddhism. We'll discuss the rise of the movement to political and military prominence during the... by History of Japan
26 min listen
Episode 9 - Pax Tokugawa: This week we will be covering the social and political structure of Edo Japan. There's a lot of interesting material to go through, ranging from the social system (hint: it's good to be a samurai [but not as good as you might think]) to the foreign... by History of Japan
23 min listen
Episode 27 - The Way of Yin and Yang: This week, we're discussing Onmyodo, the mystical study of divination based off of the theories of yin and yang (in-yo or on-myo in Japanese). We'll be covering the entire history of the practice, including its most famous practitioner: Abe no Seimei.... by History of Japan
19 min listen
Episode 20 - Japan as Number One: This week, we'll be talking about the height of postwar Japan during the 1970s and 1980s. On the surface, it's a time of great accomplishment when the dream of catching up to the West had finally been realizing. Looking deeper, however, we find the... by History of Japan
25 min listen
Episode 25 - The Shadow Shogun: This week we will be discussing the great political wheeler and dealer of modern Japanese politics: Tanaka Kakuei. We will trace the rise of this man of the people, the heights of his power, and his eventual fall from grace, as well as discussing his... by History of Japan
29 min listen
Episode 37 - Women Warriors: This week, we'll be tackling an oft-requested topic; women warriors in the samurai class. Contrary to what you might think, women were actually very active in the roughly 800 years that make up the dominant time of the samurai class. Today, we'll be... by History of Japan
23 min listen
Episode 19 - Rising from the Ashes: This week, we're going to discuss the postwar strategy that enabled Japan to revive itself after World War II. In 1952, most observers believed Japan would become a mid-rank regional power on the same order as Sweden; by 1970 it was clear that would... by History of Japan
21 min listen
Episode 31 - The First Shogun: This week, we're going to take a look at the man credited with one of the greatest epochal changes in Japanese history: the shift from imperial to samurai government in the late 12th century. It's time for the life and legacy of Minamoto no Yoritomo! by History of Japan
25 min listen
Episode 72 - The Slow and Steady Step, Part 1: This week, join us for part one of the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu. A brilliant and ambitious man, Ieyasu began his life as a hostage for the good behavior of his middling-rank family. By 1584, however, he would be in position to make his first bid for power. by History of Japan
27 min listen

