Posts about: History

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Essay: ‘The Last Shogun’ – Toshiro Mifune

Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997) was the most influential Japanese actor of his time and achieved more fame than any of his Japanese colleagues in the twentieth century. With his vivid portrayals of powerful warlords, rugged samurai, noble peasants and disillusioned modern men, Mifune ruled Japanese cinema for many years. Especially under the wing of acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa, Mifune gave electrifying performances in numerous films (such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai) now regarded as classic cinematic … Continue reading

Misdaad en straf in Tokugawa Japan. Nederlanders op Dejima van 1641 tot 1854

Ruim twee eeuwen lang (1641-1854) hebben de Nederlanders in Japan in isolatie doorgebracht op Dejima, het kunstmatig gecreëerde eiland in de baai van Nagasaki. In deze periode mochten alleen de Nederlanders van alle Westerse volkeren naar Japan komen om handel te drijven. Hoewel Japan en Nederland officieel vriendelijke (handels-)relaties onderhielden sinds 1609, gingen de bewoners van Dejima gebukt onder een discipline bestaande uit strenge regels, wetten en voortdurende controles en strikt toezicht. Deze strikte discipline … Continue reading

The role of the Dutch in modernizing Japan

This article will explore the role of the Dutch before, during and after the Meji Restauration in modernizing Japan. In the article it will be argued that The Netherlands, in contrast to other Western countries, had a rather selfless relationship with Japan and contributed knowledge and technology of which some is even used and appreciated in Japan to this day. In 1868 the Tokugawa-shogunate fell after having ruled Japan for over 250 years. After having … Continue reading

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Last stop of the train to Zion: Pittsburgh

Today – the 23rd of September 2010 – it is exactly thirty years since Bob Marley performed live on stage for the last time. Diagnosed with cancer in an advanced stage which had spread throughout his body, an exhausted, sick Marley took the stage for the last time in his life on Tuesday, September 23 1980 in a sold-out Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). A few months earlier during a tour through Europe to … Continue reading

History and Japan’s foreign policy

This article is a edited version of a paper – dated 08-01-2010 – that was originally submitted for the course Japanese Foreign Policy from the International Program at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. The vision on history presented in this article is strictly personal. Although history is always a construct and there is no such thing as one or ‘the’ truth, history shouldn’t be twisted, omitted or gravely misrepresented. In this paper I will argue … Continue reading

Three weeks after the World Cup

Until quite recently I had only heard about the two World Cup finals that the Dutch football team lost in 1970 (Germany) and 1974 (Argentina) and seen some video’s of those finals on YouTube. For years the lost finals of ’70 and ’74 were called ‘national trauma’s’ because the Dutch lost although they played brilliant football, known as ‘total football’, that is still remembered today. Today it is exactly three weeks since the final of … Continue reading

We and them: identity and homogeneity in Japan

Belief in a classless society and cultural essentialism form a big part of the widespread assumption by Japanese and non-Japanese alike that Japan has a homogeneous society. A belief which encompasses for example cuisine, popular culture and ethnicity. Japanese society however consists of many different minority groups such as the Ainu, Okinawans, burakumin, Zainichi, and migrant workers. Foreigners living in Japan are often lumped together as ‘the other’, ignoring the diversity among foreigners. In this … Continue reading