How the Samurai Saw the U.S. Civil War

[@TheIlustrado]

The 1860s to 1880s is a wild era not just for Japan and the US, but also the world such as the conflicts in Europe and South America.

[@UnseenJapan]

Absolutely. One of the more interesting periods in modern history on a global scale.

[@danielg.w5733]

Also Africa.

[@noahoskow4551]

Hey 皆！ This one was really ineresting to research - took me down a few different pathways. Surprisingly difficult to find direct info in either Japanese or English, but I was eventually able to find some interesting sources. Hope everyone enjoyes this one - going to have another video out very soon.

[@abundant-goldenrod-breath]

Somehow I hadn't even considered that Japan even heard of the American Civil war at the time it happened. Thank you for another deep dive into this topic!

[@travissutherland8502]

This was so awesome. You generally learn about topics and history in a certain amount of isolation, Once in a while, though you get hit with a “ Oh shit that was happening at the same time”. This was one of those for me so cool

[@heinrichvon]

Fascinating history! Lots of things and events I didn't know before. Congrats!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😮😮😮😮

[@derbyyank13]

Great video! Really informative and enjoyable.

[@ShuajoX]

Incredibly insightful video on such an obscure topic. Loved seeing how the tumultuous events on either side of the Pacific intertwined. Also, that background music sounds like it's from the Way of the Samurai series!

[@UnseenJapan]

You have a good ear 😉 And glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ScarletRebel96]

Now this shall be interesting, also theoretically a samurai coulda sent a telegram to Abraham Lincoln dur to the time period , theoretically of course

[@bokuboke482]

Terrific chronicle, lads! I watched and listened avidly throughout. To think that American strife might have led to the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate... wow, history is indeed a crapshoot, ain't it just?! Also, thanks for reminding me of "laconic", a word from my youth, long-forgotten. Cheers!

[@danieltsiprun8080]

This was an interesting minor topic on early Japanese American relationship

[@RoseHunt-li7df]

It would be interesting to know how Japan actually viewed slavery.

[@joshuakrasnosteinau978]

Was this covered in the movie The Last Samurai?

[@UnseenJapan]

A fictionalized version of the era following what's discussed here is featured in The Last Samurai. It's set in the early Meiji era, about ten years after the restoration, and combines elements of the Republic of Ezo (where French military advisors broke from their orders and fought with the doomed Tokugawa samurai) with a story that's mostly based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.

[@crispinsday4755]

Not the most important thing but I had no idea John Wayne starred in a film set in 19th-century Japan. How cringeworthy is it? 😅

[@noahoskow4551]

So I actually watched it as part of my research for this video, and it's surprisingly tolerable, especially compared to other Hollywood movies featuring Asia from the same era. Feels a bit like a post-war "see, we can be friends!" sort of film. It's pretty much worth the price of admission for the scene where Wayne gets beaten up by a small samurai judo-ka. Might do a video on it someday...

[@crispinsday4755]

@@noahoskow4551 That would be amazing!