More Episodes from History of Japan

Skip carousel

Episode 535 - The Road to Disaster: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the descent towards the Second World War. Why did the leadership of imperial Japan start a war many of them were aware they were unlikely to win? And how did the failures of the Meiji system... by History of Japan
41 min listen
Episode 534 - The Imperial Democracy: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: during the 1920s, Japan's political system became more democratic and representative--an "imperial democracy" that evolved out of the Meiji system. How did this happen, and why did those... by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 533 - At the Table or On the Table: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: Japan joins the ranks of the great powers by building its own colonial empire. How did Japan come to be a great colonial power, what made its empire different from the others of the age, and... by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 532 - Cash Rules Everything Around Me: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the economics of Meiji Japan, and a brief foray into social attitudes towards Westernization. How did Japan transform itself from being largely cut off from the world economy to central to it... by History of Japan
39 min listen
Episode 531 - The New Japan: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the politics of the Meiji Period! After a coalition of samurai, nobles, loyalists, and others succeed in overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate, they must ask themselves: what comes next? And, in... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 530 - Bakumatsu, Part 3: This week: the age of feudalism comes crashing down, as in the span of just two years the Tokugawa shogunate goes from victory to crushing defeat. How did the final years of Tokugawa rule play out? Show notes . by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 529 - Bakumatsu, Part 2: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the sudden assassination of the tairo Ii Naosuke sparks the rapid ascension of imperial loyalism, an ideology devoted to the undoing of the unequal treaties and the overthrow of the shogunate.... by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 528 - Bakumatsu, Part 1: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the beginning of the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Commodore Perry's expedition to Edo will begin a process of radical political change as a teetering Tokugawa shogunate is forced to confront... by History of Japan
39 min listen
Episode 527 - The Beginning of the End: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: crises about during the late Edo period. A crisis of samurai identity! Questions around vengeance, honor, and duty! And of course, the most confounding subject of them all: macroeconomics. But... by History of Japan
39 min listen
Episode 526 - The Outside World and Tokugawa Japan: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: "closed country" isn't quite the full story. How did Japan maintain its connections to the outside world during the Edo Period? And how do some of those connections, particularly in the... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 525 - A Day in the Life of Tokugawa Japan: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: what was life in the Edo period like? We cover everything from food to school to entertainment as we talk through daily life in Tokugawa-ruled Japan. Show notes . by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 524 - The Tokugawa System: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: how did the Tokugawa bakufu operate? What did the political structure of the shoguns look like? And what makes the Tokugawa era unique in the history of warrior rule in Japan? Show notes . by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 523 - Reunification, Part 3: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: Hideyoshi may have brought peace, but Tokugawa Ieyasu would be the one to make it lasting. How did Ieyasu seize power from Hideyoshi, and what did he do to secure it? Show notes . by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 522 - Reunification, Part 2: With Nobunaga dead, we turn our attention to one of his generals: Hashiba Hideyoshi, who would take up leadership of the former Oda lands and within the course of a decade complete Japan's reunification. What do we know about the man and motives... by History of Japan
39 min listen
