This week Jon is joined by Thomas and Heather of the Japan Archives podcast as they break down 2003's Tom Cruise-Tacular Japanese Epic The Last Samurai

From a film LOOSELY based on the events of 1877 Satsuma Rebellion and the life of french artillery office Jules Brunet, we delve into the causes of Japan's reopening to the western powers, the real events that lead to the end of an era, and how films like the Last Samurai can influence and propagate Orientalism.  

Our special guest historians this week are

Dr E. Taylor Atkins of Northern Illinois University who specialises in Modern Japanese and Korean cultural history, and transnational popular culture. The second edition of his A History of Popular Culture in Japan comes out this autumn.

&

Dr Alexander Bennett of Kansai University expert in the history of martial arts and samurai culture. Some of his Published works include Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai, Tuttle (2014) and Kendo: Culture of the Sword, University of California Press (2015)

We'd also like to thank all our special guests, historians, and podcasters for giving up their time and making it such a wonderful season 1. 

If you enjoyed it and want to give some feedback and make season 2 even better (and exists) you can fill in the survey here : https://forms.gle/cc7jna7FnDEDafPo7 

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Website: www.historyofjapan.co.uk 

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