The Forgotten Story of How British Redcoats Took on Japanese Samurai
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Samurai vs Redcoat. In this video we examine the multiple times that bayonet and Katana battled during the 1860s. It includes the bombardment of Kagoshima and also the Shimonoseki campaign.
This is the story behind James Clavell’s Gaijin: a tale of samurai, imperialism, politics, war and gunboat diplomacy in the Wild East.
This video also sees the first American earn the Victoria Cross and the ancient rule of the Japanese Shoguns come to an end.
Thanks to Joshua Provan for researching and writing the script. His TH-cam channel can be found here - / @adventuresinhistoryla...
His book Wild East is available via this link - amzn.to/3un24KU
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: redcoathistory...
If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via ko-fi.com/redc... or join my new Patreon - / redcoathistory
Hello everyone,
After much thought, I've decided that I will no longer be replying to comments on the channel. While I truly appreciate the thoughtful, engaging, and often hilarious conversations many of you bring to the table, I've noticed an increasing number of comments that seem more focused on negativity, criticism, or just finding something to be offended about.
This channel is a labour of love, and I want to spend my energy creating more content that the majority of you enjoy rather than getting caught up in endless debates or responding to those who seem determined to stir the pot. I probably waste an hour a day replying to comments that would be better ignored. From now on Ill also just delete rude, offensive or aggressive comments. I have a full time job and young kids and so they will be my focus not an angry guy in his basement.
To all of you who regularly bring positive vibes, share your insights, and show genuine interest in history-thank you! Your support means the world to me.
If you'd like to keep in touch and stay updated with all my latest content, feel free to join my mailing list - bit.ly/redcoathistory. It's the best way to stay connected without the noise.
Thanks for your understanding and support!
Cheers, Chris.
Good decision. Spend that hour with the kids .
Love your videos . Thank you .
pissweak
Why not just only engage with the positive feedback? just a thought.
Right on man, it’s not the idiot who is dumb, it’s the guy trying to argue with him. Focus on the family because the internet is full of the foolishly opinionated, we are legion.
Not being able to reply to comments is a sign that you're making it big
I was in Japan for a month in 07, working. I was on the romendensha, in Kagoshima. An old man came over and sat next to me, spoke English. He proceeded to tell me all about this for 20 or 30 minutes. I was listening intently as he described each sides efforts. Cannons and rifles against swords and bows and arrows. Pretty sure it was this battle. He told the story with a lot of respect for both sides. Amazing experience the whole thing, but i will never forget that guy.
That sounds ace.
I don’t think ppl realize how bad muskets were.
Poor accuracy and rate of fire.
Up until cartridge firearms, a skill archer could fire 10 shots to 1 musket shot with far greater accuracy.
Muskets required less training and had slightly better logistics
@@Menukiyea it is but considering the year of above 1850s the Brits were already arming their men with Enfield rifle which is had a very good accuracy and distance compared to the smoothbore one like Brown Bess, the rate of fire still could be solved with forming the soldier on the standard line formation shooting row by row.
@@Ara-_-Sso the reload on rifles was even slower on rifles and they couldn’t be produced at the same volume as musket.
It wasn’t until the conical skirted bullet did the rifle be come more than a specialized weapon. There’s a reason why rifles didn’t see widespread adoption until the cartridge came out.
Even today with semi automatic weapons in the hands of special forces, there’s only around 30% accuracy on moving targets. Riflemen of that area don’t compare to modern accuracy. They’d be around 20% accuracy and that’s being generous.
When your opponent is shooting 10 times faster than you. If it takes a rifleman 5 shots to get a hit, that means he had to contend with 50 arrows. Even if the archers had 10% accuracy, which they were far better than that, you’re sustaining 5 casualties to 1.