Episode 521 - Reunification, Part 1: This week on the Revised Intro to Japanese History: the beginning of the end of the age of war and the rise of Oda Nobunaga. How did Nobunaga go from the ruler of less than a single province to the most powerful man in Japan in just a few decades? And... by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 520 - The Age of Chaos: This week on the Revised Intro to Japanese History: the social, religious, and economic changes of the Sengoku period. Though this is an age of civil war, it's also an age of tremendous growth and change, and one that will lay the groundwork of much... by History of Japan
35 min listen
Episode 519 - The Low Conquers the High, Part 2: This week, we look at the flip side of the chaos of the Sengoku era in the form of two clans that rose to prominence from obscurity during the age of civil war. The first half is focused on the Mori family of western Honshu, while the second is... by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 518 - The Low Conquers the High, Part 1: This week on the Revised Introduction to Japanese History: our first foray into the age of civil war! We're looking to understand the conflicts of the Sengoku by examining the rapid falls from power during this time of the Yamana and Hosokawa... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 517 - The Center Cannot Hold: This week: the Muromachi bakufu comes crashing down, thanks to a combination of structural weaknesses and a shogun who is more interested in painting than politics. As a result, Japan enters a new age of civil war, which will radically reshape the... by History of Japan
34 min listen
Episode 516 - From the Ashes: This week: Go-Daigo's regime collapses, and a second samurai government, the Muromachi bakufu, emerges. How did Ashikaga Takauji successfully establish Japan's second shogunate--and perhaps set it up for long term failure in the bargain? Show notes . by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 515 - Slouching Towards Kyoto: This week: the dramatic career of Emperor Go-Daigo, who brought down the Kamakura shogunate and ended Hojo rule in Japan. This despite the fact that just a few months before victory, his forces were on the verge of defeat! Show notes . by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 514 - The Structure of Medieval Japan: This week, we're taking a look at some of the economic and social structures of Kamakura period Japan in order to answer the question: just what makes medieval Japan so...medieval? Also, I'll be taking next week off for the New Year. See you all in... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 513 - The Specter of the Continent: This week: why did the Mongols invade Japan? How did a seemingly invincible military machine falter in its assaults on the island of Kyushu? And why, in the long term, did the Mongol invasions begin the process of bringing down the Kamakura shogunate?... by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 512 - The New Buddhisms: This week: the advent of the medieval era brings with it new strands of Buddhism that will radically remake the image of the religion from an aristocratic faith to a distinctly Japanese one. So, how do the wildly different beliefs of Zen, Pure Land,... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 511 - Tipping the Balance: This week: the rise of the Minamoto clan, the destruction of the Taira clan, and the birth of a new kind of political arrangement in the form of Japan's first shogunate. Show notes . by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 510 - The Rise of the Warriors: This week, we're covering the beginnings of the rise of the samurai class by looking at the wars of the 1000s, as well as the Hogen and Heiji conflicts which secured the role of the military class in national politics. Show notes . by History of Japan
41 min listen
Episode 509 - The Golden Age of Heian: This week, we turn our attention to two of the defining institutions of the Heian period, both of which will be very important for us going forward. First are the shoen, or private estates, the growth of which led to the fragmentation and... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 508 - The Culture of Classical Japan, Part 2: This week on the podcast, we're all about literature. We'll be exploring the varieties of poetry and prose that have made the Heian period one of the golden ages of literary flourishing in Japanese history. Show notes . by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 507 - The Culture of Classical Japan, Part 1: This week, we take a step away from politics to talk about two crucial subjects. First, we have the evolution of the Japanese language and its incorporation of Chinese influence. Second, we have the evolution of Buddhism and the arrival of two... by History of Japan
35 min listen
Episode 506 - The Peaceful City: This week in the Revised History of Japan: in a bid to strengthen the power of the imperial family, Emperor Kanmu moves the imperial capital one more time to some newfangled place called "Heian-kyo." Plus, the political battle between the imperial... by History of Japan
37 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

