Where They Buried the Soul of Japan 

Thanks to everyone who asked about our Patreon. I'll put out a full video when I get the time, but for those who want to jump the gun and get on board from the start, here's the link: www.patreon.com/rareearth It means a huge deal that so many have asked us to start an account. I never thought anyone would watch these videos, let alone support them.

That continuous take is impressive.

I didn't think I'd watch all 12 minutes, but I got sucked in. Great video. Personal and informative.

After watching this video, I immediately planned on visiting Sengaku-ji. And just a few days ago, I have done that. The temple just has a fascinating aura. It's filled with history and a fascinating story to be told. I highly recommend you go there of you plan on visiting Tokyo. I might actually visit it again later while I'm in Tokyo.

I'm sure someone's already pointed this out in the comments, but Asano didn't meet the emperor. The Emperor of Japan at this time was essentially just a figurehead staying at his court in Kyoto, while the real power lay with the Tokugawa Shoguns in Edo. Still loving your videos, guys. Short, interesting snippets, like bite-sized chunks of odd stories. Keep up the good work!

I visited there recently, and I was the only non-Japanese present. It has an amazing feeling to the place, and I found the monks and museum staff were excited to see someone from overseas showing respect. There are two museums attached, one containing items used/made by the samurai, and the other contains wooden figures of each member. Two things that really caught my eye were the huge age range in the group, including on member in his 70s! The other factor was the 10 km walk between the raid site and the temple, which they made through snow, while some of them were wounded. Thanks for making this video! (If you're looking at this and wondering how to get there, it's easy...it's only 100 metres from Sengakuji station.)

5:50 “One of the most important walkways in the country” Guy in the background napping on a bench😂😂😂

Very interesting and extremely well presented! Was that all one shot? I'm really impressed.

Majestrate mvp, 1death, 48 assists

"one of the most important pathways in the country" A duud sleeping on the bench. LOL

Evan is a natural when it comes to presenting . Chip off the old block I would say.

RU-vid's got a new red shirt, oh boy *Stares at Tom Scott*

Whaaaat. This was SO GOOD. (Not that I thought it wouldn't be but since I know this is your beginning foray into this) Honestly, this rocks. Super looking forward to more!

I’m a Japanese person; thank you for telling this story. I myself wasn’t aware of the specifics of this story though I’ve heard it referenced. Though as someone raised in the United States, I cant help but see a tragedy in this. The mentality of undying loyalty no matter what is what made the public complacent in World War II, and we got bombed into the ground for it. It’s the mentality behind the Kamikaze units. It’s why in modern day exploitative bosses can get away with treating their employees like cattle just because they’re the boss and buy them beer on the weekends. It sounds romantic on paper, but I think in practice it can be ugly and rotten. At best, loyalty is a beautiful thing, it can give life so much meaning and purpose. But Asano just seems like a hotheaded impulsive jerk who didn’t deserve such good men from this description. Maybe he was a particularly good lord. I think there are many flaws in our culture. I think one good way to reform the whole bushido mentality is “loyalty only goes so far as you are happy with serving them.” Not to mention it might be historically inaccurate to see these 47 Ronin as representative of all Samurai. Samurai were people too, so yes, many of them weren’t perfect. Many were known to engage in drive, or rather stroll-by killings of peasants. And I may have heard somewhere that Bushido was never really a binding social rule and the Imperials made most of it up as a national myth (as you sort of alluded to). There’s lots of fiction and lots of fact mixed in. It’s a lot like the idea of chivalry. But really, Japanese society seems to be changing; but it just seems to becoming a culture of apathy, which may be even worse. At least people had purpose back then.

This is definitely a good way to start looking at Japanese history, especially if you'll go onto further themes covering Japanese honor. Hopefully, you go outside of Tokyo! There is so much more to Japan than just what's in Tokyo!

I love the ending credits! hahaha Love the video too :) I have a book on japanese legends and this one was the one that stuck with me the most... though they really romanticized the history on the book, having the samurais disguise themselves as dishonorable, defeated drunken men to fool the guy that doomed their master that they weren't going to seek revenge. On this version there's also one ronin that isn't sentenced to death for being too young, and another guy who commits seppuku in front of the graves, feeling guilty because he beat one of the ronin up, thinking that they really had turned into drunken hobos.

