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This week, I'm going to recommend, Without You, There Is No Us, by Suki Kim.

I'll be honest with you all.

I can't actually remember if I've recommended this one before, but even if I have, I'm just

going to remind you again that this is an amazing book, a truly fascinating look into the

life of one Korean-American woman who went to North Korea to teach English and her experience working with the elite

of the North Korean regime.

Go to audible trial.com slash Japan to claim your copy.

Thank you. Hello and welcome to the history of Japan podcast, episode 332, Lady Kasuga.

This week, I want to talk about a story of a woman whose life tends to be treated as of secondary interest, thanks in part to the time she lived, in part to her role in Japanese history,

and in part, yes, to her gender.

But her story is an interesting one, and I think it's one that's worth taking some time for us to talk about.

Like so many interesting tales, it starts with tragedy.

Specifically, the great tragedy, or at least it was tragic for some, of 1582.

You see, as 1582 began, Japan was on the verge of a sea change the likes of which it had not

seen for centuries.

After more than 100 years of inconclusive warfare, one man seemed poised to climb the ladder

of chaos and haul himself to the top, the fool of Awari himself, Oda Nobunaga.

...