What are ninja?: Ninja, Japanese warriors famous for stealth, deception and sabotage, were inspired by Chinese military philosophy. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the origins, history, gear and popularity of the ninja in this episode. by Stuff You Should Know
33 min listen
Creepiest Monsters of Southeast Asia (With Creepy Conversations Podcast): We invited Nikki and Kalai from the Creepy Conversations podcast to come on our show and creep us out. by Ancient History Fangirl
78 min listen
The Ninja by Short History Of...
51 min listen
25. Skinny Skinwalkers: This week we're talking about Skinwalkers. What a… by Cryptid Campfire
60 min listen
Robert J. Antony, "Rats, Cats, Rogues, and Heroes: Glimpses of China's Hidden Past" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023): An interview with Robert J. Antony by New Books in Chinese Studies
49 min listen
Hero Props vs. Fake Props by Imaginary Worlds
32 min listen
49: Strigoi | Beyond Dracula: The Real History of Vampires by Black Cat Report | UFOs, Cryptids, True Crime & Paranormal
54 min listen
221: UFO Culture with Author Sarah Scoles: Whenever we talk about UFO’s, there’s a lot we can unpack. An entire UFO culture, really. And we’ve got just the expert journalist and author to help us better understand why we see saucers. Returning guest and friend of the show Sarah... by Casual Space
56 min listen
The UFO People: A Curious Culture w/ MJ Banias | 138 by Hysteria 51
45 min listen
Really Awful Movies: Ep 26 – The Warriors: I'll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a popsicle. The Warriors! Can you dig it? Indeed. Based on Sol Yurickâ€™s book, which drew inspirationÂ from Anabasis by Zenophon, a pupil of Socrates, by The Really Awful Movies Podcast
20 min listen
197 - Tadaaki Hozumi on Japanese Esotericism, Lost Civilizations, and The Singularity (Part 1) by FUTURE FOSSILS
84 min listen
Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre, "Curious about George: Curious George, Cultural Icons, Colonialism, and US Exceptionalism" (UP of Mississippi, 2021) by New Books in Literary Studies
61 min listen
Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre, "Curious about George: Curious George, Cultural Icons, Colonialism, and US Exceptionalism" (UP of Mississippi, 2021): An interview with Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre by New Books in Critical Theory
61 min listen
Bad at Sports Episode 707: Lisa Lapinski: In this week's episode we check in with Houston based artist . On the opening day of the Lapinsky makes time to sit down and talk about , underpants, tobacco, and bingo and a post-Orientalist America. We check in about childhood myths and modernist... by Bad at Sports
57 min listen
“CREEPY SWAMP LEGENDS OF LOUISIANA” and More True Scary Tales! #WeirdDarkness #Darkives: IN THIS EPISODE: We look into the creepy swamps of Louisiana, where gators and snakes are the least of your worries as compared to the paranormal. (Swamp Legends of Louisiana) *** From building fake cities, to creating ghost army bases, to playing... by Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved
69 min listen
Seeing Shadows: On this episode of Expanded Perspectives, the guys start the show off talking about Kyle's recent trip to Six Flags over Texas and how he's too old for that sort of thing. Then, fossil footprints show humans in North America for more than 21,000... by Expanded Perspectives
51 min listen
Episode 247: Shapeshifters: Sign up for our mailing list! We also have t-shirts and mugs with our logo! - Happy Halloween! Let's learn about some shapeshifters of folklore, including the werewolf and kitsune (thanks to Joel, Pranav, and Emma!), and a real-life shapeshifter. by Strange Animals Podcast
17 min listen
Hipsters by American Hysteria
52 min listen
Episode 295 - Into Thin Air: This week, we cover the true story of North Korea's abduction of Japanese civilians. Who was taken, and why? What do we know about their lives in the north? And how does their disappearance still affect the relationship between Japan and North Korea... by History of Japan
34 min listen
Best and Most Bizarre Dinosaurs: Love dinosaurs? Listen in as zinester Rio Safari and librarian Cathy Camper discuss some of the best and most bizarre dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are related to birds, but were they colored like parakeets? What's the deal with T. rex's teeny tiny arms?... by Multnomah County Library Podcasts
16 min listen
Loch Ness Monster Pt 2: Modern Sightings: In the last episode we explored some of the early folklore and mythology behind the monster in the Loch. In todays episode we will look at the modern sightings and accounts that cemented the Loch Ness monster as a mainstay in the Cryptid community,... by Monster Fuzz
56 min listen
BCL Chat: ’Kindred’ and Black SFF Panel Discussion: Hey readers! We're still getting hyped for FX's new series, Kindred. Last time, we gave you a refresher (or possibly an introduction) to Octavia Butler and her work. In this episode, we invited an awesome panel of sci-fi fans and creators to chat abo... by Black Chick Lit
62 min listen
Nick Redfern: Weapons of the Gods: In 1945, the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first and last victims of the atom bomb, the most destructive man-made force our planet has ever known. Or were they just the latest in a long line of Armageddon-level events? Is it... by Earth Ancients
83 min listen
Feed the Need 2018: Next week in Dallas, a group of armed anarchists will - in defiance of local "authorities" - distribute food, clothing and shelters to the local homeless population. I asked the event's founder, Murdoch Pizgatti, to come on the show and discuss the... by The Agora
16 min listen
Jo Piazza & 'The Sicilian Inheritance': Complicated Conversations by Pop Fiction Women
48 min listen
EP124 Philosophy of Gods and Monsters: The Rogue Philosopher Jesse Workman is back to talk about the perception of reality. When reading history, it is easy to forget - or not even consider - that people 500 years ago weren't just more ignorant versions of ourselves; they experienced a realit by Samurai Archives Japanese History Podcast
65 min listen
Ep80 Art Theft: This week, the gals examine some cultural property thefts and what governments do to try to prevent them. Topics include an extremely expensive late-night heist, a ballsy couple who flew WAY under the radar, and some Chinese knockoffs of a different... by Wine & Crime
96 min listen
Killer bees: Journey back to the 1970s, a time of disco and... killer bees, on 'Monsters, Sharks, and Dinosaurs', where we explore creatures that haunt our dreams. Discover how these aggressive insects sparked fear across the Americas and invaded pop culture.From... by Monsters Sharks and Dinosaurs
8 min listen
23. My What A Big, Sexy Brain You Have by Securing Sexuality
34 min listen
Episode 63: What is Indigenous Futurism?: Stories about indigenous people in the Americas often focus on the past, as if there aren't hundreds of indigenous communities alive today. We talk to author Rebecca Roanhorse and journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat about the movement to explore the... by Our Opinions Are Correct
46 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Episode 41 - Striking from the Shadows

Episode 41 - Striking from the Shadows

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from History of Japan

Related podcast episodes