Articles about History

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2019

Kamakura Period: Japan's first shogunate and its historical legacy

From Japan's first shogunate to the Mongol invasions

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2018

Korean influences on Japanese culture

How the Korean peninsula helped shape Japanese culture over time.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2018

How does Japan view homosexuality?

Religion, society, law and the media: where does Japan stand on homosexuality today?

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2017

Do Japanese and Chinese people really hate each other?

History explains the tension, but it does not turn whole nations into enemies.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2017

Unit 731 - Dark Side of Japan

A clear look at Unit 731, the experiments in Pingfang, and the legacy of Japan's wartime biological warfare program.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2017

History of Imperial Japan - Meiji Restoration and Wars

From the 1868 Restoration to defeat in 1945 — how Japan rose to become Asia's great power and how that rise ended.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2017

History of Imperial Japan - World War II and Fall

How a constitutional monarchy slipped from the 1929 crash into a fifteen-year war it could not win.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2017

Hatsune Miku - Unraveling this famous Vocaloid

How a virtual girl from a computer became a global pop phenomenon

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2016

Japanese Emperors - Emperor Meiji

From a 14-year-old crown prince to the founder of modern Japan — a walk through the life, the restoration, and the legacy of Meiji...

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2016

Do Korea and Japan really hate each other?

Trade, war and memory shaped the relationship, but not into a simple story of hatred.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2016

Banzai: What the word really means and where it comes from

Meaning, origin and modern use of the Japanese exclamation

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2016

McDonald's in Japan: Differences and Curiosities

From the first McDonald's in Ginza to Sakura Pie and Mega Potato — what makes the chain different in Japan

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

The 10 Worst Earthquakes in Japan

A look at Japan's deadliest quakes and their legacy.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

The true creator of the Selfie Stick

How a Japanese invention from the 1980s shaped the world of selfies

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Tsunamis in Japan: the Biggest in History

A look at the most destructive waves Japan has faced.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Enka Music: History, Curiosities, and Rankings

A look at the sound, history, and best-known names.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Kabuki Theater: History, Makeup, Onnagata and Why It Still Matters

A practical introduction to kabuki, from its Kyoto origins to onnagata, kumadori makeup, and the stage effects that still...

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Was Japan Ever Colonized? How Japan Was Unified

A clear explanation of why Japan escaped formal colonization and how the three unifiers ended the Sengoku wars.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Shodo: The art of Japanese calligraphy

A practical introduction to the history, styles, materials, and meaning of Japanese calligraphy.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2015

Kyoto Gyoen and the Kyoto Imperial Palace

A practical look at Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace and Sento Gosho before you plan your walk through central Kyoto.

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2014

Himeji Castle – History and Curiosities

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993: the White Heron Castle and its turbulent history

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2014

Kimigayo: history, lyrics and meaning of Japan's national anthem

Learn what Kimigayo means, where its lyrics come from, how the melody was adopted and why Japan's national anthem is still debated...

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2014

The Main Islands of Japan: History, Culture and Differences

A clear guide to Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa, with the history and regional differences that shaped modern...

Kevin Henrique · Jan 15, 2014

Seppuku and Harakiri: Ritual, History and Differences

A clear guide to the meaning, history and cultural weight of seppuku in samurai Japan.