Summary: The end of the samurai came as Japan was forced to open its borders to foreign trade and policy, ending a long period of isolation. And that period flipped everything over. Suddenly merchants who had the least amount of social standing found themselves with a huge monetary advantage. New districts with theater and arts rose that paid no heed to the old caste system. And this did not sit well with a faction of the samurai. It's called the Bloodless Revolution by history, but this series will show... it was anything but.

Summary: With international pressure to form new (and often unfair) treaties, the political divide in Edo was growing deeper and deeper. The Emperor, a formerly apolitical position, suddenly aligned himself with the sonno joi, the anti-foreign/pro-imperial party. Several rebellions rose up against the shogun and led to the creation of the shinsengumi - a dreaded police force meant to put a stop to the chaos in the streets of Kyoto. But this is just the beginning of the tinderbox. And all we need now is a match..

Summary: There was an agreed upon transfer of power between the shogun and the emperor but that all quickly broke down. The Restorationists wished to strip the shogun clan of their power and their lands, not incorporate them into the new system. And with the assassination of a revolutionary diplomat between the two, there was only one option left. The Boshin War had begun.

Summary: Now that the Boshin War was over, the Meji Emperor could finally settle into the bloodless revolution and start modernizing Japan. Well... Maybe not so bloodless. It turns out that once in charge, the Emperor believed that the best way forward for the country was to embrace western ideas and begin growing in that direction: the exact opposite position of the factions who fought on his behalf during the Boshin War. And one of those factions was the samurai warrior class who had no place in the society Japan was forming.

Summary: The chapter of history for the samurai is coming to a close. The Three Great Nobles of the restoration have fractured. Saigo Takamori returns to his land and vows not to get involved in politics but that in itself was a very strong political statement. And not a promise he could keep as dissident samurai and other factions flock to his military academy. One final battle will put an end to the last of the samurai. Or will it?

Summary: Welcome Extra Historians to Lies, where we talk about the mistakes we made and the details we couldn't quite squeeze into the episode proper. Why did the French offer so much help to the traditionalists? The relatively in relatively bloodless is doing a LOT of work. And most importantly, how does Rob feel about The Last Samurai?

Summary: Music video

Summary: Not just another anime, the Steampunk Samurai existed! In 1867 during the Boshin War modern weaponry was introduced and it was common to see Samurai like Sakamoto Ryōma roaming the streets with a Smith & Wesson Army revolver holstered right next to his Samurai sword.