📜 After you've learned about the End of the Samurai, head over to Kickstarter, where our 2026 "History Happens Every Day" Calendar is available for preorder! - https://bit.ly/ExtraHistory2026Calendar

Japan’s samurai era didn’t end with a whisper—it ended with rebellion, war, and betrayal. When foreign powers forced Japan to open its borders, everything changed. Merchants gained power, the Emperor took a political stance, and old systems crumbled. As unrest spread, the infamous Shinsengumi rose to keep order—but peace was short-lived. The Boshin War erupted, and when the dust settled, the samurai found themselves cast aside by the very empire they helped create. Led by Saigo Takamori, they made one final, dramatic stand as Japan transformed into a modern nation.

We really enjoyed revisiting this series and getting to implement the viewer feedback that Rob had previously only been able to address in Lies. Original Lies video here: https://youtu.be/7Fzy25qzW3g Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed this, and we look forward to sharing the next one with you all.

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CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro to End of the Samurai 01:15 - Chapter 1: Black Ships 09:23 - Chapter 2: Gangs of Kyoto 18:55 - Chapter 3: The Boshin War 28:29 - Chapter 4: The Imperial Army 37:16 - Chapter 5: The Last Samurai

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Artist: Nick DeWitt | Writer: Robert Rath | Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol | Video Editor: Devon House Creative | Audio Editor: Clean Waves | Studio Director: Geoffrey Zatkin | Social Media: Kat Rider | ♪ "The Streets of Kyoto" by Tiffany Román

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