@@Menuki The factor of fire rate in gun where not decided because of the barrel type, both of gun (Smoothbore Musket and Rifled Musket) had the same Muzzle-Loading system which is still had the same fire rate
And conical bullet were already used since 1850s like in the Crimean War by the British and French forces showing how they could and even making the Rifled Musket more deadlier than ever
I do agree with your point saying that "The accuracy of riflemen of that era accuracy could only reach to 20% accuracy on moving targets compared to our modern day special forces (thats being generous), but one point that you've missed is the way they fought in that era were not clearly the as we used to in modern day, they all were fighting in a close and huge formation forming a long line, which is making them vulnerable and easy target to shot at (especially with those Minie Bullet that the effective range had out-reached the Japanese traditional Yumi bow only having 87 yards effective accuracy long compared to Rifled Musket with Minie Bullets that the average riflemen at that time could shot effectively around 100-200 yards)
I do agree with your analogy again in this one saying that Archer had better fire rate, but now with the usage of rifled musket and Minie Bullet around 1850s making them could even shot at the Japanese Archer men first before getting shot back because the superiority of rifle. (Well could not really the case in guerilla or in a city warfare, the bow could have the upper advantage)
Thus i actually do agree with the statement of "How bad muskets were", but considering that you say this statement in this video which were covering the era around 1850s, your statement are not really relevant anymore due to how changed the musket ability now. But yea i do agree if the case were around Napoleonic Wars or below 1800 (still could be solved by how the units were deployed), where the smoothbore and roundball bullet were still dominant in the battlefield. Percussion cap, rifle barrel and Minie Bullet had changed how warfare goes during the 19th century, even the most casualties in American Civil War were caused by the usage of the newly adopted Minie Bullet with Rifled Barrel Muskets.
(Maybe our different views were due to the difference definition of ours in musket, i would say as long as the gun were still a muzzle-loading rifle, it would be called a musket.) Cmiiw
The Dutch were the only Europeans allowed to trade with the Japanese between 1641-1854. This was agreed between the Japanese and the Dutch. The Japanese studied Dutch so that they could read and study Dutch books such as medicine, mathematics and science. The Japanese wanted to be kept informed about what was happening in the world through the Dutch. The port where Dutch trading ships were allowed to moor was Dejima. Once a year there was a procession with European (latest technical) attributes from Dejima to the Japanese capital to show this to the Japanese emperor. This would be faster by boat, but the procession went over land which took much longer. The Dutch often warned the Japanese that they had to modernize and that there was a danger that other nations would force Japan to trade with them. The Spanish and Portuguese were thrown out of Japan because they converted Japanese to Catholicism. The Dutch were allowed to stay because they wanted to trade alone.
If Japan had believed the warnings of the Dutch and modernized at this time, Japan might have conquered the world.
I think this was the turning point that changed japans fate.
That was the Dutch learning period.
@@alstjrqkr689It was 🇺🇸 that change Japan’s fate when they forced them to open their port.
@@Farhan917 mommy n daddy then.
Well done Sir! As a former Hungarian Loyal Canadian and fan of British and Japanese History, this satisfied a curiosity about military comparison between EDO period Samurai and Western Military Doctrine. Keep up the good work !
Thanks a lot. Are there other good books on the subject you’d reccomend?
I'm a Afrikaner living In canada, tbh I'm probably the most anglophobic person you'll meet. celebrated when the queen died, and generally wish Canada would cut any ties to that mud island. Japan is cool tho
@@wickuswoss7257all I’m hearing is coping and seething
@@almightykingpin6322 would only cope if I was a mud person(english) I am not. Seething... maybe. Just kinda find it cringe to watch people simp for garbage tho
@@wickuswoss7257 how does being English equate to being a mud person what’s the thinking behind that
I had no idea about any of this, two VCs awarded in Japan. Another great video. Thanks.
Three in fact, as mentioned in the video. I don't believe that Thomas Pride ever had a photo taken of him or a portrait done, hence why he wasn't pictured in the video.
The whole saga in history is largely forgotten, something I found out rather quickly when I was trying to find sources for the Wikipedia page on William Henry Harrison Seeley.
@@CommissarDoggo There was 4 two brits one Canadian One American
@@TheRamblingsoldier And a Canadian you say? I don't think I came across that anywhere when I was researching, I don't suppose you have a name?
U never seen the last samurai?
@@addom88 The 2003 film of an American cavalry officer based on the stories of Eugène Collache and Jules Brunet, two French officers of the Imperial Guard? No actually, I haven't, but I might do now. Unfortunately no Canadians there.
Pleasure to work with you on the script! I loved writing the book!
How about Fuzzy Wuzzy (Kipling)?
Publishes the two defeated English invasions of Buenos Aires in 1806 and 1807 and the battle of Vuelta de Obligado, which was a failure for the English navy......
