- 23 minutes 9 secondsThe Dark Side of Success -- BONUS
Japan has a reputation of producing hardworking salarymen and diligent students. In this episode, we investigate some of the history of the system that produces those two groups and explore whether the end product is worth the considerable cost.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
21 September 2026, 4:00 pm - 24 minutes 25 secondsThe War’s Long Shadow -- BONUS
The legacy of the second world war is complex and fraught with misinterpretation and confusion which caused some of its more brutal tactics to be pursued in the decades that followed its conclusion.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
14 September 2026, 4:00 pm - 45 minutes 14 secondsThe Life and Times of Kurosawa Akira -- BONUS
Kurosawa Akira is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in modern times whose work continues to enjoy considerable influence today. Born at the end of the Meiji period, he witnessed a lot of change throughout his life and brought many changes of his own to the filmmaking landscape of Japan.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
24 August 2026, 4:00 pm - 40 minutes 30 secondsThe Final Decade of Shōwa
This final regular episode of the podcast features the politics, economics, and cultural developments of 1980s Japan as the Shōwa Period came to a close in 1989. Thank you so much for listening, I hope you enjoyed this journey through Japanese history with me.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
17 August 2026, 4:00 pm - 27 minutes 44 secondsShifting Currents (Culture 1973-1979)
The social extremes of the Oil Shock Period ranged from radical terrorism, ahistorical revision of the Pacific War, the emergence of several new genres of anime, and the birth of the video games industry.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
10 August 2026, 4:00 pm - 26 minutes 39 secondsAdapt and React (Economics 1973-1979)
To help mitigate the damage to Japan's economy during the Oil Shock period, its government would engage in global economic forums, encourage conservation among consumers, and expand into new energy sources.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
3 August 2026, 4:00 pm - 26 minutes 44 secondsToxic Shock (Politics 1973-1979)
The 1973 Oil Crisis had a devastating effect on Japan's economy and led to a period of rapid political turmoil as the ruling LDP, for the first time in the party's history, failed to obtain a simple majority of seats in the diet.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
27 July 2026, 4:00 pm - 48 minutes 35 secondsThe Vietnam Wars (Vietnam, 1945-1976)
After Japan's surrender in August of 1945, the Empire of Vietnam witnessed a revolution and its winners crafted a declaration of independence. However, forming a new nation-state during the Cold War would prove to be a long, bloody struggle.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
20 July 2026, 4:00 pm - 50 minutes 4 secondsA Peninsula Divided (Korea, 1945-1975)
The Korean Peninsula was divided after the second world war as the Soviet Union occupied the north and the US occupying the south. Though this division was initially meant to be temporary, the subsequent Korean War and its aftermath cemented the divisions for both North and South as the Cold War brought troops from both the United States and the People's Republic of China into direct conflict.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
13 July 2026, 4:00 pm - 26 minutes 43 secondsThe Great Leap (China, 1953-1976)
As the People's Republic of China sought to establish itself as a modern nation state, its government chose to imitate the Soviet Union's path to modernization as they collectivized agriculture, labor, and industry with unfortunately devastating results.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
6 July 2026, 4:00 pm - 26 minutes 53 secondsThe People’s Republic (China, 1945-1953)
After the Japanese Imperial Army evacuated China, any hopes of peaceful reunification were dashed as the Nationalists and Communists continued fighting the Chinese Civil War, the result of which would see the birth of the People's Republic of China.
My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
29 June 2026, 4:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App