Command shoguns and fierce samurai, exotic geishas and skilled craftsmen – they were all part of the Japanese renaissance in the 16th and 19th centuries, when Japan transformed from chaos and violence into a land of refined manners and peace.
But stability came at a price: For nearly 250 years, Japan was a country cut off from the Western world, ruled by a shogun with his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoir of a Secret Empire brings to life the untold story of a mysterious empire, its ties to the West, and the emergence of a nation that would become one of the most important in the world.
The Way of the Samurai. Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan and establishes a dynasty that will rule Japan for over 250 years.
The Will of the Shogun. The grandson of Ieyasu, Tokugawa Iemitsu, tightens control over Japan’s warlords and expels all foreigners.
The Return of the Barbarians. Isolated from the West, 18th century Edo flourishes culturally and economically, becoming one of the liveliest cities in the world. But foreign forces are coming.
