Customer Reviews

Empires - Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This documentary culls together troves of research and brings together a credible group of experts who tell the story of Japan's "renaissance." Three centuries of self-imposed isolation and societal discipline defined Japan, and this period deserves study by those who seek to understand modern Japan.

The stregnths of the film can easily be seen: excellent source material, most stikingly the use of traditional art to convey history. Also, for the purpose of educating Westerners, the documentary dwells on the accounts of the scattered missionaries who either suffered or prospered under the Japanse order.

The film employs many Japanese actors, editors and producers, thus enhancing its authenticity. The credit reel attests to a trans-pacific endeavor.

The photography on the recreated scenes is striking, even hautingly beautiful. But too many of the images are recycled througout the film to annoying effect. The same image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who unites Japan under his shogunate, is used to display him both as a young man and as an elder leader.

But if you can get behind this minor annoyance as well as the sometimes cliched narration, most viewers - be it a Japan scholars or those who don't know anything about this island empire - will gain something. B+

Overall I was glad I got this DVD. Like other reviews, I was also frustrated by the recycling of some scenes, but that happens in many documentaries so I wasn't that disappointed. If you don't know much about this period of Japan, I definitely recomend this DVD. Even if you do know a lot, it's still worth it for the stories, costumes, and the amount of info they provide. The film quality is good (as it should be) and so is the music. Unlike most documentaries that try to fit everything into 1 hour, you get three discs with this set. It's a lot for the money and well worth it.

This PBS documentary is, as stated in the title, a quick and selective historical narrative. It mostly covers the Tokogawa political history and the impact of the West, especially that of Christianity. It takes the viewer from the beginning of Shogun Japan through to its demise. In other words, from the time Westerners first reached Japan until the arrival of Commodore Perry. This video uses a compilation of sources from an outside point of view as well as using local historical documentation. It focuses on the differences of Japan in comparison to the West and the depth and advancements of the complexities of historical Japan. I enjoyed the use of dramatic recreation, but thought that it could have gone into more detail on the cultural aspects of isolationalism. This video is great for those who wish to learn more about Japan's past and have no prior historical knowledge of this era.

The disc holds three parts - the first part talks about Samurai and the setting o Japan in general. The second examines how Japan was slowly united, first Oda Nobunaga, then under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally under Tokuhawa Ieyasu. His family would rule Japan as the Shoguns for over two and a half centuries. The last part deals with how Japan was again open to the ouside world.

I give it a three because a lot of details are missing and there is a lot of repeat and overlap. Scenes are recycled many times and sometimes the events and history can get confusing. There are no extras and, frankly, even with a person who knows a lot of the history a timeline would have been nice.

This has to be one of the finest documentaries on Japanese history and culture and has very high production values.Beautiful to look at;with nice historical re-enactments and photography.This PBS-Empires special is,aptly, narrated by "Shogun" star,Richard Chaimberlain.As well-made and enjoyable as any National Geographic production and exotic enough to interest the non-history buff,too. It does get a bit confusing and difficult to keep track of all the players in some spots,but only because Japan`s history was so hectic and often in flux. Highly recommended for those interested in Japan or military history.

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After being involved for more than 26 years in martial arts, visiting Japan, etc. I could only say that it is a great DVD. Richard Chamberlain (the protagonist of the TV miniseries "Shogun") narrates very vivid the stories. A great documentary for everyone interesting in Japanese culture, history and roots of Japanese martial arts (discipline, fearless, focus, etc.).

An excellent 1-disc, 3-hour PBS documentary of the Tokugawa Shogunate period that is Japan's middle history. I sincerely doubt that any better, concise English film summary of this period exists anywhere.

The documentary is narrated by Richard Chamberlain, star of the 10-hour, 1980 fact-based award-winning adaptation of James Clavell's "Shogun," to which it is an excellent companion piece. (The first 90 minutes corresponds to the time period in "Shogun.")

This PBS piece is filled with gorgeous, historically accurate, flattering visuals. It runs eyes closely over authentic samurai dress, Japanese castles & temples, the forging of swords, tea ceremonies, Japanese calligraphy & art, the painting of geishas. Well worth watching for this reason alone.

The 1st hour opens in 1543 with birth of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the arrival of the first European merchant ships and Jesuits, then chronicles the politics and battles leading to the unification of Japan under Ieyasu.

The 2nd hour begins in 1600 with Ieyasu, now titled Shogun, ruling the merchants/farmers of Japan via a samurai middle-class, and follows the rule of grandson Iemitsu, as he tightens control, persecutes Christians and, in the 1640s, isolates Japan from the outside world.

The 3rd hour begins in 1700, where Japan enjoys peace, prosperity and intellectual pursuit. Edo, home to Ieyasu's castle, has blossomed into the city that will become Toyko. This hour covers about 150 years, during which Japanese high culture, and a growing interest in the outside world, matures. Samurai warriors, under peace, morph into a ceremonial class that vests Japan's history, ceremony, ethic and pride. The hour concludes with the 1853 arrival of Perry's fleet, forcing Japan open to world trade.

The threat of invasion removed, rule by Shogunate and samurai ends and Japan begins to move tentatively into its modern role in the world.

Japan, Memoirs of a Secret Empire, a three-part DVD set by PBS, does not cover the entire history of Japan. This documentary covers the period that started with the arrival of the first Europeans and a bloody civil war raging in the 16th century C.E. that led to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603 C.E. After defeating his remaining adversaries in 1600 C.E., Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed Shogun by the emperor and established his capital in Edo, the future Tokyo, in 1603 C.E. Ieyasu's successors, the Shoguns, remained in power for over 250 years until the Meiji restoration in 1868 C.E., which ushered Japan into its modern era. Japan, Memoirs of a Secret Empire, ends with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and his ships on Japan's shores in 1853 C.E. This arrival ultimately sealed the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which was unable to cope with the opening of Japan to the outside world. To its credit, Japan, Memoirs of a Secret Empire, brings to light the sophisticated, refined Japanese civilization in its splendor. This production clearly explained the interactions existing among the Samurai, peasants, artisans, merchants, and the rest of the society such as artists and priests. Perhaps, more importantly, Japan, Memoirs of a Secret Empire, is an invitation extended to spectators to go (back) to Japan and to better know this unique civilization and state for themselves.

I enjoyed the documentary and thought that it was very well-directed. The shooting of the documentary was very nice, and the scenes done where people dressed up as samurai or feudal peasants was done pretty well, not the usual hookey costumes done in the cheaper or older films. They included many beautiful pictures of Japan and included much of the ancient artwork. My only criticism for the film was that it appeared to be too western world biased. Throughout the film, it is done with the usual western self-centeredness that we are often criticized for. It was good to hear the westerners' point of view at the time, but I think that there should have been more input from what the feudal Japanese thought. It made it appear that Japan had little to do with its own shaping, but was rather molded by the western world. Also, at the end of the documentary,it made it sound that Commodore Perry forcing his way into Japan was the best thing that ever happened to them. Perhaps a little bit too opinionated for someone as opinionated like myself. Despite my lengthy criticism, it was an interesting documentary; however, the Tokugawa era is an easy subject to make interesting. I recommend watching this film, but I would keep an open mind to not follow all biases and decide for yourself.

If you like Japanese history you will enjoy it. I liked it, but it was like being in a history class(not very exciting). I really like samarai history so It was good for me.