Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast.

Episode 50, the Q&A Show.

Roughly one year ago today, a little over a year at this point, I uploaded an audio file to

the internet, marking the first step on a project I'd been considering since around 2011.

I figured the way my life was going, I was going to be spending a decent chunk of it

lecturing, and I might as well take the chance to practice where I could. One year later,

the History of Japan podcast has easily become the work I am most proud of. I never expected

to have an audience anywhere near the size of the one I do now, and I certainly

didn't think I'd pick one up so quickly. So first, on our one-year anniversary, as well as our

50th episode, I wanted to take the time to say thank you. I'm incredibly grateful for the

warm reception you've all given me, and I look forward to many more years together.

I figured that by way of marking the one-year anniversary of the show, I'd go with what

always seems to be my first best instinct, and copy an idea from Mike Duncan's excellent

history of Rome podcast. I'd do a Q&A show. So, without further ado, here we go. First, a lot of you have emailed

asking for podcast recommendations, so here are a few. You probably aren't surprised to hear

the first one is the history of Rome, which was the original inspiration for me to do a show in the

first place.

The 179 episodes of Mike Duncan's show make up far and away my favorite podcast on the

internet. It's supremely well done, and if you've got even the tiniest interest in classical

history, I can't recommend it enough. Mr. Duncan also started a new series recently called

Revolutions, which is more thematic an approach.

I haven't had time to start it yet, I'm ashamed to say, but it looks amazing.

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