Episode 386 - The Iron Road, Part 3

FromHistory of Japan

Start listening View podcast show

Episode 386 - The Iron Road, Part 3

FromHistory of Japan

ratings:

Length:

36 minutes

Released:

Apr 16, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

This week, we're talking about the rebirth of Japan's rail network in the form of Japan National Railways. Some things will stay the same (it's all the same guys in charge), some will change (a free press keeps reporting on the mistakes those guys make), and all of this will culminate in one of the most ambitious engineering projects in Japanese history: the Tokaido Shinkansen. Show notes here.

Released:

Apr 16, 2021

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 14 - The Course of Empire: Our podcast this week will turn to the subject of Japanese foreign policy from the end of the Sino-Japanese War in 1895 to the middle of the war against Nationalist China in 1940. We will cover the Russo-Japanese War, the steady split of the military... by History of Japan
27 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 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 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 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 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 36 - The Great War: We're back for the start of 2014, and to kick the year off right we're looking at this year's most significant anniversary: 1914. We'll be talking about the effects of World War I in Japan, and the ways in which it marked a turning point for Japanese... by History of Japan
20 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 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 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 41 - Striking from the Shadows: 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... by History of Japan
23 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 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 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 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 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 32 - The Way of the Sword in the Age of the Gun: This week, we're going to discuss the topic of swordsmanship and kendo in modern Japan. We'll talk about where modern traditions of swordsmanship came from, and why kendo retains such a popular grip on modern Japan. by History of Japan
21 min listen
Episode 42 - Awakening Asia: This week, we're going to discuss the Russo-Japanese War from a different angle; we're going to talk about the effect it had in generating nationalist movements around Asia and in breaking the spell of European invincibility. From Sun Yat-sen to... by History of Japan
25 min listen
Episode 30 - A Review of Shogun: This week we'll be tackling our first media review and discussing by far the most influential piece of historical fiction ever written about Japan: Shogun, by James Clavell. Listen to the episode here, and be sure to give me feedback on this one so I... by History of Japan
21 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 21 - The Crash: For our final outline episode, we'll be tackling the origins and effects of the real-estate bubble which devastated the Japanese economy in 1991, and which so brutally halted the story of Japanese growth. In particular, we'll be focusing on the ways... by History of Japan
24 min listen
Episode 48 - The Emperor's Own, Part 4: In this final segment on the rise of the imperial military to power, we'll discuss the process by which the military hijacked Japan's foreign policy and shut down the democratic process. After this was done, the army briefly turned on itself before... by History of Japan
26 min listen

