Japanese History Hidden in our Screens

Public historian Jon Combey created this limited series to explore how films and television shows represent Japanese history, and whether they get it right. Across six episodes released in the summer of 2022, the show examines Seven Samurai, Princess Mononoke, the Netflix anime Yasuke about the legendary Black samurai, The Heike Story, and The Last Samurai. Each episode pairs Combey with a different guest, often another podcaster or academic specialist, to break down what the filmmakers changed, what they got right, and what the real history behind the story looks like. The Princess Mononoke episode digs into the Muromachi period and the historical role of ironworking communities, while the Seven Samurai discussion explores the actual social dynamics between samurai and farming villages in the 16th century. At about 50 minutes per episode, each installment goes deep enough to satisfy both film fans and history enthusiasts. The show earned a perfect 5.0-star rating from 5 reviewers on Apple Podcasts, with listeners praising the blend of media criticism and historical scholarship. Season 1 is a complete, self-contained series, though the host solicited feedback for a potential Season 2. If you have ever watched a Japanese period drama and wondered how much of it was real, this is exactly the podcast you have been looking for.