In this episode, Allison Alexy talks with Prof. Morgan Pitelka, whose research examines late medieval and early modern Japan, with a focus on the samurai, tea culture, ceramics, cities, and material culture. The conversation centers on a new book he is writing centered on Ichijōdani, the headquarters of the Asakura warlord family. Topics of discussion include: the Sengoku or Warring States period; the destruction of Ichijōdani; material culture and political history; kawarake, simple pinched bowls; collaboration and archaeology and history; ceramics and everyday culture; lacuna surrounding violence in Japanese history; students' interests in Japanese Studies; and popular culture and video games about history.
Content warning: This episode includes a brief, general description of sexual violence at minute 33 of the recording.
If you're interested in learning more about this work, please watch his presentation at the Center for Japanese Studies.
Dr. Pitelka is professor of History and Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina. He is the chair of the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and co-editor of the Journal of Japanese Studies. You can find him on twitter @mpitelka.
Michigan Talks Japan is produced by Robin Griffin, Justin Schell, and Allison Alexy and is supported by the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Michigan.
Claire Maree
Vyjayanthi Selinger
Gabriella Lukács
Jolyon Baraka Thomas
Suma Ikeuchi
Charlotte Eubanks
Season 2 Trailer
Meghen Jones
Michael Strausz
Marié Abe
Levi McLaughlin
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Regenerative Skills
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast