The Obscure History of Japanese Sea Lords

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  • Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
  • Take the 2023 PBS Survey: to.pbs.org/pbssurvey2023p
    From the anime series to Netflix's new live-action adaptation of the famous One Piece manga, the intersection of Japan and pirates has fueled ongoing interest. So we dug into the surprising history of the proclaimed Sea Lords, the social underdogs who ruled Japanese waters for 200 years!
    They held immense political power and even helped integrate Japan into the early global economy. Despite this, medieval Japanese society labeled them “kaizoku,” or “pirates.” In this episode of Rogue History, we dive into the origins of Japan’s Sea Lords and explain how one family solidified their legacy.
    For more information, check out “Lords of the Sea: Pirates, Violence, and Commerce in Late Medieval Japan” by Peter D. Shapinsky:
    www.press.umich.edu/9340182/l...
    Or visit the Murakami Kaizoku Museum:
    murakami-kaizoku.com/en/
    www.city.imabari.ehime.jp/mus...
    *****
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    Rogue History
    Shaking off the barnacles from this wildly popular storytelling canon, this Pirates historical series is an enlightening voyage that unravels historical myths, unearths lost narratives, and discovers fresh perspectives. This is the pirate history you were never told.
    Subscribe to PBS Origins so you never miss an episode! / pbsorigins
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    Chapters:
    00:00 Intro
    00:25 Who Were the Sea Lords
    01:18 Importance of Japan’s Maritime Commerce
    02:50 The Sea Lords Sold Protection from…Themselves
    03:32 The Feudal System
    05:15 Kaizoku and Ama
    05:45 The Noshima Family
    07:55 Sea Lords = Loyal Naval Vassals?

КОМЕНТАРІ • 162

  • @Treemike1000
    @Treemike1000 Рік тому +411

    The One Piece is real 😭

    • @whathell6t
      @whathell6t Рік тому +11

      @Treemike 1000
      Although Naota became the Pirate King Atomsk in six episodes compared & contrasted to Luffy who still hasn’t found the One Piece throughout the continuing 1000+ chapters.

    • @timbrwolf1121
      @timbrwolf1121 Рік тому +28

      Can we get much higher 😱

    • @Broseph359
      @Broseph359 Рік тому +7

      This era should be named White Beard!! 🔥👊🔥

    • @yungmarsupial
      @yungmarsupial Рік тому +5

      @@timbrwolf1121 SO HIGH!!!!

    • @bruhgus2557
      @bruhgus2557 Рік тому +1

      @@timbrwolf1121 Make out with me right now

  • @patrickfitzgerald2861
    @patrickfitzgerald2861 Рік тому +124

    There was also extensive pirate activity in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea during the medieval period, with many of the crews being multinational mixes of Japanese, Korean and Chinese sailors. No one really expected to live a long life back then, but for many of these people it was certainly an adventure while it lasted!

    • @atsukorichards1675
      @atsukorichards1675 Рік тому +7

      I think you meant "Wakou (倭冦)."

    • @koukidenhikaitu4990
      @koukidenhikaitu4990 Рік тому +6

      Before the "Wakou (倭冦)."
      From the 9th to 11th centuries, piracy by Korean pirates was frequent
      From the 10th to 13th centuries, pirates called "Toy(刀伊)." from a Chinese tribe called "Jusheng(女真)" ravaged Japan and Korea.

  • @MsAnubisia
    @MsAnubisia Рік тому +78

    I just want to say the captions wrote "feudal system" as "futile system" but honestly it's not entirely wrong.

    • @aerickmon3350
      @aerickmon3350 Рік тому +1

      I mean
      Ya see any stable countries doing it😂

  • @bawintermage8351
    @bawintermage8351 Рік тому +160

    Thanks for making my Anime obsession historically relevant!

    • @whathell6t
      @whathell6t Рік тому +5

      @Ba Wintermage
      What about Tokusatsu?
      Are you also obsess on that Japanese medium?

    • @bawintermage8351
      @bawintermage8351 Рік тому +1

      @@whathell6t If only there were a Japanese live action historical retelling of history, with Giant Robots, Kaiju, Netherworld denizens, Teams of People in spandex suits...oh the joy!

    • @whathell6t
      @whathell6t Рік тому +3

      @@bawintermage8351
      Basically, you’re a Kamen Rider Gaim fan.
      That’s awesome. And Gen Urobuchi was the scriptwriter for that show.

    • @rohankulkarni2181
      @rohankulkarni2181 Рік тому

      Vagabond.

    • @oopsydaizi3s824
      @oopsydaizi3s824 Рік тому

      Get some help

  • @lozenger8
    @lozenger8 Рік тому +88

    This is fascinating! I love that women were involved with the whole Sea Lord racket.

