Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire (2004)

Commanding shoguns and samurai warriors, exotic geisha and exquisite artisans—all were part of the Japanese “renaissance”; a period between the 16th and 19th Centuries when Japan went from chaos and violence to a land of ritual refinement and peace. But stability came at a price: for nearly 250 years, Japan was a land closed to the Western world, ruled by the Shogun under his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire brings to life the unknown story of a mysterious empire, its relationship with the West, and the forging of a nation that would emerge as one of the most important countries in the world.

• First Air Date: 2004-05-26
• Last Air Date: 2004-05-26
• Total Seasons: 1
• Total Episodes: 3
• Episode Runtime: 165 min.
• Network: PBS
• Creator: Lyn Goldfarb, Deborah Ann DeSnoo