How about the Onslaught of New Orleans (in which Jean Lafitte played a big role)? Gen. Braddock's last campaign to take
Fort Duquesne?
@@alejandroschmidt542
I have every respect for your nation. Your rugby and polo players are lovely… Hard. Skilled. Chivalrous.
Argentina is the most English of places - and several of my most disreputably-English relatives built lives there on the River Plate…
They tended to be commercially-minded: Some were perverts - by late Victorian standards… And hats-off to that! Go West! (And all that.)
For example: Great-uncle Albert was a little (ahem) ‘mauve’, ‘liberally accepting’ of all fauna with a pulse… He ‘went native’ with cohorts of Italians. Creoles, Spaniards, Gurani… - even fellow Brits! A fraction of ‘em were women! He was expelled from school for ‘beggaring’ a soldier in Piccadilly! As bold and incorrigible as you like!
In short, your nation is lovely. But, alas, The Falklands can never be yours…
The current Falklands garrison - a single Daring Class desroyer; a squadron or two of Eurofighters… two subs… is capable of bonking the whole of Latin-American armed forces with three button-presses….
Nowt you can do, poppet. Enjoy the site.
Christian mentions it in the beginning. It is linked in the description box, @elvispearce5422
Prior to the confrontation with the allied fleet, Choushuu rushed out wooden cannons, pine reinforced with bamboo, that would perhaps get off two or three shots. These were used on small boats, and while they could reach the enemy ships, they did not do much damage. Interestingly, after the small boats were sunk, these cannons would float..
Choushuu also had domestically produced western style bronze cannons, which were a few decades behind in technology. These were looted by French sailors and can still be seen at the hotel des invalides war museum in Paris.
A samurai was defeated by a soldier who extended his foot and make him trip over it... That is gotta be my new favourite example of why real history is not like a movie.
It would be seen as a comedy moment in a film.
Trips and foot sweeps are perhaps not always glorious, but they have always been part of fighting and war. What works, works.
Pronouncing it "samyurai" is driving me nuts. They have a myu sound in Japanese. If it was pronounced this way, it would be spelled this way.
I guarantee you that never happened
@@zambonibob2026 On what merit? Just because you don't like a historical event, it doesn't give you grounds to claim it didn't happen.
For all their supposed faults, the British have always been most accurate and honest, when it came to recording their and (their enemy's) historical actions in battle, if anything often oversimplifying and downplaying their own heroic feats.
If something like this was deemed noteworthy enough to record, then I guarantee you, it did happen.
Interesting episode. My Great grandfather served with the 10th Foot in Yokohama in 1868. He may have had a more interesting time than I first thought.
Cheers Alan, did he leave much info?
@@redcoathistory His army pay book, that was all. I only found out that he had been in Japan by searching Forces war records.
Another outstanding episode, Tyvm! 👏🏼👏🏼💛🎖You deserve the Medal of History.
Is there anyone we didn’t fight with in the 19th C? If so, pls make a video about them, if you can thanks.
Pls upload films, dramas and documentaries, with redcoats in.
And what about re-enactments and drill contests, soldiering etc, or VR matches?
Lying in TH-cam comments for attention is hilarious
Your grandfather was a participant in oppression of other countries all for monetary gain. The Japanese and Chinese have the equal right to trade on their own terms like anyone else. Thankful for America which cherishes and respects each individual countries right to trade or not to trade, and how they want to trade.
I would like to share some trivia here. As a Japanese, I have to say that many of the samurai photos on the Internet, although not seen in this video, are fakes. From the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, many fake photos taken in photo studios were sold as souvenirs to foreigners. These photos were popular with foreigners because they showed ordinary people wearing armor and pretending to be samurai by imitating seppuku (ritual suicide) or practicing martial arts. In many cases, the only photos that can be authenticated are those in which the person in the photo is a famous samurai.
Oh, interesting.
I have a photo album filled with postcards of these that my Dad brought home. One can tell by the facial bone structure that a lot of the subjects were commoners.
that makes sense, none of them are holding a sword correctly
@@LeeBross-r7r Why in the world would you think commoners have different bone structures? That's dumb as shit lol
@@LeeBross-r7r can you explain?
The Shiminoseki campaign was wild. Imagine a bunch of Americans veterans in a bar in 1866 talking about the battles they were in.
Soldier 1: I fought the confederates at Gettysburg.
