The Tripartite Pact
A History of Japan
As Nazi Germany took the offensive against Poland and the second World War began in Europe, Japan chose to continue its path of closely aligning with fascist western powers in hopes of obtaining powerful allies whom they believed would win this latest global conflict.
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Pacific Positioning
A History of Japan
Japan's colonial possessions throughout the south Pacific proved very profitable, but the close proximity to the colonies of the United States set both nations on a path toward eventual conflict.
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The War At Home
A History of Japan
As the Second Sino-Japanese War raged on, domestic matters in Japan took a turn for the worse as Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro proposed applying colonial policies to the home provinces in the name of supporting the war effort.
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The War with China, Part 2
A History of Japan
The Japanese Imperial Army managed to take Wuhan but found it difficult to keep up their previous momentum as Chinese defensive efforts and counter-insurgency begin to wear on the Japanese supply line and threaten to reverse their previous gains.
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The War with China, Part 1
A History of Japan
After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident which sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy would press on to take Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, driving Chinese defenders back and committing horrific war crimes and atrocities along the way.
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The Imperial Way
A History of Japan
Competing ideas about the Emperor's identity and proper place in the Japanese political order would become especially heated during the tumultuous 1930s and radical adherents of the Imperial Way Faction in the military engaged in a well-organized coup which nearly toppled the civilian government.
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The International Realignment, Part 2
A History of Japan
The Empire of Japan's decision to break with liberal democracies in favor of rising fascist powers was driven, in part, by the successes enjoyed by said fascist powers throughout the 1930s. In this episode, we discuss how their leaders managed to consolidate that power in the first place.
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The International Realignment, Part 1
A History of Japan
After alienating the western liberal democracies with whom they had previously enjoyed friendly relations, the Empire of Japan began exploring new friendship and alliances with the growing fascist powers which were emerging in Europe as the Second Sino-Japanese war began in 1937.
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The Great Withdrawal
A History of Japan
Following its investigation into the Mukden Incident and subsequent Japanese occupation of northeast China, the League of Nations demands that Japan withdraw its troops and return the territory they've seized. Japan responds by withdrawing from the League of Nations.
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The League of Blood
A History of Japan
Japan's conflict with China flares up once again with the Shanghai Incident. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, ultra-nationalist terrorists engage in a widespread campaign of assassination and attempted coups.
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The Making of Manchukuo
A History of Japan
Three years after the assassination of Zhang Zuolin and attempted framing of the KMT, a group of higher-ranking officers within the Kwantung Army staged another false flag attack, which resulted in their conquest of northeast China and the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo.
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The Frame-Up
A History of Japan
In 1928, a group of officers in the Kwantung Army attempted to frame the KMT for their own assassination of Zhang Zuolin. The failed attempts to enforce accountability and discipline which followed set the stage for similar incidents in the future.
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The Great Crash
A History of Japan
Two years prior to the much larger Great Depression, Japan experienced its own financial crisis thanks to the Great Kanto Earthquake, government bonds, and a panicky populace.
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Reaction and Repression
A History of Japan
The elevation of Emperor Showa was accompanied by a wave of reactionary backlash against Taisho Democracy.
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Interview with Quin Cho, author of "The Rise of the Kwantung Army"
A History of Japan
Quin Cho's latest book "The Rise of the Kwantung Army" is coming out on September 18. In this special interview episode, we discuss his upcoming book and the role that gekokujo played in Japan's invasion of northeast China.
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Interview with Kaila Yu, author of "Fetishized"
A History of Japan
Kaila Yu's memoir "Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty" is coming out on August 19. In this special interview episode, we discuss her upcoming book as well as one chapter which specifically highlights the inaccuracies and falsehoods found in the popular novel "Memoirs of a Geisha."
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My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
The Warlord Era - BONUS EPISODE
A History of Japan
China's difficulties continued throughout the Taisho Period as Yuan Shikai died in the midst of a civil war between China's north and south. The Warlord Era saw many colorful characters rise to power, many of whom were betrayed by underlings or defeated by enemies with only slight advantages.
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Taisho Feminism - BONUS EPISODE
A History of Japan
The question of equal rights for women was extremely divisive in Japan during the Taisho Period. A determined group of feminists would try to punch through the controversy through fiction, editorials, debates, and rhetoric. Some would successfully lobby for change; others would pay the ultimate price for challenging the patriarchy.
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Radical Politics - BONUS EPISODE
A History of Japan
The Taisho Period witnessed the coming-of-age for many political parties and movements. This episode focuses on the fringe left during the Taisho Period, who grew and organized in spite of government repression and social stigma.
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The Pax Taishō
A History of Japan
Japan saw its fair share of progress during the Taisho Period but it also saw an increase in the raw cruelty which its armed forces were willing to use in order to preserve their empire.
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Taishō Democracy
A History of Japan
Toward the end of the Taisho Period, the Imperial Diet finally passed a law which established universal suffrage for men 25 and older regardless of tax assessment. Shortly before, however, they also passed a law which would allow law enforcement entities far greater powers of surveillance, harassment, and repression.
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Obligations, Disasters, and Atrocities
A History of Japan
Japan signed a treaty with their fellow Entente Powers which slowed construction on the ever-increasing navies of many nations. In 1923, a terrible earthquake struck the Kanto Region resulting in massive damage and an incredible number of casualties. The atrocity that soon followed, however, only served to increase the tragedy.
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A League of Their Own
A History of Japan
Japan emerges as a major player among world powers as their ambassadors helped finalize the postwar treaties and create a new international body meant to stop large-scale wars before they began: The League of Nations. However, trouble continued brewing on the Korean Peninsula as a new mass movement for national liberation took to the streets.
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A Whole New World
A History of Japan
The new international status quo that emerged after the first World War was very different than what came before, and Japan was poised to become a major new power in this new world.
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The World Goes to War, Part 2
A History of Japan
The eastern front of the first world war was much busier than its western counterpart and the stakes for one nation were much higher. When the war finally ended with the Entente triumphant, Japan was poised to enjoy the advantages of supporting the winning side.
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The Tripartite Pact
31:51
Pacific Positioning
26:23
The War At Home
25:35
The War with China, Part 2
28:07
The War with China, Part 1
25:23
The Imperial Way
27:31
The International Realignment, Part 2
29:42
The International Realignment, Part 1
27:46
The Great Withdrawal
26:10
The League of Blood
25:34
The Making of Manchukuo
25:31
The Frame-Up
23:49
The Great Crash
23:45
Reaction and Repression
25:25
Interview with Quin Cho, author of "The Rise of the Kwantung Army"
58:10
Interview with Kaila Yu, author of "Fetishized"
22:33
The Warlord Era - BONUS EPISODE
53:22
Taisho Feminism - BONUS EPISODE
19:53
Radical Politics - BONUS EPISODE
17:22
The Pax Taishō
26:35
Taishō Democracy
26:39
Obligations, Disasters, and Atrocities
26:52
A League of Their Own
25:52
A Whole New World
25:08
The World Goes to War, Part 2
26:18