Fireside Chats, Episode 51: A Westerner in Japan (Patreon)

Japan is a country with a complicated history. Once closed off to the world for centuries, Japan was rapidly exposed to the west in the 19th century, went on a decades-long conquest in the early 20th century that helped plunge the planet into World War II, and then rebuilt from the ashes of conflict, creating one of the most successful societies in the modern era. Yet, even today, Japan remains rooted in homogeneity and tradition, which is why the perspective of an American living there is so incredibly interesting. It's through the eyes of an exceptionally smart 20 year old that you're about to learn more about the island nation so many of us have a keen interest in.