PLAY PODCASTS
The Saga of Japan

The Saga of Japan

The historic saga of a nation.

Charles Shanahan

10 episodesEN-USserial

Show overview

The Saga of Japan has published 10 episodes during 2020. That works out to roughly 2 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.

Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 14 min and 16 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language History show.

The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 6.1 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. Published by Charles Shanahan.

Episodes
10
Started
2020
Median length
15 min
Cadence
Weekly

From the publisher

A podcast dedicated to covering the complete and epic history of Japan, starting from its most ancient foundations and continuing through to modern era of Japan. Every Tuesday, we will take another chronological step through this amazing saga of a nation.

Latest Episodes

S1 Ep 10S1E10 - Epidemic

Soon after Nara becomes the capital of Yamato, the Smallpox Epidemic of 735 begins in Japan. The country is brought to its knees as the disease kills over 1/3 of the population. The political, social, and religious fabric of Japan is forever altered. As always, thank you so much for joining us on this journey through the history of Japan. You can always reach me at twitter.com/sagaofjapan. I deeply appreciate you taking the time out of your day to give a listen to the Saga of Japan, and I hope to see you next time! If you like the show, please leave a review, rating, or subscribe. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) / The Kojiki / The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 / A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker / The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom / Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank / Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer / A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Note: While there are obvious Coronavirus parallels, the episode was written and mostly recorded months before the current pandemic reared it's head. Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Apr 14, 202015 min

S1 Ep 9S1E9 - The Jinshin War

Prince Oama pretends to go into self imposed exile, waiting until the Emperor dies before launching a surprise attack on the heir, launching the Jinshin War. The Asuka Enlightenment comes to an end as a new capital is established in modern day Nara, giving birth to the Nara Period (710-794CE) As always, thank you so much for joining us on this journey through the history of Japan. You can always reach me at twitter.com/sagaofjapan. I deeply appreciate you taking the time out of your day to give a listen to the Saga of Japan, and I hope to see you next time! If you like the show, please leave a review, rating, or subscribe. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) / The Kojiki / The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 / A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker / The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom / Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank / Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer / A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Apr 7, 202011 min

S1 Ep 8S1E8 - The Age of Reform

In the wake of the Isshi incident an age of reform is ushered in as a new triumvirate of leaders institutes the Taika reforms, laying the foundation for the Ritsuryo system. The Empress receives a parrot, and anxieties run high as the Yamato Kingdom fears an invasion from China, as the Japanese army suffers it's greatest defeat yet. In Yamato, the Fujiwara Clan is born. As always, thank you so much for joining us on this journey through the history of Japan. You can always reach me at twitter.com/sagaofjapan. I deeply appreciate you taking the time out of your day to give a listen to the Saga of Japan, and I hope to see you next time! If you like the show, please leave a review, rating, or subscribe. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) / The Kojiki / The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 / A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker / The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom / Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank / Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer / A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Mar 31, 202016 min

S1 Ep 7S1E7 - The Fall of the Soga - Part 2

Prince Yamashiro must make a decision that will decide the fate of the kingdom, as Emishi's cruel son Iruka begins a tyrannical rampage to wipe out Shotoku's descendants. Kamatari, clan leader of the Nakatomi, begins forming a plot that will result in a final showdown with the Soga, culminating in the notorious Isshi incident. As always, thank you so much for joining us on this journey through the history of Japan. You can always reach me at twitter.com/sagaofjapan. I deeply appreciate you taking the time out of your day to give a listen to the Saga of Japan, and I hope to see you next time! If you like the show, please leave a review, rating, or subscribe. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) / The Kojiki / The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 / A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker / The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom / Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank / Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer / A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Mar 27, 202019 min

