Dr. Satana Suzuki

Thank you for having me. I'm really excited to be here today.

Thank you for having me. I'm really excited to be here today.

So the Edo period lasted from 1603, so that's when Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed shogun by the emperor, to 1867, that's when Tokugawa Yoshinobu, that's the last shogun, return the land and register to the emperor. So 260 years, something like that. I'm not really good at math, but something like 260 years. So it's a long time, right?

So the Edo period lasted from 1603, so that's when Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed shogun by the emperor, to 1867, that's when Tokugawa Yoshinobu, that's the last shogun, return the land and register to the emperor. So 260 years, something like that. I'm not really good at math, but something like 260 years. So it's a long time, right?

No, it's not. The Edo period was preceded by a period of constant warfare and instability for about 100 years. But then between 1560 and 1582, Oda Nobunaga, that's one of my favorite historical figures, He was one of the warring state daimyo, and he sort of used force to extend control over two-thirds of Japan.

No, it's not. The Edo period was preceded by a period of constant warfare and instability for about 100 years. But then between 1560 and 1582, Oda Nobunaga, that's one of my favorite historical figures, He was one of the warring state daimyo, and he sort of used force to extend control over two-thirds of Japan.

Unfortunately, one of his subordinates, Akechi Mitsuhide, he assassinated Oda Nobunaga in 1582. And after that, his other subordinate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he rose to power.

Unfortunately, one of his subordinates, Akechi Mitsuhide, he assassinated Oda Nobunaga in 1582. And after that, his other subordinate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he rose to power.

Who takes over from him then? Toyotomi Hideyori. That's Toyotomi Hideyoshi's five-year-old son. So he was left in charge, but he was managed by a group of five regents.

Who takes over from him then? Toyotomi Hideyori. That's Toyotomi Hideyoshi's five-year-old son. So he was left in charge, but he was managed by a group of five regents.

That's right. One of the regents was Tokugawa Ieyasu. He thought that he was more qualified to unify Japan than anyone else. Looking back, he was right. So, yeah, in 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu sort of destroyed the forces loyal to the Toyodomi family.

That's right. One of the regents was Tokugawa Ieyasu. He thought that he was more qualified to unify Japan than anyone else. Looking back, he was right. So, yeah, in 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu sort of destroyed the forces loyal to the Toyodomi family.

Yeah, in 1603, he was actually named a shogun.

Yeah, in 1603, he was actually named a shogun.

Or Sei Tai Shogun, that's the official title. You should know this. I should know what? You should know this. Come on.

Or Sei Tai Shogun, that's the official title. You should know this. I should know what? You should know this. Come on.

Tokugai Ieyasu was not the first shogun, but he was the first shogun of all Japan.

Tokugai Ieyasu was not the first shogun, but he was the first shogun of all Japan.

Yeah. Basically, he unified the country.

Yeah. Basically, he unified the country.