YouTube as a Tool for Japanese History: Challenges, Strategies, and Discoveries
When I was a student of premodern Japanese history, visiting historical sites tremendously helped me to understand how past events, ideas, and materials were interconnected with today’s Japan and Asia. It also inspired me to ask questions that led me to further investigation. My channel—Sachiko Exploring History—invites a broader audience to this delightful experience and exercise, by introducing Japanese places along with intriguing histories, cultures, food & drinks, businesses, religions, and beautiful landscapes.
In the fall of 2023, visitors to Japan reached pre-pandemic levels, and in 2024, the numbers even surpass those of the pre-COVID era. But how many of the visitors stopped with visiting just well-known cities and tourist spots, focusing on “Japan” today, while missing local beauties and historical remains? I would like people to realize that modern Japan did not emerge from a vacuum. Through my videos, I aim to make people—both Japanese and English speakers across different age groups—more interested in Japanese history. In addition to Japanese local products and cultures, I would like them to see the amazing intersections between past and present. I believe that such discoveries would lead them to do further investigations on their own.
During this event, we are planning to focus on a few videos, but if you are interested, you can access the channel and watch anything here.