The TV series "Shogun" brings Japanese history to life, but who was the first Shogun?
In this season of The First Shogun, Sean Bermingham explores the dramatic rise of the Genji, Japan's most famous samurai clan. We begin the story in 1180, at the start of the Gempei War, an epic 5-year clash between two samurai families that shook medieval Japan and led to the founding of Japan's first Shogunate.

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

Characters mentioned in this episode:

Genji clan:
Yoritomo - the future First Shogun
Hojo Masako - Yoritomo's wife
Yoshitsune - Yoritomo's half-brother
Yoshitomo - Yoritomo's father
Tameyoshi - Yoritomo's grandfather
Mitsunaga and Yorimitsu - ancient warriors
Sasaki Sadatsuna - samurai retainer

Heike clan:
Kiyomori - Lord of the Heike
Satake no Yoshimasa - regional warlord

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

As we've reached the halfway point in the rise to power of Yoritomo, in this episode we take a break from the main story to look at some of the main books, films, TV shows, and podcasts that deal with this period of early Japanese history. The episode includes tips and suggestions for anyone who's interested to know more about the Gempei War and the life of Japan's First Shogun...

List of sources and media mentioned in this episode:

Books and sources:
The Tale of the Heike - tr. Helen McCullough (Stanford University Press)
The Tale of the Heike - tr. Royall Tyler (Penguin Classics)
The Founding of the Kamakura Shogunate / Azuma Kagami - tr. Minoru Shinoda (Columbia University Press)
Before Heike and After: Hogen, Heiji, Jokyuki - tr. Royall Tyler (Arthur Nettleton)
Yoshitsune (Gikeiki) - tr. Helen McCullough (Stanford University Press)
The Gempei War 1180-85 - Stephen Turnbull (Osprey)
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu tr. Royall Tyler (Penguin Classics)
The World of the Shining Prince - Ivan Morris (Vintage)
The Heike Story by Eiji Yoshikawa - tr. Fuki Uramatsu (Tuttle)
Kwaidan - tr. Lafcadio Hearn (Tuttle)

TV shows & Movies:
Kwaidan (1964) - dir. Masaki Kobayashi
Rashomon (1950) - dir. Akira Kurosawa
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) - dir. Akira Kurosawa
Taira Clan Saga (1955) - dir. Kenji Mizoguchi
Gate of Hell (1953) - dir. Teinosuke Kinugasa
The 13 Lords of the Shogun (2022), Taira no Kiyomori (2012), Yoshitsune (2005) - NHK

Podcasts:
A History of Japan (Justin Hebert)
History of Japan (Isaac Meyer)
Read Japanese Literature (Alison Fincher)
Geeks and Gaijins
The Samurai Archives

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

Lord Kiyomori has sent a massive army to suppress the Genji uprising in the east led by Minamoto no Yoritomo. But for now Yoritomo has a more immediate threat: outnumbered ten to one, he prepares to confront a force of 3,000 samurai on the slopes of Mount Ishibashi. Yoritomo's response to this attack will pass into legend - and will lead to the war between Genji and Heike that will change Japan's history forever.

People featured in this episode:

For the Genji:
- Minamoto no Yoritomo - Genji heir; future First Shogun of Japan
- Masako Hojo - Yoritomo's wife; the future 'Nun Shogun'
- Tokimasa Hojo - Masako's father; landowner and samurai
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune - Yoritomo's half-brother
- Musashibo Benkei - a giant warrior-monk; Yoshitsune's retainer
- Miura Yoshizumi - heir to the Miura clan; son of Miura Yoshiaki

For the Heike
- Taira no Kiyomori - Lord of the Heike
- Taira no Koremori - Kiyomori's grandson
- Kajiwara Kagetoki - Heike retainer; samurai commander

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

Japan, 1180: The samurai warlord Kiyomori is at the height of his power - he has exiled or executed his opponents, imprisoned the retired Emperor, and has begun his grandest project - the creation of a new capital city in his image. But hundreds of miles to the east, the exiled Yoritomo is planning to strike back against Kiyomori's Heike. He launches a daring night-time raid - one of the earliest Ninja-style stealth attacks in Japan's history - but will it succeed, and how will Kiyomori respond?

Main characters in this episode:

For the Genji:
Minamoto no Yoritomo - Genji heir; the future First Shogun
Hojo Masako - Yoritomo's wife; daughter of Tokimasa
Hojo Tokimasa - Yoritomo's father-in-law
Takatsuna, Sadatsuna, Moritsuna, Tsunetaka - samurai brothers

For the Heike:
Taira no Kiyomori - Heike Lord
Taira no Kanetaka - Governor of Izu
Tsutsumi Nobuto - Izu vice-governor
Oba no Kagechika - veteran samurai

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

An imperial decree urges rebellion against the Heike clan. As the Genji heir Yoritomo considers his response, a veteran Genji living in the capital - Minamoto no Yorimasa - takes matters into his own hands, and leads the first serious challenge to Lord Kiyomori's authority. The uprising will lead to the first pivotal moment of the Gempei War - the legendary Battle of Uji Bridge.