  • @nicedude22
    @nicedude22 Рік тому +48

    You didn't cover devil fruits... but great video

    • @_Lumiere_
      @_Lumiere_ Рік тому +2

      Are they even going to cover the Void Century?

    • @brahimajaani
      @brahimajaani 4 місяці тому

      😂 he presents the history of Japanese pirates, not wondrous creatures and things like devil fruits

  • @liaogregor4047
    @liaogregor4047 Рік тому +22

    Before the battle of Itsukushima, Mōri Motonari asked Noshima's naval force to join him to against Sue Harukata. It was a bet since Ōuchi clan's fleet is a lot bigger, but since Harukata banned the personal "trade and transportation" in Kanmon strait, Noshima decided to join Mori clan and it's one of reason how Motonari could beat Harukata

  • @prettypic444
    @prettypic444 Рік тому +51

    maybe off topic, but have you considered doing an episode on the ancient mediterranean "sea people" who might have caused the bronze age collapse? I've heard some people refer to them as the world's earliest pirates!

    • @patrickfitzgerald2861
      @patrickfitzgerald2861 Рік тому +6

      I think the question would be whether or not there are any reliable sources of information on this topic. It would be fun if so, but I'm not a fan of purely speculative videos.

    • @djenebasidibe468
      @djenebasidibe468 Рік тому +3

      there are reliable historical sources in terms of the sea people's existence. at least the egyptians wrote about them which where really diligently in writing things down. even though it was always out of their own perspective. if the sea people alone were responsible for the late bronze age collapse, i can't tell. I would vouch for multiple causes causing it, b/c trades routes on land also became less save during that time. Still a great suggestion to talk about them.

    • @sarahwatts7152
      @sarahwatts7152 Рік тому

      I'd be down for this

  • @DaBlondDude
    @DaBlondDude Рік тому +10

    When pirates *ahem* I mean Sea Lord's re-write history, this is what happens

  • @dropkickcorpse
    @dropkickcorpse Рік тому +13

    1:23 Cool, that explains the Seto Yakuza Mermaids in the comedy series Seto no Hanayome.
    I've learned something fun today.

  • @andersonic
    @andersonic Рік тому +17

    "Yet many a king on a first class throne, if wants to call his crown his own, must manage somehow to get through more dirty work than e'er I do. For I am a pirate king!" -- Murakami Takeyoshi, probably.

  • @BerdFly
    @BerdFly Рік тому +3

    Damn, we made it onto pbs origins? Less go!

  • @mecahhannah
    @mecahhannah Рік тому +2

    Awesome thanks i love all your videos

  • @ferretyluv
    @ferretyluv Рік тому +9

    I’m pretty sure they were known as the Murakami clan, not the Noshima clan. Iirc, I think the Noshima were a branch of the Murakami clan. That’s why the flag is important, it’s the kanji for kami, as in, Murakami.
    I never knew “ama” referred to sea people in general. I only know it as referring to the traditional female pearl divers.

  • @frankm.2850
    @frankm.2850 Рік тому +5

    A movie or TV show focused on the Sea Lords would be awesome. Blackbeard eat your freaking heart out!

  • @Jesterpb1984
    @Jesterpb1984 Рік тому +4

    Wow, I cannot say enough good things about this video, the content, and the talent. Very well done!

  • @brutalusgaming8809
    @brutalusgaming8809 Рік тому +2

    Best one yet

  • @cordeiro.gabriel
    @cordeiro.gabriel Рік тому +3

    This was great. Thanks!

  • @Imperiused
    @Imperiused Рік тому +7

    Thanks for the book recommendation! I had been reading about the Ryuku and this should make for a great follow-up!

  • @sirsplintfastthepungent1373
    @sirsplintfastthepungent1373 Рік тому +5

    Sealords are in Samurai Champloo as well.

  • @minoru5760
    @minoru5760 Рік тому +4

    Medieval Ryukyuan merchant ships were less attacked by pirates than Japanese ships. There is a theory that court of the Ryukyu made a pact with influential pirates. for Ryukyuans the Kaizoku were also traders, unless in rivalry in business.
    Pirates were just a force that could be either friend or foe. Seems same as today

  • @solaries3
    @solaries3 Рік тому +2

    Great video! Love the series.

  • @banonKING
    @banonKING Рік тому +31

    It's interesting that "Sea people" were discriminated against. In One Piece, one of the major arcs and themes have to deal with Fishmen and Merfolk who are discriminated against from the people who live above the once. This arc also has many parallels to the Civil Rights Era in the United States too.
    But yeah, within the series pirates are usually not favored because many of them are violent raiders, and the Fishmen Pirates only take up piracy because they're given no other opportunities in that world.

