Ahir Shah

So that was life in the kind of rural areas, I think. Ahir, I want to turn to you and ask you about city life, actually. So what do you imagine of the Edo period and the cities in Japan at this time?

So that was life in the kind of rural areas, I think. Ahir, I want to turn to you and ask you about city life, actually. So what do you imagine of the Edo period and the cities in Japan at this time?

I think that's a very fair answer. And of course, the character in the show is not a real character, but it's based on a real guy, William Adams. So there was an English pilot who arrived in Japan. We call this the Edo period because of Edo, the city, which was huge, wasn't it, Satana?

I think that's a very fair answer. And of course, the character in the show is not a real character, but it's based on a real guy, William Adams. So there was an English pilot who arrived in Japan. We call this the Edo period because of Edo, the city, which was huge, wasn't it, Satana?

I mean, economic decline, boo, but I don't know anything about the history of economics, so I'm going to move on to the stuff that I like. And that's why you're not being paid £8,000 to hear. So let's talk more about culture and entertainment in Edo, Japan. Ahir, what do you think are the go-to cultural kind of touchstones that people respect and admire?

I mean, economic decline, boo, but I don't know anything about the history of economics, so I'm going to move on to the stuff that I like. And that's why you're not being paid £8,000 to hear. So let's talk more about culture and entertainment in Edo, Japan. Ahir, what do you think are the go-to cultural kind of touchstones that people respect and admire?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Satana, let's talk about theatre.

Satana, let's talk about theatre.

And how long does a play last? Is it two hours with an intermission?

And how long does a play last? Is it two hours with an intermission?

That's too much culture. What other arts and cultural activities are important in Edo, Japan, Satana? A visual art I want to think about.

That's too much culture. What other arts and cultural activities are important in Edo, Japan, Satana? A visual art I want to think about.

So that slightly brings us on actually to something I wanted to bring up next actually is Edo Japan's relationship with the wider world because obviously Japan is a series of islands. Ahir, what do you know of Japan's attitude towards foreign traders and missionaries?

So that slightly brings us on actually to something I wanted to bring up next actually is Edo Japan's relationship with the wider world because obviously Japan is a series of islands. Ahir, what do you know of Japan's attitude towards foreign traders and missionaries?

But that does not mean that Japan was completely isolated, Satana. The idea here, it's not like they shut the door and trapped out the world. They didn't stop the world getting in, did they?

But that does not mean that Japan was completely isolated, Satana. The idea here, it's not like they shut the door and trapped out the world. They didn't stop the world getting in, did they?

And this policy of semi-isolation held until the end of the period, towards the 1850s. Ahir, do you know who turned up in the 1850s knocking on Japan's door? It was I, Ahir.

And this policy of semi-isolation held until the end of the period, towards the 1850s. Ahir, do you know who turned up in the 1850s knocking on Japan's door? It was I, Ahir.