In this episode, the hosts discuss the violent period in Japan's history during which their nationalism and imperialism arose, beginning with their victory in the Sino-Japanese war in 1894 and the Russo-Japanese war 10 years later.
A discussion on Japan's rise to becoming a superpower and the influence of anti-imperialism in supporting their empire during this period.
This episode discusses the concept of the ultimatum that the United States reportedly gave Japan, demanding that they leave China or the US would cut off their raw materials and oil, as well as the Japanese construct that created an artificial time deadline and the role it played in Japan's decision to go to war.
The relationship between Japan and China has been peaceful and mutually beneficial, with Japan benefiting from Chinese innovations over the centuries. However, as both nations mature, there comes a point where "little brother" can kick "big brother's" ass.
In the 19th and 20th century, the government of Japan attempted to impose a single national language and culture on a diverse group of people which annihilated all the local non-Shinto religions, resulting in the mass destruction and looting of thousands of these local shrines.
In this podcast, they discuss the case of a Japanese cannibal during World War II and how it was dealt with in court. There were protests and controversy surrounding whether to try him in an American or Japanese court, as there was no precedent for a case like his.