I am one of those geeky people who love history and love to read the credits at the end of videos. I had already written down "47 Ronin & legends of Japan" so that I could do some research on my own and then in the credits I read the encouragement to do just that and laughted because I truly feel like few people ever do their own research. I loved the video and the story sparked an interest in learning more...thank you :)

I don't even remember how I stumbled upon this series, but I am eternally grateful that I have. Evan, you have a very comforting on-screen presence, perfect for addressing difficult subject matter. I generally don't give feedback or give "likes" on RU-vid videos but I'm in the process of returning to all of yours that I've already watched to give them all their very well deserved "likes". And this series will get my first intentional subscribe. (I'm really good at accidentally subscribing to random channels). Thank you for educating me, thank you for making me think, and thank you for allowing me to enjoy the process. I currently don't have the financial means to contribute to your patreon, I only hope that my words of gratitude possess some small value.

Without reading off or cards or a teleprompter and in one continuous shot - truly impressive, and with such superlative content.

Just seen your most recent video, thought it was very well made and came back to check the first out. Superb! Gonna have fun blasting through two years of these! Excellent stuff

You definitely take after your father for being a easily listened to speaker. Words, pronunciation and clarity were spot on and to be honest, it sounded like a Canadian version of Sir David Attenborough. You captivate the viewer well and as I said, it was easy to listen to. Nicely done.

I have seen this over 15 times in the last couple years and still brings me to tears. Thank you🙏❤️

We spent several days in Tokyo and also visited many older sites around Japan, just trying to capture a sense of the force that drives the country the way it does, and this in a nutshell truly is a great aspect of that hidden force. Something that everyone seems to live by in their daily lives even today. So much more respect than any western country for sure.

Awesome. Great story teller. Can't wait for the next one

I dont know why but i expected to hear "And As Always Thanks For Watching" At the end.

This man's ability to speak fully and articulately is amazing and apparently Without cue cards. Tells me that he really knows his subject and not just another actor reading what other people wrote. I hope he has long life on RU-vid and other platforms. Excellent job

5 hours, only 5k views. This video is awesome, and this series has potential to be great, but the RU-vid algorithm is beyond nonfunctional. Even an account, with 400k subscribers from a bygone age of International Space Station learning videos and popular Space Oddity cover can't compete for sustainable profit from RU-vid videos, I feel sorry for the true content creators who miss out.

The subtle and unobtrusive background music is great. Nice touch Evan.

Man I know this legend already but showing the actual place in long shot and your storytelling is outstanding! This is SO GOOD, thanks for doing this 👏

"First attempt at shooting the new series: Utter crap." Evan, I think you and I have very different ideas of what 'crap' means. That was lovely and informative. Looking forward to seeing what else this series unearths.

thank you. you brought us to the point of seeing the spirit of the warriors who sacrificed, what they held true in their hearts, not many would have been able to see this nor understand it, I thank you again.

YEARS after the filming and production of this, your work continues to educate and enlighten. You have done well

I've watched this about a dozen times since discovering it. Evan's storytelling is exemplary and captivating!

Excellent video and touches on something that still resonates through history at various times where people stand up, and potentially sacrifice themselves against injustice in their world. Looking forward to, hopefully, many more to come.

Already addicted! Love the style (I suppose you'd call it cinematography? The one-take thing, plus the way the camera moves and the shots) Please continue the series. You're doing excellent, Evan! Keep rocking dude.

No one monologues like you monologue. Seriously no jump cuts ever. I love it so much

Perhaps one of the most comprehensive summaries of this retribution I have ever watched... now, it's one purposeful reason I would want to visit Japan.

What a great video. So well done. I could not stop watching it, and I really felt I learned something new. A wonderful beginning for the series. I cannot wait until the next video is released.

Yours is the most refreshing and uniquely different and most educational channel I have found on youtube to date. Bravo!!!

Evan, You've got a great on-screen presence and are a great story teller. Keep it up! A fascinating story that makes me want to hear more from your travels. p.s. the end credits are awesome!

Just stumbled across this series today, thoroughly enjoying it. Great presentation and very enjoyable to watch. Greetings from Australia.