Key figures in this episode:

Yoritomo - Genji exile, the future First Shogun
Yorimasa - a veteran Genji warrior
Lord Kiyomori - Head of the Heike clan
Munemori - Kiyomori's heir and eldest surviving son
Go-Shirakawa - the Retired Emperor
Mochihito - the Retired Emperor's second son
Kio - an imperial guard 
Jomyo Meishu, Ichirai - warrior monks

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

In this episode Yoritomo - the future First Shogun of Japan - falls in love with Hojo Masako - one of the most famous women in Japan's history. As they celebrate a secret wedding, Yoritomo hears of a strange dream that may be a prophesy of his future. Meanwhile, Kiyomori executes a conspirator with a brutality that shocks even his own supporters, and exiles three men to a volcanic island. But when his daughter - who is expecting to give birth to the Emperor's child -  becomes dangerously ill, he must call on his most dangerous rival to perform an exorcism, in the hope of repelling spirits that threaten to destroy his family.

Key figures in this episode:

In Izu
Yoritomo - Genji exile, the future First Shogun
Hojo Tokimasa - local government official
Hojo Masako - Tokimasa's daughter
Morinaga, Sadatsuna, Kageyoshi - Yoritomo's friends and retainers

In the Capital
Lord Kiyomori - Head of the Heike clan
Shigemori - Kiyomori's eldest son
Kenreimon-in - Kiyomori's daughter; Emperor Takakura's wife
Go-Shirakawa - the Retired Emperor
Shunkan, Naritsune, Yasuyori - castaways

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

In this episode we follow the teenager Yoritomo - the future First Shogun of Japan - as he begins his exile on Leech Island in Izu province, where he experiences both love and tragedy in the household of his captor. Meanwhile, back in the Capital, Lord Kiyomori of the Heike continues to secure his position as the country's most powerful landlord. But a secret meeting at a remote mountain villa could present Kiyomori with a serious and unexpected challenge.

Key figures in this episode:

In Izu
Yoritomo - Genji exile, the future First Shogun
Ito Sukechika - local Heike commander; Yoritomo's captor
Yaehime - Sukechika's daughter
Morinaga - Yoritomo's friend and retainer

In the Capital
Lord Kiyomori - Head of the Heike clan
Shigemori - Kiyomori's eldest son
Sukemori - Shigemori's teenage son
Lady Ike - a nun; Kiyomori's step-mother
Go-Shirakawa - the Retired Emperor
Saiko, Shunkan, Narichika, Yasuyori - conspirators

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

In this episode we follow the early life of Yoshitsune, the Luke Skywalker of medieval Japan! Saved from execution by his mother's courage, Yoshitsune was exiled at an early age to a remote temple, where, according to legend, he learned swordsmanship and battle strategy from the great Goblin King Sojobo. It was the start of a long journey that will eventually see him reunited with his half-brother, Yoritomo - the future First Shogun of Japan...

Key figures in this episode:

Yoshitsune - younger half-brother of Yoritomo, the future First Shogun
Yoshitomo - father of Yoshitsune and Yoritomo
Lady Tokiwa - Yoshitomo's mistress; mother of Yoshitsune 
Lord Kiyomori - Head of the Heike clan
Benkei - a giant monk
Kichiji - a gold merchant
Sojobo - Goblin King of the Tengu

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

It is now the year 1160 and Yoshitomo, the head of the Genji samurai clan, is preparing an audacious plot to topple the Emperor's chief advisor Shinzei, the man who ordered the deaths of his father and brothers. But can he carry out his plan in time before his deadliest rival, Lord Kiyomori of the Heike Clan, returns to the Capital?

Key figures in this episode:

The Genji:
Yoshitomo - Head of the Genji clan
Yoritomo - Yoshitomo's12-year-old son; future First Shogun
Akugenda - Yoritomo's elder brother
Yorimasa - Genji general; Yoritomo's cousin
Masakiyo - Yoshitomo's deputy
Lady Tokiwa - Yoshitomo's mistress

The Heike:
Kiyomori - Head of the Heike clan
Shigemori - Kiyomori's eldest son
Yorimori - Kiyomori's younger brother
Lady Ike - Kiyomori's step-mother
Ito Kagetsuna - Heike retainer

The Imperial Court:
Nijo - the 17-year-old Emperor of Japan
Go-Shirakawa - Retired Emperor; Nijo's father
Shinzei - Go-Shirakawa's chief advisor
Nobuyori - court noble; Shinzei's rival

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com

It is the year 1156 in the Japanese imperial capital. Two rival Emperors face each other across the Kamo river, each supported by warriors of the Heike and Genji clans.

Watching is the nine-year-old Yoritomo. One day he will become Japan’s first Shogun. But for now, all he can do is hope that his father has chosen the right side.

Key figures in this episode:

West of the river:
- Go-Shirakawa (reigning Emperor of Japan)
- Shinzei (Go-Shirakawa's senior advisor)
- Yoshitomo (Genji heir, eldest son of Tameyoshi)
- Yoritomo (Yoshitomo's son; future First Shogun)
- Kiyomori (Head of the Heike clan)

East of the river:
- Sutoku (Retired Emperor, Go-Shirakawa's elder brother)
- Tameyoshi (Head of the Genji clan; Yoshitomo's father)
- Tamatomo (Yoshitomo's younger brother; a giant)
- Tadamasa (Heike commander; uncle of Kiyomori)

Written and presented by Sean Bermingham. 
Music and sound effects from Pond 5: www.pond5.com

The First Shogun podcast website: https://firstshogun.buzzsprout.com