Soldier 2: I fought the Sioux at Wood Lake.
Marine: I fought a bunch of samurai alongside redcoats and Frenchies.
Ha ha yes good point
Excellent coverage of this topic!! I’m a US Marine veteran, and I have to say I smiled when you brought up Redcoats and US Marines fighting side by side!! Thank you for another fantastic video!!
Thanks a lot. You know that’s got me thinking…there must be other times (not including GWOT) that it happened. I’ll see if I can find anything.
@@redcoathistory
I’m thinking Taku forts… err… 1859 or 1861. Famous ‘blood is thicker than water’ thingy when the Americans got involved.
I THINK they saved a detachment of Brits who were under heavy fire, in thick mud, with a rising tide…
It may be worth a look, Chris.
(Have to admit that my source was ‘Flashman’ but I’ve lost my copy of errr. ‘Flashman and The Dragon’?)
9th Regiment of Foot later to be known as the Norfolk Regiment the last time they shared a battlefield with American troops they would have been against each other at Saratoga in 1777.
@@alittlebitofhistory
Ahem. Let’s not mention that, eh? 🤣
@@robertcottam8824 oh nice - I will look that up. My knowledge of the war is very limited.
Its great that you are sharing events that most people have never heard about. However, I feel that this was told from a western POV and could have elaborated on the historical context. This era was a revolutionary period in Japanese history leading to the formation of the foundation of modern Japan. It all began with the Americans one day sailing to Edo with gunboats and enforcing one-sided trade agreements, soon followed by other European nations vying to expand influence in Asia. This was during the age of western imperialism, where underdeveloped civilizations were colonized and annexed. China, British Malays, French Indochina, etc. The Japanese knew about this and the fact that China was overtaken was a huge shock as China was considered the most advanced civilization in the region for most of history. As western nations began to influence the country through show of force, meddling with internal politics, demanding agreements that only merit the west and disadvantaged Japan, etc. etc. naturally many people considered their country to be threatened, risked being overtaken like all the other asian countries, and their way of life to be destroyed. So its important to clarify that there was cause on the west one way or another for any clashes.
Japan knew it was time for change and these events caused many many young men to think about what should be done, what course the country needs to take. Of course there were different factions, different views and conflicts of interest, etc. so it lead to civil war and incidents with western countries like what was covered in the video. This was an era full of energy, bred many brilliant people who took a country from the feudal era to the modern era in just a few decades.
One unfortunate lesson Japan learned from the whole experience was that they thought that Japan too must become imperialistic like all other modern nations at the time, or else risk being colonized, which influenced the path of foreign policy/national security strategy afterwards.
There's a West Version and a British Version. This was definitely Wes-Brit. 👌
Agree until your claim that Japan only became imperialistic because of western influence, that is pretty silly considering Japan had already invaded Korea twice in the 1590s but failed because the Ming dynasty intervened and helped the Koreans push them out both times. The technological advancements brought on by the Meiji restoration combined with a historically weak China after the Qing dynasty's 1911 collapse are what enabled Japan to finally realize those old imperial ambitions; it's not like the Japanese had never dreamed of invading Korea and China before westerners showed up, especially considering they had already tried! lol
They became imperialists because they learned they could not because they would be conquered. Let’s not make fake history my friend. Japan took advantage of other countries just as the western countries did only were much more brutal and nasty. Until the met the strongest tribe the Americans who smacked them around. Those are the facts.
Well, it is a video from a channel about the Red Coats about their experiences, so I guess that in this particular case it makes sense that it has an Eurocentric POV
@@r.s.10
あれは、大きな目的はスペインの侵略対策です。
Great video Chris. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching. A relief to see your comment. Most people commenting are not from the "core audience" and seem more concerned with my Japanese pronunciation. Always good to hear from an old redcoat history regular.
Wow, i love learning something new.
Thank you 😊.
Great stuff thank you! This is all news to me! I had no idea about our actions in Japan. Thanks again, keep up the great content 🇬🇧
Thanks Keith - any other stories you'd like me to look into?
