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This week I'm going to recommend a history of the world in six glasses by Tom Standage.

If there's one thing I love, it's attempts to write history with interesting framing devices,

and it's hard to get more interesting than this.

After all, one thing we've all shared, regardless of anything else,

is that we've probably had something to drink in our lives other than just water.

That commonality and the history of those drinks is what brings this fascinating narrative

of human history together. Convinced and looking for something to try as you have a nice

beer or a hot tea, go to audibletrial.com slash Japan to claim your copy.

Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, episode 311, Freedom and People's Rights, Part 2.

The year was 1881, and something dangerous was in the air.

It was already long clear to the leaders of Meiji Japan's government, the samurai, primarily

from the old domains of Choju and Satsuma, who had led the war against the Tokugawa

shoguns, that Japan was going to need a constitution.

Really, it was just a given in the 1800s among Western states that a constitution represented a certain proof

of civilizedness, of obedience to the rule of law, and rational government.

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