

Commanding shoguns and samurai warriors, exotic geisha and exquisite artisans—all were part of the Japanese “renaissance”; a period between the 16th and 19th Centuries when Japan went from chaos and violence to a land of ritual refinement and peace. But stability came at a price: for nearly 250 years, Japan was a land closed to the Western world, ruled by the Shogun under his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire brings to life the unknown story of a mysterious empire, its relationship with the West, and the forging of a nation that would emerge as one of the most important countries in the world.
Lyn Goldfarb, Deborah Ann DeSnoo
PBS
Luke S. Roberts
Himself - UC Santa Barbera

Richard Chamberlain
Narrator
Michael Auslin
Himself - Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Michael Cooper
Himself - Former Editor, 'Monumenta Nipponica'
Beatrice M. Bodart-Bailey
Herself - Otsuma Women's University

1. The Way of the Samurai
Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan and establishes a dynasty that will rule Japan for over 250 years.

2. The Will of the Shogun
The grandson of Ieyasu, Tokugawa Iemitsu, tightens control over Japan's warlords and expels all foreigners.

3. 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.