Great start. I like the "HISTORY, not tourism" bit. Hooked!

This is certainly one of the best channels on RU-vid. Very informative, the videos are addictive and the format is just simple and great. A clean piece of knowledge. I love how you prefer to talk about topics that are less known to most people, really showing us the meaning of Rare Earth. The uniqueness of each place you visit. Please keep it up!

Great story very well told, looking forward to the future instalments.

Man Evan, you said you were nervous in the announcement video but you blew it out of the water in this one! Great work, and very engrossing.

I loved the closing remarks which I found personally inspiring because I personally think that Beautiful things don't cry for attention.

I’d die for my wife and child but this is just something else. Thank you for sharing this story. I found the channel a few weeks ago and have loved catching up on everything

This is such a classic story, I am glad you started here. Great, respectful take on the matter.

I really love your videos... it's unbelievable how deep and incredibly important some place is. Thank you for your wonderful work.

This was beautifully done Evan, and, ( I didn't even notice the dry heaves).. Francesco, as a professional wave artist, this was perfect. Chris, thank you for all of this.

One of the best videos I've seen in a while.

This has to be the most informative channel on the net. Wonderfully done, great presentation always. Amazed at the content, things I never knew existed, the producers ( who find the content) should receive kudos.

What an awesome video. Way to go Evan! Please keep these coming!

Fantastic first video! You are a natural in front of the camera even if you were terrified to start. You did a wonderful job and I will be tuning in for the rest of the series! 👏👏👏👏 Also, love "the Italian" who also hates to be in front of the camera. 😄 I can relate. People who spend a lot of time looking through the viewfinder see so much beauty in the world that they don't as much in themselves. Not that they are shy necessarily, they just want the camera to point at the amazing things. I think your light-heartedness and bit of comedy will make this a series to watch! Keep up the good work!

Come to Korea once! It has interesting stories as well How the modern Korea came about in the context of WWII and how the people, otherwise the same in all respects, got separated in half And then how things played out for both sides since the Separation. I can show you around the places of historical importance if you come

Horatio at the Bridge. You fight for what you cannot live without. Phenomenal analysis

You've come so far since this video, it's amazing! Keep up the good work

Great presentation. I saw commander hadfield speak in chepstow a few years ago and he was kind enough to sign my copy of his book with the words 'closer to the heart' I'm not surprised to see that same understanding and good humour run in the family. Cheers

_standing ovation_ what a fantastic story and presentation. your tone and intonation for storytelling is truly magnificent!

beautiful video :)

Ooo,lucky me! I just discovered the channel and can't wait to dig in. Thank you⛄

2 years later, I still love this video and this series

That story always makes me cry. Well done sir, and thank you for sharing. Beautiful and sacred place as well. Thank you for showing us.

I've just discovered this channel and this is the second video that I watched. What can I say great content it gave me goosebumps

On point once again. Great orating skills. Great camera work, great camera. I have an upmost respect for people who are actively educating people on little known facts that often shape greater and current cultures. Perspective is everything. You are fighting in the effort in helping give the masses a chance to have a depth, a well of knowledge, in which to draw better insight. Kudos. And thank you.

Thank you for sharing this with us. What an incredible story.

So this is how one of my favourite series began. I really didn't expect this to be your first video as it's quite good.

that. was. Brilliant! one take piece to camera was perfect. thank you

Wow this event really had an enormous impact on the culture and identity of a whole nation and makes one understand the Japanese actions in the 20th century so much much better, boundless thanks!

I really enjoyed this. This channel needs much more attention.

Really amazing that this was done in only one take. Evan, you're a natural in front of the camera and I can't wait for the next video. Awesome job.

I was pulled right in. Familiar with Ronin, and the 47 Ronin, from Japanese film and Manga, only to realize today that "wow, it wasn't entirely fiction". Great job, I've been enjoying your series thoroughly.

Amazing first episode, this is going to be an awesome series. A little constructive criticism on the thumbnail though since it goes a little unnoticed. I wouldn't want this to not get as many views as it deserves.

