History of Geishas

Poor Catherine Howard. She was smart, intelligent and undeniably beautiful, but ultimately no match for the vicious Henry VIII.She was certainly a victim but was she totally blameless?Joining Kate today is the always-fabulous historian Gareth Russell, author of Young and Damned a ...  Show more

Pablo Picasso's impact on the art world was sensational, but what impact did he have on the people around him?His relationship history contains some problematic moments, to say the least, so we are asking if you can - or even if you should - separate the art from the artist.Joini ...  Show more

In the vibrant but vicious golden age of Imperial Japan, how did women use writing as a way to secure their status, and express their deepest desires? Who was Sei Shōnagon, the witty courtier whose account of life around the Japanese Empress during the iconic Heian period, provid ...  Show more

At the height of Imperial Japan, during a golden age of court intrigue, obsessive hierarchy, and fabulous sophistication, who was the legendary lothario and emperor’s son, Genji? What can the Tale of Genji - a great masterpiece of Japanese literature - tell us about this remarkab ...  Show more

Boring History For Sleep | What Being a Geisha Was Really Like. Step back in time to discover the quiet, hidden world of the geisha in old Japan. In this calming bedtime story, we explore daily routines, struggles, and cultural traditions that shaped the life of a geisha. Narrate ...  Show more

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the history of Japan through six characters, with leading cultural historian of Japan, Chris Harding, as they cover feuding lords and buddhist monks, both world wars, Japanese medieval poetry, Manga culture, and much, much more. Join T ...  Show more