r/JapaneseHistory

I’ve been working on a documentary series covering the complete history of Japan, starting with the formation of the islands and the earliest people to call them home.
This episode focuses on the Jōmon Period—one of the longest-lasting hunter-gatherer cultures in human history.

My goal is to capture the feel of those classic late ’80s and early ’90s educational documentaries while using modern visuals and research.

I’d love any feedback. Thank you!

I'll be honest with everyone here I don't know enough of Japan's History. For starters, nothing before say 1570 when Nobunaga first united a tribal People, and very little of the events that took place until the Perry expedition of 1854, then, I can fill in the gaps of history a bit better.

I'm trying to study more now, and learn up some. If anything I'm very impressed with Japan's ability to fend off many foreign invaders over the centuries.

But unfortunately, being washed through your Nation's educational system can warp your views of history. Only, American teachers tend to spotlight certain events mostly, US centered. While tending to overlook others entirely.

If foreigners should find Americans to be self centered and conceded? At least when it comes to the opinions they hold of their own Nation... this could be why.

Now, I've always been told the Japanese educational system is far superior to our own, so I hope the same cannot be said there. I am however very curious of what is taught to it's young populace in their history classes.

Just I don't trust a lot of the history I've read to be honest. A lot of it's written by Revisionist Historians trying to tell their own tale. In my opinion, in an an attempt to shift the course of history in a direction they'd prefer.

However, I do know of Imperial Japan's history, from 1904 to 1946, from many World sources.

I know many of the exploits of the Imperials from this time period. That's said, unlike my Grandfather and the stories he'd tell. Myself, I can find respect for Honorable Men. Such as, Isoroku Yamamoto or Hideki Tojo. You'll find I'm a student of history.

To be honest, I wanna see if I can get to understand these Men and others. Possibly try to put myself in their shoes, see things as they saw it. I wanna know, The feelings, the thoughts, emotions, and Ideals that led to the decisions they made, or actions they took.

Unfortunately, other than this time period I know very little of Japanese culture as a whole. Admittedly so.

Now with the opinions and storys my Grandfather instilled upon me, from the his time in the Pacific Theater. He wouldn't be too happy with me today.

But I don't believe these views, or feelings should transcend the generations.

This combined is why I'm here. I'm trying to change this. Nowadays I'm trying to better understand Japanese culture, as I absorb more of its history.

In other words, I want to get to understand the Culture. So I can so I can better understand the History. Then, perhaps I could come to know the Japan of today.

Should you only find me offensive?

Let me say as a foreigner. I deeply Respect your people's practice, of paying homage to the many Shrines Honoring your Nation's fallen. I only wish this practice was more common in my Country.

"The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing" -Socrates

So, tell me a Story.

Some of the villages are so isolated, were they affected that much by the war beyond rationing, or did it seem like a distant problem to them, and they were able to live their lives much the same way?

I’ve heard rumours that the Yayoi/Kofun ancestors of Japanese aren’t exactly the same as the ancestors of modern Koreans since they received more coastal NEA input represented by Boshan for instance. But one thing for certain is that Yayoi/Kofun themselves also had some Jomon ancestry, which would decrease several ancestral components found in Koreans like their Yellow River, Siberian and Austronesian/ASEA ancestries.

I'm making a character from a story and I find it would fit well if he had piercings, but I don't know if there was this pratice in this period. Someone know or know where I could find more about it?

If you could say if it was a habit of a specific group or something like it, it would help, also.

Don't let weak people let one part of history designate a meaning of the rising sun haha. The rising sun represents Amaterasu the SUN/LIGHT goddess of the world and the Japanese people. She is the mother of their race and the real Jesus. Same with Freya/Frigg/Sol in Germanic/English culture ect. The SUN is feminine and the MOON masculine in our cultures as the moon is hunter/protector/warrior and guide in the night/darkness and SUN is life giving/nourish/mother ect. The Japanese and the Nazis used symbols like SS runes as " Light bringers " yes. Also the modern religions are worse in comparison because they actively say the WHOLE world will convert to their culture /religion. Christianity and Islam saying they want to spread there culture to the whole world is a act of war. Does not matter if it's done in a non-volent these days as teaching and trying to spread you out teachings to children and change a culture is the same thing. The Japanese thought they were bringing light upon asia and would create a better world of peace and beauty after the war ect with the Japanese as the ruling class/elite. You see the only reason anyone is offended is because their EGO is hurt. People should not care about what others say but why do they? It's because their EGO and self-worth is threatened but guess what ? That's a you problem and nobody else's. I have a rising sun tattoo on my back. It's originally a Uchiha fan fire clan symbol from Naruto but added 8 sun rays on the back. The actual Japanese imperial war one was 16 rays but really doesn't matter as the rising sun is a tribute to the mother goddess called the SUN!!

Hi! I am doing a big research/assignment for school about the Hiroshima peace memorial. The purpose of our research is to investigate the effects of a war or Atomic bomb on a building/city. So we decided to do this on the basis of the Hiroshima building, because we find it very interesting. Are you or do you know someone who lives there/knows much about this building, or the history, or Hiroshima in general, please let me know!

The Jesuits and Christian daimyo made a fatal error in judgment when they invited Toyotomi Hideyoshi to Kyushu in order to help defeat the Shimazu clan. See more in the link below.

I've heard from some people and I've also read from various online sources that when the Yue tribes of Southern China, who then migrated to Taiwan and the Malay archipelago en masse, some of these tribes were able to migrate to Japan and according to the sources that I've read, the southern islands of Okinawa, Ryukyu and Shikoku have significant amounts of Austronesian related ancestry. How true is this?

I will really appreciate if a Japanese person can respond to this. Domo Arigato!

Just thought of this question randomly. Scottish clans nowadays recognize other surnames with various historical connections to the clan as septs of that clan. My surname for example while found occasionally in other clans is a sept of Clan MacFarlane, to my understanding due to historic military cooperation between the two. There are many ways a surname can become a sept, often being through living within the clan's territory, swearing fealty in some way to the chief, or by marrying into the clan (such as a man marrying the daughter of a clan chief and swearing fealty in return).

Because of this, almost every Scottish clan has a list of surnames beyond the surname of the clan itself that are considered to be part of the clan. So I wonder, do Japanese clans have anything similar?

ありがとうございます