In Episode 4 of the History Unscripted series on The Last Samurai, Jack and Charlie delve into the final chapter of Saigo Takamori's life. They explore the events leading up to his fateful last stand at the Battle of Shirayama and discuss his complex legacy. Recording from an attic filled with rain and old paintings, they address technical hiccups while diving deep into historical drama. From Saigo's attempts to avoid politics to his final defiant stand against the Meiji government, this episode provides a detailed and nuanced look into the life of Japan's 'Last Samurai.'

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00:00 Introduction to History Unscripted

00:43 Recording Challenges and Setup

01:34 Series Recap: The Last Samurai

06:22 Saigo's Return to Kagoshima

12:21 Rising Tensions and Rebellion

22:05 Saigo's Final Stand

24:45 The Siege of Kumamoto Castle Begins

26:41 The Battle Intensifies

27:10 Saigo's Desperation and Retreat

35:16 The Final Stand at Shiroyama

39:38 The End of the Rebellion

41:37 Saigo's Legacy and Reflection

48:06 Conclusion and Next Series Preview

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Join Jack and Charlie on this week's episode of History Unscripted as they dive into part three of their series on The Last Samurai. Recording from the attic of their parents' house during Christmas, they explore the real story behind Saigo Takamori, the genuine last samurai. They discuss the name change to History Unscripted, cover the Boshin Wars, and explain Saigo's move from a heroic warrior to a disgruntled political figure. They also touch on the involvement of French artillery officer Jules Brunet and the transformation of Tokyo. Don't miss their animated discussion on the complex transition from a feudal Japan to modernity and how Saigo's rebellion set the stage for Japan's future.

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In this episode of History vs Hollywood, Jack Cooper delves into the life of Saigo Takamori, the real-life inspiration for Katsumoto from The Last Samurai. Jack explores Saigo's political rise and exile, his near-death experience, and his subsequent refuge in Amami Oshima. The narrative details his re-entry into Japanese politics, the intricate rivalries between pro-imperial and pro-shogunate factions, and his crucial role in pivotal historical events like the Satsuma-Chosu alliance and the lead-up to the Boshin Wars. Through Saigo's story, Jack touches on the broader implications of Japan's transformation into a modern state, the challenges of balancing tradition and progress, and the parallels to current global political climates.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

02:37 Support the Show

03:31 The Importance of Saigo's Story

06:33 Saigo's Survival and Exile

09:59 Life on Amami Oshima

17:16 Return to Kagoshima

21:18 Political Turmoil and Saigo's Rise

25:20 The Chosu Campaign

30:25 Saigo's Diplomatic Success

38:23 Alliance with Chosu and Shogunate's Decline

41:34 Keiki's Rise and Saigo's Preparations

48:36 The Fall of the Shogunate

51:41 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

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Do you love historical films? Join History vs. Hollywood to explore the real stories behind the movies you love, with humorous insights backed by the best historians and exclusive artwork. Subscribe for free, check out our podcast and dive into the truth behind the screen!

Welcome to History vs. Hollywood! In this brand-new series, we delve into the story behind The Last Samurai. Over the next four episodes, we’ll uncover the life of Saigō Takamori, the remarkable figure who inspired the film and earned the title of the true Last Samurai.

Join us as we follow his extraordinary journey—a journey that shaped Japan’s transformation from a feudal society into a modern nation-state. It’s history as it really happened, cutting through the myths of Hollywood.

If you’d like to become my vassal and serve the History vs Hollywood clan, you can subscribe to the channel! Consider upgrading to receive monthly bonus content, access to paid subscriber-only discussions and have your say on upcoming films we will cover.

Or perhaps you’re not ready to commit to the subscription yet. In that case, you can support my work by buying me a coffee.

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This is episode 1 of our bonus content series: History vs. Hollywood Hot Takes! Jack and Charlie examine films they don't plan on doing a full series on and give their thoughts. Charlie, the film expert, breaks down the writing and structure of the film, while Jack sets the real Historical scene.

In this episode, we look at Gladiator 2. Massive Spoiler Alert!

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Episode 11 of History vs. Hollywood is out. Join Jack & Charlie as they finish the tale of William Wallace, the Hero of Scottish independence, and examine his trips abroad, his betrayal and his death.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit historyunscripted.substack.com

Episode 10 of History vs. Hollywood is out. Join us as we continue our tale of William Wallace, the Hero of Scottish independence, and examine how things start to take a turn for the worse, culminating in the defeat at Falkirk!

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In this week's episode, we see Wallace's rise from rebel leader to Protector of Scotland. Listen in for plenty of enormous hairy men wearing dresses, angry Scots flaying fat English priests and more!

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Check out Nicholas Kurcher's Newsletter, a Chemical Mind: https://chemicalmind.substack.com

Listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube!

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Hello and welcome to episode 8 of History vs. Hollywood. This time we continue our series on the hero of Scottish Independence, William Wallace and his portrayal in the film Braveheart.

This time, we get into the wildness of his youth, how he became an outlaw and grew into a guerilla leader!

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You can find this weeks article here: https://historyvshollywood.substack.com/publish/post/150296241

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Join us next week for part 2 on our series about Braveheart and William Wallace!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit historyunscripted.substack.com