Great video! I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

This was so involuntarily funny at some points. First time when you say "one of THE most important walkways in Japan" and the Japanese guy lying on a bench behind you and the second time when you say there are NO tourist here and at that exact moment two white guys suddenly appear in the back when there were no foreigners at all before lol Really great story and video! I would kindly ask you to be more thoughtful about the people around you next time though. Japanese don't like to be filmed like that so just blur their faces in post if you don't want to go through the troubles of asking every single person walking by if they are ok being filmed for a RU-vid video. It's just a way to show respect as a foreigner, especially at a sacred place like this. And I certainly wouldn't want you to compromise your one shot filming style so just blur the faces next time.

I was just been talking to a friend about my long dream to get to know Japanese culture a little bit. Now when I live in Sydney it's a bit easier to travel there, than before. The way you talk, the way it was filmed - it's incredibly good. I am looking forward for everything else!

I wondered which direction this series might go; and I am exceptionally pleased with the path you have chosen. This series will be a real eye opener for all who watch it. I eagerly await the next episode.

I've totally lost the game with the guy in the background at 5:48, the timing with your narration is impeccable

Killer job guys, can't wait to see more. Thanks for doing this.

Helps to better understand the spirit of the kamikaze in WWII. I was a child when we lived in Okinawa, while my parents were stationed there during the post-war occupation. The women who cared for us during the workdays taught me a very Japanese sense of respect for all things natural, but especially the same sense of duty you speak of. Decades later, that adherence to duty remains a principal aspect of my character, at times to a fault.

Wow, the production quality on this is great! Evan is a really good story teller. You really put some emotion into an incredible historical tale.

I remember reading the story 11 years ago about the 47 Ronin and by the time I was done you could not help but feel a massive amount of respect for those samurai. Thanks for covering this epic piece of Japanese history.

Fantastic debut! Thank you for choosing this important and defining story. You researched and presented with excellence. Your passionate storytelling and eye for aesthetics spurred a great conversation with my children. (Fortunately, they didn't ask about the Clockwork Orange t-shirt! I'm not ready for that conversation yet. lol) We are eagerly looking forward to the next episode!

That's a very powerful message; an excellent interpretation, and a great job!!

The delivery of your descriptions and walking around the area made me feel like I was there! very well done.

You have a rare talent of making everything interesting!

Wow. I expected a good video but this is GREAT in every possible way! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series. Thanks for doing it! PS The last line of the end credits should be hard-coded into every single page on RU-vid. Maybe even the whole internet. You ROCK.

Brilliant. Inspiring. Sacred. May Japan awaken that these Ronin may not have died in vain.

I like the human aspect of your videos. Very pleasant to sit back and listen.

Japan is an exceptional place, has an exceptional culture, which I hope endures beyond the current population crash. I lived there for five years, loved being there.

Brilliant ,again,I've come to expect nothing less from this guy and everytime,so far I've left a little more informed,( the one on Cuba,left me speechless,)👍👏TY M England

Thank you, that was realy realy great. Btw your pronounciation is great, I'm from Russia and I have some troubles with listening, but this was realy great I heard every word. And thank you for the video again, I thought the chanel was dead and I also thought that without Chris it will be boring, but I was wrong. Please don't stop, waiting for the new videos

I have not found a good channel since great big story. This is cool. I subbed.

So thanks to this canuck sizzlechest, I found out that this temple is right down the street from place I always stay on Tokyo. Three times I visited Japan and this is the first time I knew of it and went. Thanks, buds!

I can't wait for this series to grow!! Great video, Evan!

All the stories I've heard and seen about this subject never gave me this much perspective. Thank you👏😮

When I lived in Japan, my Japanese colleagues at my first company presented me with a slender volume of 'The 47 Ronin', telling me that it personified the soul of Japan. When I finished it, I worried that I was dealing with a nation of sociopaths. Needless to say, I preferred your take on the subject...

Wow - loved it, and i even watched till the end ;) Congrats on the one take too. I think this is going to be a great body of work and gives a contemporary perspective (of my generation...ish) on some great history and culture, at least if first ep is anything to go by. Maybe the disclaimer in the credits (nicely done!) could form a recurring sign-off for the videos - e.g. "...but don't take my word for it, go find out for yourself"?

Amazing video, very well presented and researched. Awesome job, can't wait for future episodes!

Amazing video, it was greatly put together.Looking forward to next episodes!