  • @annikboyer3395
    @annikboyer3395 Рік тому +2

    I didn't expect this topic to be so rich! It is more than meet the eye patch!

  • @BryceGoodson
    @BryceGoodson Рік тому +6

    Very cool and informative. I didn't know about the sea lords, but always suspected that there was some amount of piracy in Japan.

  • @JiggaMan1297
    @JiggaMan1297 Рік тому +1

    Very interesting, well written and informative video.

  • @hannahcrossett3415
    @hannahcrossett3415 Рік тому +1

    This is SO GOOD! Thank you!😭💞

  • @KimTaeHwan114
    @KimTaeHwan114 Рік тому +5

    Japanese pirates (Wakō or Wokou) were people who invaded the Korean Peninsula and mainland China by ship. Sometimes when I look at history textbooks, it says, "I'm out of the army," but that's a pirate. They went to loot. bad guys, duh.
    - Eiichirō Oda, author of The One Piece -

    • @minoru5760
      @minoru5760 Рік тому +3

      Note that the history is left by of Chinese powers.
      Who were the Wokous? Literally Japanese pirates but it's clearly found that Chinese, Koreans, and Ryukyuans joined them so their Japanese identity had gone. Some argued that the Chinese or Koreans blamed the Japanese for everything in order to deny that their subjects were involved in organized crime

  • @darthbee18
    @darthbee18 Рік тому +2

    ...dang, you gotta respect the Noshima racket that's for sure! 😅😂🙈🌊💀🔥

  • @paigemalloy4276
    @paigemalloy4276 Рік тому +1

    This is amazing ✨

  • @StardustMonkey
    @StardustMonkey Рік тому +1

    This is so much fuel for my one piece theorizing addiction.. :)

  • @blackknightjack3850
    @blackknightjack3850 Рік тому +2

    >Teach in the thumbnail of a PBS video

  • @TheLatokuivaaja
    @TheLatokuivaaja Рік тому +2

    Cackling at the random Åland Maritime Museum Jolly Roger picture 😂 Did *not* expect to see that museum referenced on a video about Japanese pirates.

  • @meander112
    @meander112 Рік тому +4

    Engagement for the engagement god! Subs for the sub throne!

  • @rhondahuggins9542
    @rhondahuggins9542 Рік тому +2

    The good guys are always the ones who win...

  • @damongraham1398
    @damongraham1398 Рік тому +6

    Mr Cook, please dress up in cosplay for a few of your videos. I respect your education but can we have some fun also? I could see you as Privateer.

  • @russelkogan7382
    @russelkogan7382 Рік тому +2

    Love it!

  • @wardy5010
    @wardy5010 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic MC

  • @Lord.Kiltridge
    @Lord.Kiltridge Рік тому +4

    The strong will do what they can, and the weak will suffer what they must.

  • @falcolf
    @falcolf 4 місяці тому

    Very cool piece of history!

  • @betinababbles249
    @betinababbles249 Рік тому +2

    So interesting! 🏴‍☠️

  • @fishpastethe4th340
    @fishpastethe4th340 Рік тому +12

    I see my boi BlackBeard in the thumbnail, I click on that vid ASAP

  • @ankokunokayoubi
    @ankokunokayoubi Рік тому +1

    Wealth. Fame. Power.

  • @Sunshine-zm1fx
    @Sunshine-zm1fx Рік тому +3

    Another amazing video!

  • @sammehlberg6664
    @sammehlberg6664 Рік тому +2

    For anyone interested, I learned today that in real life, DARPA has collaborated with Boston dynamics to crest a humanoid robot named ATLAS. Darpa also created the internet.
    Vegapunk much?

  • @Armageddon2077
    @Armageddon2077 Рік тому +3

    They were referred to as Wokou (Wōkòu; Japanese: 倭寇; Hepburn)

  • @GoochGrease
    @GoochGrease Рік тому +1

    CAN WE GET MUCH HIGHER????

  • @jcwt_pdx
    @jcwt_pdx Рік тому +1

    Until now, I had no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • @Lan96
    @Lan96 3 місяці тому

    Very nice video

  • @thekage100
    @thekage100 Рік тому +9

    One Pieceeee yees love thiiis! instant like!

