Ahir Shah

She's a lecturer in both Japanese and modern Japanese history at SOAS, University of London. It's Dr. Satana Suzuki. Welcome, Satana.

She's a lecturer in both Japanese and modern Japanese history at SOAS, University of London. It's Dr. Satana Suzuki. Welcome, Satana.

We're very excited to have you. And in Comedy Corner, he's a stand-up comedian, writer and the winner of the Edinburgh Festival Comedy Award 2023. Maybe you've heard him on Radio 4, but you'll definitely remember him from our episodes about Julius Caesar, Julius Kaiser or the Indus Civilisation. It's Ahir Shah. Welcome back, Ahir. Hello, thank you very much for having me back.

We're very excited to have you. And in Comedy Corner, he's a stand-up comedian, writer and the winner of the Edinburgh Festival Comedy Award 2023. Maybe you've heard him on Radio 4, but you'll definitely remember him from our episodes about Julius Caesar, Julius Kaiser or the Indus Civilisation. It's Ahir Shah. Welcome back, Ahir. Hello, thank you very much for having me back.

I'm very excited about this.

I'm very excited about this.

So I think we can say we've got two experts in the room today, which is very exciting. So what do you know? This is where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. And for listeners outside of Japan, I suspect chances are the answer is not very much, much like me. Maybe you've seen the Keanu Reeves historical blockbuster, 47 Ronin.

So I think we can say we've got two experts in the room today, which is very exciting. So what do you know? This is where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. And for listeners outside of Japan, I suspect chances are the answer is not very much, much like me. Maybe you've seen the Keanu Reeves historical blockbuster, 47 Ronin.

Maybe you're a video game fan and you've played Shogun Total War, my fave. But most likely you'll know the recent TV series that I have mentioned already, Shogun. It's based on a novel by James Clavel, which likely... lately fictionalises the foundation of the Tokugawa shogunate. And if you're a real shogun head, maybe you saw the short-lived 1990 musical, also based on Clavel's novel.

Maybe you're a video game fan and you've played Shogun Total War, my fave. But most likely you'll know the recent TV series that I have mentioned already, Shogun. It's based on a novel by James Clavel, which likely... lately fictionalises the foundation of the Tokugawa shogunate. And if you're a real shogun head, maybe you saw the short-lived 1990 musical, also based on Clavel's novel.

But what's the true story behind this brilliant TV show? What did Samurai really get up to? Let's find out. Right, Ahir, when did the Edo period start?

But what's the true story behind this brilliant TV show? What did Samurai really get up to? Let's find out. Right, Ahir, when did the Edo period start?

And as Satana, we start the dynasty a tiny bit later. We start it the same year that in England or Britain we start the Stuart era, 1603. So how long is the Edo period? Why did we start it there?

And as Satana, we start the dynasty a tiny bit later. We start it the same year that in England or Britain we start the Stuart era, 1603. So how long is the Edo period? Why did we start it there?

And this is a time of warfare, instability. This is not a peaceful era.

And this is a time of warfare, instability. This is not a peaceful era.

So Hideyoshi conquered Japan in 1590, died in 1598. Yeah.

So Hideyoshi conquered Japan in 1590, died in 1598. Yeah.

So the five-year-old is the new shogun, but not really. A council is put in charge, and one of the members of that council is a rival of Hideyoshi.

So the five-year-old is the new shogun, but not really. A council is put in charge, and one of the members of that council is a rival of Hideyoshi.