Fascinating. As with other comments this was completely new history to me. As an ex-colonial I was amused that I was rooting for the Redcoats! I keep telling others that what makes it into the history books is a fraction of one percent of what actually happened. Excellent research and great presence as the narrator. Just enough emotional reaction. A side note. On this side of the Pond we receive little of British military history. The biggest source is Sharpe's Rifles series and the two follow up episodes. Is this worth a video context on accuracy and dynamics? Also, an episode on the Light Brigade charge? I'm subscribing
Thanks a lot. I have done quite a bit on Sharpe on the period so please have a look. Next week's episode does cover the charge of the Light Brigade also. Thanks and keep in touch.
always root for the Redcoat!
@@andyf4292 Redcoats can get rooted mate ! 🥱
@@sheerluckholmes7720He says, in English
Outstanding account, I’d never realised that we had had military action in Japan.
We fought in over half the countries on the planet.
I think there's about 15-20 countries in the world we haven't invaded their is roughly nearly 200 countries good effort 👍
HMS Euryalus - You-Rye-a-lus. i served on a sister ship Hms Phoebe F42. Great video.
Just found this channel,looking forward to watching all the uploads past and present...😁😁😁😁
So far have traced my British Ancestry to 1620 many of my family have served in british army, royal navy and raf...great stories like reading about history. Well done.
Favourite British officer - Mad Jack Churchill
- frought during ww2 but only recorded being armed with only a broad sword / long bow / bag pipes 😅🇬🇧
Was known to use enemy weapons that he had picked up if near by to though and keep in mind his character did get very inflated after the war too
He was the last recorded person to kill an enemy soldier with the longbow and arrow.
The sword he carried was a claymore, he said that an officer in uniform without a sword was improperly dressed.
He also used submachineguns, grenades and scavenged German guns but that's often ignored in the somewhat mythical tales of his exploits.
@@mjspice100 Quite right. In fact, it was a shorter variant of claymore that had been popular in Scotland as it delivered a similar impact but could be wielded in one hand if necessary. The name of the variant however, escapes me at present. When it came to armament, Mad Jack Churchill was certainly a unique chap.
brits like to talk big even after stealing other people's lands still shamelessly entitled
@@aymonfoxc1442 The old Basket Hilt. Often used with a buckler.
Another outstanding episode, Tyvm! 👏🏼👏🏼💛🎖You deserve the Medal of History.
Is there anyone we didn’t fight with in the 19th C? If so, pls make a video about them, if you can thanks.
Pls upload films, dramas and documentaries, with redcoats in.
And what about re-enactments and drill contests, soldiering etc, or VR matches?
Excellent content. Uncovering sections of history I knew nothing about. Thanks for posting.
As a Yank living in Sagadahoc county (state of Maine), bravo to Mr. Sealy! And cheers to you for telling the tale!
Fantastic - I hope I pronounced it correctly!
Haha nice one
@@redcoathistory given the separation of the Maine accent from Oxford English, we may never know!
It’s the offshoot nation’s that don’t pronounce our language correctly, not visa versa. The English can pronounce their language however we like and all the offshoots have to follow.
That’s the Law of Language I just invented.
What the brits did was wrong and sowed the seeds for ww2 in the Pacific. The Opium wars was evil and worse type of enslavement than conventional slavery. Each country should have the right to determine who and how they trade, or even if they want to trade at all. What you are saying is very un American. America is about freedom world wide and not oppression!
12:26 The Emporers clothes are real and the hat is FABULOUS!
Looks like a giant novelty exclamation mark.
Just what I said, less is more
@@homie3461 that’s interesting, thanks
Lol, the emperor has a side quest for someone
Same, I had to pause the video to chuckle when he first popped up. They really made sure that everyone knew who was the most important person in the room 😄
Extremely informative and well presented! Thank you!
Fantastic video, and a brilliant channel. I thought I knew a lot of history but you keep giving me more and I love it. Keep up the great work.
Thank you very much!
Fantastic snippet of history and great video- many thanks
Thanks for that, thoroughly enjoyed it, it was all new to me, well researched & well produced. 'Long Live the history of the Red Coat'
You look like the one to ask. If a samurai and a redcoat got combined, would they wear their armor over their red coat, or would they wear their red coat over their armor?
Would they be more concerned about padding or uniformity.
@@RachDarastrix2Armour over the red coat. Seems more practical.
10:56 I stood up and put my hand over my heart. I salute you sir!
Well done 👍!
Im 52 livin’ in Houston Tx, and enjoy Japanese lore and history as a whole. I came across this along with a couple other videos of yours and enjoyed them.