S1 Ep 6S1E6 - The Fall of the Soga - Part 1

Japan finally receives the name Nihon, the Land of the Rising Sun while the Soga Clan reaches the peak of it's power, led by a new leader who rules with an iron fist. Emishi consolidates Soga power, placing Emperor Jomei on the throne. A lone Soga voice speaks out against Emishi's tyranny, before he and his family are snuffed out. As always, thank you so much for joining us on this journey through the history of Japan. You can always reach me at twitter.com/sagaofjapan. I deeply appreciate you taking the time out of your day to give a listen to the Saga of Japan, and I hope to see you next time! If you like the show, please leave a review, rating, or subscribe. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) / The Kojiki / The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 / A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker / The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom / Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank / Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer / A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Mar 26, 202016 min

S1 Ep 5S1E5 - Fight Night in Yamato

The Soga and the Mononobe clans fight to determine the future of Japan. Prince Shotoku, Soga no Umako, and Empress Suiko help usher in foreign reforms. Thank you for listening to the Saga of Japan, I hope you enjoyed this weeks episode. You can always shoot your questions over to twitter.com/SagaofJapan. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please leave a review, rating, or tell a friend you think might enjoy the show about us. You have no idea how much I appreciate you joining us on this journey, thank you so much. Source list: The Nihon Shoki (Primary Source) The Kojiki The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank Japan: A Concise History - by Milton W. Meyer A History of Japan by John Caiger and Richard Mason Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Mar 17, 202013 min

S1 Ep 4S1E4 - The Korean Kingdoms

The Yamato state establishes early ties with the three Kingdoms of Korea. The Soga clan pushes for reforms and new doctrines such as Buddhism, while the Mononobe and the Nakatomi ally together to prevent this new threat to the Yamato way of life. Thank you for listening to the Saga of Japan, I hope you enjoyed this weeks episode. You can always shoot your questions over to twitter.com/SagaofJapan. If you’re a fan of the podcast and would like to see more, please leave a review, rating, or tell a friend you think might enjoy the show about us. You have no idea how much I appreciate you joining us on this journey, thank you so much. Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Mar 10, 202014 min

S1 Ep 3S1E3 - The Yamato Confederation

We enter the Kofun period. Elaborate burial mounds are created for the rulers of Japan. Emperor Anko meets a bloody end at the hands of a child. The head of the Soga clan begins to marry his daughters into the Imperial House, so that he may the foundations for control of the Emperor.

Mar 3, 202014 min

S1 Ep 2S1E2 - Prehistory

Early in Japanese history, nomadic hunter gatherers settle what would eventually become Japan. A shamaness Queen named Himiko unites the warring factions under one banner, her Kingdom of Yamatai, and diplomats from China observe not only the rulers, but the daily life of the people in a fledgling Kingdom. Hope you enjoyed the episode! Please feel free to leave a review, rating, or even subscribe! Every bit helps the podcast grow and is a great encouragement to keep this show going. Send us your questions, comments, or suggestions for future topics at: https://twitter.com/SagaofJapan I personally read all of them! Sources for this episode include: The Nihon Shoki The Kojiki The Cambridge History of Japan Vol. 1 A Concise History of Japan by Brett Walker The History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom Historians of China and Japan by W.G. Beasley and E.G. Pulleybank _ _A History of East Asian Civilization, Vol. 1 by John Fairbank Prehistory of Japan, by C.M. Aikins and Higuchi T. The Prehistory of Japan, Gerard J. Groot. Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan Find out more at https://the-saga-of-japan.pinecast.co

Feb 25, 202016 min

S1 Ep 1S1E1 - Creation

The mythological beginning in the long Saga of Japan, beginning with the creation of the deities Izanami and Izanagi. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is also born. The first Emperor Jimmu, guided by a mystical three legged crow, leads his people to their new home. Join us as we begin the epic history and saga of the island nation of Japan. Hope you enjoyed the episode! Please feel free to leave a review, rating, or even subscribe! Every bit helps the podcast grow and is a great encouragement to keep this show going. Send us your questions, comments, or suggestions for future topics at: https://twitter.com/SagaofJapan I personally read all of them! Support The Saga of Japan by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-saga-of-japan

Feb 23, 20209 min
Copyright 2026