More Episodes from History of Japan

Skip carousel

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
Episode 505 - The More Things Change...: Apologies for the delayed publication! This week on the podcast: the Nara Period! Japan has a new capital, and surely that means politics are about to change and become more stable, right...? Show notes . by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 504 - The Great Change: Part four of our Revised Introduction to Japanese History is all about the Taika Reforms of 645 CE: what drove them, why do they matter, and why does the more traditional answer to those questions leave some important gaps in our understanding? Show... by History of Japan
38 min listen
Episode 503 - It Takes a Genius to Write It: Part 3 of our Revised Introduction to Japanese History: the emergence of recorded history in Japan brings with it some more clarity on what's happening, but also new uncertainties. Show notes . by History of Japan
35 min listen
Episode 502 - The Age of Myth and Legend: For part 2 of our Revised Introduction to Japanese History: what do we know about the origins of Japan's imperial family? And how does that knowledge line up with the mythology built around the family's rise? Show notes . by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 501 - In the Beginning: We're back at the beginning for Part 1 of a new miniseries: A Revised Introduction to Japanese History. Show notes . by History of Japan
37 min listen
Episode 500 - The 500th Episode: This week, it's a listener question episode! Let's talk about the topics I'd like to cover, a D&D party made of Japanese prime ministers, the future of the show, and more. by History of Japan
40 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Episode 387 - The Iron Road, Part 4: For our final episode in the series, we're taking a look at the demise of public rail in Japan and the privatization of JNR. What led one of Japan's biggest companies down the track (ha!) of being broken up, and where does that leave Japan's rail... by History of Japan
36 min listen
Episode 384 - The Iron Road, Part 1: This week, we're starting off a look at the history of rail in Japan by exploring how this revolutionary technology was introduced to the country. And once it was, how would a government obsessed with strategic infrastructure like rail manage the... by History of Japan
36 min listen
2.26: All Of This Has Happened Before: Titans Hate Him: Discover This One Weird Trick To Totally Stop AEUG by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
82 min listen
Exploring the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on London Underground with managing director, Andy Lord: This week editor of New Civil Engineer Claire Smith and news editor Rob Horgan address the multiple landslides and project delays caused by climate change in Scotland, including the recent tragic landslip which caused a train to derail and people to ... by The Engineers Collective
37 min listen
1.18: 1.18 - What Will You Do Now?: Lone Gundam by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
76 min listen
2.9: Political Considerations: Everybody's Going to the Moon by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
88 min listen
2.18: Gateway to the Stars: Don't Touch Her, She's a Real Live Wire by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
93 min listen
Japan at the World Cup | STJ 176 by Small Talk Japan
43 min listen
Sayonara Nuclear? Japan’s Energy Transitions by Decouple
63 min listen
Robots: Modellansatz 108 by Modellansatz - English episodes only
21 min listen
1.5: 1.5 The Descendants of Earth: Gundam Ep. 5: The White Base Returns to Earth by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
52 min listen
A cloudy feeling of dread: You need to get out of town by Build Your SaaS
32 min listen
115. 2023 Trip Recap (Part 3): Jason and Paul discuss the third week of their spring 2023 trip to Japan. by Sightseeing Japan
77 min listen
019R_How the car transformed society in the 20th century? (research summary) by What is The Future for Cities?
8 min listen
62 The Challenges of Post-Fukushima Japan: Immigration, Population Decline & Nuclear Safety (Dreux Richard): A Podcast About Japan by JapanKyo.com by Japan Station: A Podcast About Japan by JapanKyo.com
62 min listen
Japan's Lost Decade by Planet Money
23 min listen
30 Understanding "Otaku" and Akihabara w. Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith: A Podcast by Japankyo.com by Japan Station: A Podcast About Japan by JapanKyo.com
72 min listen
2.23: Harsh Realities: The Eyes of Pompadour Shishkabob by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
74 min listen
3.10: Hostile Takeover: Well well well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions by Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
72 min listen
Japan's Second 'Bubble Era' On the Way? with Guests! | STJ 198 by Small Talk Japan
71 min listen
The Tacoma Sun: Erik and Joshua come in and tell us about restarting The Tacoma Sun and their thoughts on civic life, rebuilding, and repairing Tacoma. by The Grit City Podcast
71 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
Trainspotting: The Past, Present & Future of Rail Travel in Thailand [Season 3, Episode 19]: This week your intrepid hosts discuss all manner of rail travel in Bangkok and beyond, and the role that the train system plays in Thai society. For most foreigners rail is a convenient alternative, but for many Thais (and others throughout the... by The Bangkok Podcast
32 min listen
Genoa's Broken Bridge: An icon of Italian design; a centrepiece of a community; a tragedy waiting to happen? by Crossing Continents
29 min listen
The push to deliver high-speed rail to Texas by Consider This from NPR
11 min listen
? LK99 - The superconductor that can change the world, and the K-drama behind it! by ThursdAI - The top AI news from the past week
50 min listen
#17 Tokyo Shinobi Squad (ft. Alex Ptak from Ballin' Out Super): Story by Yuki Tanaka, Art by Kento Matsuura by Shonen Flop
64 min listen
What's Happening In Model Railroading - September 2022 - Tony Cook & Jason Hill: Another month has passed and it's time to find out What's Happening in Model Railroading with the Editor of Model Railroad News, Tony Cook. Tony brings along Jason Hill of Owl Mountain Models and we learn how his business of producing lumber loads and... by Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast
63 min listen
Episode 27: How could self-driving cars change the world? - Part 2: This episode is the second of Jack’s investigations into self-driving cars. Last time, he was interested in Phoenix, Arizona. This time, he’s back home in London, an old, complicated, messy city with an extensive public transport system. by The Received Wisdom
31 min listen
Japan: The Fading Economy by Economics Explained
13 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Episode 386 - The Iron Road, Part 3

Episode 386 - The Iron Road, Part 3

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from History of Japan

Related podcast episodes