Dr. Satana Suzuki

The emperor's capital was in Kyoto and then shogun's capital was in Edo. But Edo was the political and administrative center of Japan. So during the Edo period, emperor had an important symbolic role, but he was essentially a prisoner in his palace. They are not allowed to step outside of their palace. They weren't even allowed to take a walk. Wow.

The emperor's capital was in Kyoto and then shogun's capital was in Edo. But Edo was the political and administrative center of Japan. So during the Edo period, emperor had an important symbolic role, but he was essentially a prisoner in his palace. They are not allowed to step outside of their palace. They weren't even allowed to take a walk. Wow.

So the shogun had to keep him happy as the legitimizer of the political power, but also control and restricted the emperor via the law.

So the shogun had to keep him happy as the legitimizer of the political power, but also control and restricted the emperor via the law.

Yeah, so society was divided into basically four social classes. So you have the samurai elites, and then you have peasants, artisans, and merchants. And at the top of the elite group were the daimyo, the feudal lords, who are rulers of domains, or han in Japanese. And they're autonomously governed, these domains, or han,

Yeah, so society was divided into basically four social classes. So you have the samurai elites, and then you have peasants, artisans, and merchants. And at the top of the elite group were the daimyo, the feudal lords, who are rulers of domains, or han in Japanese. And they're autonomously governed, these domains, or han,

But every alternate year, they had to live in Edo, and their families were essentially hostages of the Tokugawa to ensure their loyalty to the shogunate. So the family had to stay in Edo.

But every alternate year, they had to live in Edo, and their families were essentially hostages of the Tokugawa to ensure their loyalty to the shogunate. So the family had to stay in Edo.

I guess, yes. I mean, they were elites. They're not commoners, right? Samurai basically means warriors, but Edo samurai are different to how they are thought of now because, you know, at the time of peace, they don't fight, right?

I guess, yes. I mean, they were elites. They're not commoners, right? Samurai basically means warriors, but Edo samurai are different to how they are thought of now because, you know, at the time of peace, they don't fight, right?

Yeah, and then they're often sort of administrators who are like paid salary with a rice stipend. So they're like salarymen.

Yeah, and then they're often sort of administrators who are like paid salary with a rice stipend. So they're like salarymen.

Yeah, something like that because you don't need to fight.

Yeah, something like that because you don't need to fight.

That's good.

That's good.

Yeah. So merchants, well, like merchants, really. Yeah. So officially at the bottom of this hierarchy, the social system. But, you know, they're often sort of despised for handling money. I don't know why people do that. I like money. Yeah. I mean, we can't do anything with money. I mean, I don't love it, but you need it.

Yeah. So merchants, well, like merchants, really. Yeah. So officially at the bottom of this hierarchy, the social system. But, you know, they're often sort of despised for handling money. I don't know why people do that. I like money. Yeah. I mean, we can't do anything with money. I mean, I don't love it, but you need it.

You get more than me. But in reality, though, many became very, very rich and very wealthy and they sort of started to exert power and influence towards the end of the Tokugawa, you know, because the commerce and transportation develop and they have more jobs, right? But samurai, on the other hand, especially lower-ranking samurai... They became very, very impoverished towards the end.

You get more than me. But in reality, though, many became very, very rich and very wealthy and they sort of started to exert power and influence towards the end of the Tokugawa, you know, because the commerce and transportation develop and they have more jobs, right? But samurai, on the other hand, especially lower-ranking samurai... They became very, very impoverished towards the end.