Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire

Released: 2004-05-26

Runtime: 56 minutes

Episode Overview

Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan and establishes a dynasty that will rule Japan for over 250 years.

Series Overview

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.