# The History of Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170 "2016-02-04T20:17:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/1 "2016-02-04T20:17:27Z")
[A nine-minute comedic (but relatively accurate) review of the history of Japan.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh5LY4Mz15o) I liked it, and my (Japanese) wife thought it was pretty good too. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/2 "2016-02-04T20:35:10Z")
+1 ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/3 "2016-02-04T21:58:02Z")
I actually learned a lot from that video. Now I want to know more. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/4 "2016-02-04T22:46:44Z")
I’m going to pass that link on to my sister, it’s great! That on shogun, Ieayasu Tokugawa, is/was the model for Toronaga, from James Clavell’s book _Shogun_. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/5 "2016-02-05T13:26:06Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > That on shogun, Ieayasu Tokugawa, is/was the model for Toronaga, from James Clavell’s book _Shogun_. Watched that a couple of years ago. Every time we saw him on screen we came up with a different name for him: Saratoga, Toronado, Enchilada, etc. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/6 "2016-02-05T13:55:54Z")
I saw that a few days ago, and was very disappointed to see that it was his only video longer than 20 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/7 "2016-02-05T14:27:53Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I saw that a few days ago, and was very disappointed to see that it was his only video longer than 20 seconds. I had the same thought. Isn’t that odd? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/8 "2016-02-05T15:27:33Z")
It’s interesting to study other countries histories because we here in the US really only learn about Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/9 "2016-02-05T16:23:12Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > I actually learned a lot from that video. Now I want to know more. Yes. Me too. But I’d like to read an accurate and concise summary without the funny musical sounds. I found they interferred with the information. ---
**Author:** ![Blackstock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Blackstock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackstock)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/10 "2016-02-05T17:01:20Z")
The bit about the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration isn’t accurate though. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/11 "2016-02-05T17:56:06Z")
That was excellent: entertaining & (somewhat) educational. Thanks for linking it, **Machine Elf**! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/12 "2016-02-05T18:13:23Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > But I’d like to read an accurate and concise summary without the funny musical sounds. I found they interferred with the information. (sings) It’s time for World War I! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/13 "2016-02-05T18:22:59Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Yes. Me too. > > But I’d like to read an accurate and concise summary without the funny musical sounds. I found they interferred with the information. Check out Wikipedia, then. I think the point of the video was to be memorable and fun, for people who would rather not read or view a dry history lesson. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/14 "2016-02-05T18:44:06Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Check out Wikipedia, then. I think the point of the video was to be memorable and fun, for people who would rather not read or view a dry history lesson. Agreed. I found the additions made it super amusing and well worth the watching. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/15 "2016-02-05T21:07:27Z")
For people that enjoy the format, I’d recommend Crash Course’s [World History series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9). ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-history-of-japan/745170/16 "2016-02-06T00:54:36Z")
And if you’re looking for a broad overview of world history in a visual medium, trying Larry Gonick’s [Cartoon History of the Universe](http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-History-Universe-Volumes-1-7/dp/0385265204). And also, [part II](http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-History-Universe-Volumes-8-13/dp/0385420935). [And III](http://www.amazon.com/The-Cartoon-History-Universe-III/dp/0393324036/). (These links are to Amazon, but the Straight Dope’s _Let’s Milk Some Money From Links_ plugin may change them on the fly.) The series is very broad and skims the surface, but does it with humor and style, and gives you a timeline to hang more detailed works from. Oh, and very good video, thanks for the link!