  • @treystephens6166
    @treystephens6166 Рік тому +8

    Godzilla wouldn’t put up with this❕

  • @Dyzzzma
    @Dyzzzma 3 місяці тому

    thanks :)

  • @pluspiping
    @pluspiping 5 місяців тому

    You probably don't often think of open water as being "real estate", but when you have enough power to control a valuable trading/travel corridor... the value is there and I suppose anything on land or sea is "free real estate"

  • @nickscurvy8635
    @nickscurvy8635 Рік тому

    The sengoku jidai is one of the most fascinating and dramatjc periods in world history period and im unsurprised this particular drama is also part of that period.

  • @demilembias2527
    @demilembias2527 Рік тому +2

    PBS talking about one piece is cool i guess

  • @kleinjahr
    @kleinjahr Рік тому +3

    Pirates have always had connections to various merchants and governments. Who do you think they sold their loot to? At times some mercantile houses would invest in “adventurous” activities. Much the same goes on today, re: Somali pirates.

  • @pontythython1901
    @pontythython1901 Рік тому +1

    I love learning about seamen

  • @Pottery4Life
    @Pottery4Life Рік тому +1

    Telling you what I think in the comments.

  • @HyPhuyenTheSwordPrince
    @HyPhuyenTheSwordPrince Рік тому

    Yaaaaayy!!!

  • @somedayitsgonnamakesense
    @somedayitsgonnamakesense Рік тому +1

    why you didn't mention anything about the Devil Fruits?

  • @benprokes9692
    @benprokes9692 8 місяців тому

    I just finished watching an episode of OnePiece and I thought to myself "were there any Japanese pirates at all?" and so I ended up here :Dddd
    NICE video BTW ;)

  • @darinbauer8122
    @darinbauer8122 Рік тому

    They took all of the Steve!

  • @NonBinary_Star
    @NonBinary_Star Рік тому +1

    One Pieeece!!!

  • @TokenCast
    @TokenCast 5 місяців тому

    Does Joel Cook do interviews?!

  • @bryankentcartujano5484
    @bryankentcartujano5484 Рік тому

    Are they related to wako pirate

  • @beepboop204
    @beepboop204 Рік тому +2

    🙂🙂

  • @moosemuffins2191
    @moosemuffins2191 Рік тому +3

    A similar notion to the wokou raids, whose activities peaked during the reign Jiajing emperor

  • @equesdeventusoccasus
    @equesdeventusoccasus Рік тому +5

    Without the Sea Lords, the merchants would have been the dominant and dare I say domineering force. They would have probably taken similar actions to the Sea Lords.

  • @scorpzgca
    @scorpzgca Рік тому +2

    Now there are real Japanese pirates awesome

  • @philsophkenny
    @philsophkenny Рік тому +1

    😮

  • @lythonoise
    @lythonoise Рік тому +1

    More

  • @djenebasidibe468
    @djenebasidibe468 Рік тому +7

    I know about One Piece, haven't read it though yet. Never made the connection though to the Japanese pirates before, which I know about learning more about Korean history. there are called 왜구 there and yes, seen as pirates from the Korean perspective, because as neighbors across the sea they were oftem at the low end of their treatment and frequently raided by them.

  • @jessicajayes8326
    @jessicajayes8326 Рік тому

    🎼Poketo no koin, soreto you wanna be my friend? We are, we are on the cruise! We are!

  • @Doomroar
    @Doomroar Рік тому +1

    Well technically after becoming the official navy of feudal japan they would have become sea lords rather than just pirates, or would they count more like the western privateers, something like a paramilitary force that has backing of the state?

    • @calladricosplays
      @calladricosplays Рік тому

      Similar thing happened to Madame Ching lol. I guess they just get papers?

  • @Makafushigi
    @Makafushigi Рік тому

    Bro I read the sbs so I already know about it

  • @g_y.rtz420
    @g_y.rtz420 Рік тому

    I FUCKEN LOVE MUGEN MAN

  • @gambitaku6179
    @gambitaku6179 Рік тому

    I saw blackboard + pbs

  • @nicobambino191
    @nicobambino191 Рік тому

    Real life Yonko

  • @Lightlinefisherman
    @Lightlinefisherman Рік тому

    Yi sun shin would call japanese invaders to korea in Imjin war as pirates. fascinating.

  • @skys6655
    @skys6655 Рік тому

    Ryukyus was poppin… japan, china, and korea

  • @chicanohek
    @chicanohek Рік тому

    Couldn’t find a way to contrast the host from the background? Fail!

  • @Maivthojfavtxhim
    @Maivthojfavtxhim Рік тому +1

    Hello my friend

  • @Packless1
    @Packless1 4 місяці тому

    5:38 ...oh, i see, the 'Sea-People.'..no...waitaminute...that's the other 'Sea-People'...! 😉🤔

  • @wideeyewanderer1785
    @wideeyewanderer1785 Рік тому +1

    I came here for the one piece reference lol

  • @Shyaiful1
    @Shyaiful1 Рік тому +2

    Wako (Japanese Pirate)

    • @koukidenhikaitu4990
      @koukidenhikaitu4990 8 місяців тому +1

      The organization of Wako (Japanese Pirate) differed between the Early Period and the Late Period.
      The early Wako were exclusively Japanese, while the late Wako were a mixed organization of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans.

