In this episode Mat and Devin lift the lid on the state of Edo to peer into the lives of the ordinary city dwellers. We explore the flourishing of the printing industry, Tea Houses, Kabuki, Firemen and much more, discovering a slew of customs and traditions that remain vibrant to this day, and some very surprising modern cultural elements that started way back in Feudal Japan, including the first fan mail and shady backroom 'art' for sale!

As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well.

Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/

Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan

Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

In this episode Mat and Devin delve further into the governance of the Edo period, exploring how the families of the daimyos were kept as respected guests (ie hostages!) of the Shogun to keep them in line, the long biannual progressions to Edo draining time and resources to keep everyone compliant, and how 1,000 'policemen' managed to keep a city of 1 million under control.

As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well.

Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/

Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan

Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

In this episode Mat and Devin embark on another multi-part epic about everything Edo, the long period of peace and isolation that still in many ways defines Japan to this day. In part one we look at the bones of the system introduced by the shoguns to run society, from poor but proud samurai, the emperor shut up away in luxury, and power through land, and rice of course!

As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreonor instagram pages and feel free to email us as well.

Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/

Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan

Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com