Category: History & Culture
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Did the Yakuza’s Fall Begin with Guns and a Nuclear Deal?
The decline of Japan’s Yakuza did not begin with a nuclear weapons deal, but gun violence during the 1980s played an important role in turning the public and government against organized crime. For decades, Yakuza groups operated openly in Japan. Some maintained offices, displayed organization symbols and presented themselves as disciplined associations rather than ordinary…
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The Origin of the Word “Soccer”
Most people today think of “soccer” as an American word, but the truth is a little more surprising. The word actually started in England, the same country where modern association football developed. In the 1800s, there were several different versions of football being played in Britain. Some schools and clubs allowed players to carry the…
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Japan and the US
Japan and the US are talking, and it has been amazing. The two groups have been having fun talking and going back and forth as we exchange ideas, music, c;othign and food. Hope you enjoy the podcast (ish) as Iam returning to it.
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Catherine de Medici: Before the Throne.
Catherine “the Black” is a common epithet for Catherine de’ Medici, used especially by later writers to reflect her austere widowhood dress and the dark reputation she acquired. Before she effectively took the reins of power in France, her life looked very different—and far more precarious. Before the Throne: A Concise SummaryItalian Birth & Political…