    • @Shyaiful1
      @Shyaiful1 8 місяців тому

      @@koukidenhikaitu4990Pirate crew from Ronin, Japanese Peasant, Southern Chinese, Joseon/Chosun (Korean) and South East Asian (Malayan, Sulu, Bugis Mercenaries) ?

    • @koukidenhikaitu4990
      @koukidenhikaitu4990 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Shyaiful1  I'd say there are more fishermen than farmers.
      The famous battle of Cagayan in 1582 between the Philippine Spanish army and the Wako. 
      The Wako side was a large group consisting of ronin, soldiers, fishermen, and smugglers.

  • @cheddarsunchipsyes8144
    @cheddarsunchipsyes8144 Рік тому +1

    The
    The
    THE ONE PIECE IA REAAALLLLL

  • @justicevidanes4072
    @justicevidanes4072 Рік тому +1

    So we evolved from bitorrent pirates to tik tok sea lords.
    The endless struggle for security of privacy vs public opinion (librarian) needs.

  • @marvelouslukpata5345
    @marvelouslukpata5345 Рік тому

    Bro did I just see marshall d teach

  • @meexiong8696
    @meexiong8696 Рік тому

    Nej tsis muab phua es muab tus nplaig coj los tseev kom huv es thiaj li huv siab thiaj xav noj na

  • @elliotmerker8539
    @elliotmerker8539 Рік тому +1

    Land lubbers gonna land lubb! lol😂

  • @moriopbr9746
    @moriopbr9746 Рік тому

    Why’s Blackbeard on the cover 😂

  • @nobodysanything2330
    @nobodysanything2330 4 місяці тому

    🏴‍☠️

  • @Otacon2099
    @Otacon2099 Рік тому +2

    One Piece...One Piece is real?!?!?!

  • @gembish1681
    @gembish1681 Рік тому +2

    For non-One Piece readers, here's some spoiler-free world lore to connect the reference to the content:
    The world of One Piece is a planet covered nearly completely by ocean, with the only land being scattered islands and a single, massive continent that wraps around the entire globe in a bisecting ring called the Red Line.
    In this maritime setting, power is balanced between the military, pirates, and privateers. The Marines are the naval forces that enforce the will and laws of the World Government, the Four Emperors are the four mightiest pirate captains whose respective territories and followers amount to micronations, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea (!!!) are a rotating cast of top pirates recruited by the Marines to run interference against other pirates and act as government agents when summoned/ordered.
    The video on the Sea Lords added some great context to the Seven Warlords! The Warlords in-universe in One Piece are a complicated organization with conflicting internal ideologies/ambitions and polarized public perception - it's fascinating to see the seeds of that in the history of the Sea People, in both their motivations and the public perception.

  • @Oozaruozay
    @Oozaruozay Рік тому

    Wait a minute, one piece, well some of it, did it come from this? 🤨

  • @timrichardson518
    @timrichardson518 Рік тому

    Pirates, like you said, are described by their enemies.
    What if, instead of 'good guys v. bad guys', we think of pirates as 'State v. Non-state' actors?
    Even pirates have borders - if a ship sails into pirate waters shouldn't the Pirates defend their borders the way a State would defend it's borders?

    • @pluspiping
      @pluspiping 5 місяців тому

      Then we have to have the conversation of "what counts as a state" vs "what is just some local person(s) and their Enforcement Team", and what (if any) meaningful differences exist between them. Certainly a fascinating conversation to be had, there.

  • @bandersnatchful
    @bandersnatchful 4 місяці тому

    Think the ever smuggled any pelts out of the pacific northwest without anyone being the wiser?

  • @FStandsForFun
    @FStandsForFun 9 місяців тому

    Who came here to get information to find the One Piece?❤

  • @shane757
    @shane757 Рік тому

    Good stuff, worth looking into. Sorry can't take PBS as a single source though, gov propaganda and all.

  • @wolfzwizdom
    @wolfzwizdom Рік тому +1

    This was well presented, though I think this was a missed chance to briefly gloss over how the changing rule of authority during go daigo's reign greatly vexed the Chinese envoys when trying to set up a trade relation, the imperial courts lack of control over the "wako" greatly hindered their international standing. And the funny thing is not all "wako" were even Japanese lol.