😊
Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks a lot. Would love to visit Houston one day - many interesting historical sites?
@@redcoathistory
Not nearly as much as what the north/eastern coast has going back to the founding of the country. Of course NOTHING here does when your side of the pond goes back to the beginning of Recorded History!
We do have the San Jacinto Battlegrounds and Monument as well as the Battleship Texas, which is the last of the Dreadnoughts which served over there in WWI and II. Its being completely restored in Galveston Tx , which is very interesting in its own.
I can send links if you like.
@@Caliber50bmg I’d like it if you posted links. Nowt wrong in learning new things - particularly if you’re my age! 🧐
Best wishes
Thanks a lot - thats good info. If I come will let you know. @@Caliber50bmg
Does that include Unit 731?
Mostly appreciate your work.
Très bien expliqué!
It really makes a difference when made by a military professional who understand the importance of the detail in history.
Faascinating video.
I had no idea about this or the first American getting the Victoria Cross.
TY for a great video.
Excellent. I hadn't heard about these actions before.
I cannot imagine that you would lack for material for your excellent videos, we British have always been a warlike nation and have subsequently chronicled both our victories and our losses
Very true. I think I’ve made approx 150 videos and I have barely scratched the surface. I hope you will join me for other videos going forward.
Your loses you hid under the rug of your propaganda, don't fool yourself.
Note how the 'Invincible Armada' event is well publicised in British history while the debacle of the counter armada expedition against La Coruña led by Drake and Norris is but a foot note.
And there's a plethora of examples in this same line, I just bothered to mention two analogue events to make my point.
@@jorgegonzalezcastro3674 Sucks to suck. We speak English here
@@jorgegonzalezcastro3674 I think the point still stands. These events are well chronicled. After all: we all know of this. The Brits just don't like to talk about it.
Excellent video, loved it and all news to me so good. Thank you
New to the channel. Very interesting and well presented programme.
Glad you enjoy it! What other areas of history do you enjoy?
"Sam-yoo-rai" lol
Great summary! It's great to hear some first hand accounts of the skirmishes.
Very good, Sir. If you wish for further instruction on the Japanese language I charge a small fee of £200 per hour. In two hours I can bring you to my level of comprehension or you money back!
@@redcoathistory Wow, that's an amazing deal! Do you take yen? 💹 💴 I really need to figure out what this daimyo is yelling on about.
@@Mendrawza24 It's British humour, he was making fun of himself, he realizes that he doesn't know the perfect pronunciation, so the joke revolves around "charging money to _bring you down_ to his level", ie, diminish your knowledge, however good it might be. I found it funny, but of course, once explained, I believe no joke remains funny.
@@hansvonmannschaft9062 We get that, buddy.
@@VL1975 Well, _buddy,_ 🙂 - The guy above me didn't seem to, otherwise wouldn't have wasted the time. 😕
0:13 😂 “splitters”
What is that?
@ he was mocking us Americans for gaining independence from the Brits
Absolutely fascinating- thanks for this and a great channel
Great content!
I’ve been a subscriber for a while, now. I’m not as mobile as once was.
So…. Thanks for what you do!
Thanks Robert - I appreciate that! Keep in touch.
@@redcoathistory
Your site is a great place to be. Your correspondents are so very courteous.
You have trained us well.
MarkFromTheStates reacted to this video recently and I have just watched him do so. I learnt quite a few new facts from you today. Also I now understand the references to 'Japan and Britain being long time Allies' made at the recent Japanese State Visit during the Lord Mayor's Luncheon at Mansion House. I remember being surprised when this was said. It's true that every day's a school day. I know putting these videos together must be hard work and time consuming, but they are certainly very interesting, informative and enjoyable. So much so I have become a new Subscriber today. I look forward to watching you again in the future. All the best and 'thank you'.
Welcome and thanks a lot to you. Look forward to interacting.
How about a video on the British capture of Manila and Cavite in the Philippines in 1762?
First time I have listened to one of your podcasts, and excellent, a story I had never heard before. I think I will now read more about this period of Japanese history. Sounds like aftermath of this incident saw the birth of Imperial Japan, inspiring stuff
海外では知られていない戦争ですが、日本史において大きな意味を持つ戦争になりました。
薩摩藩は、当時の政権であった徳川幕府を支持していましたが、保守派が多く鎖国を続ける方針を持っていました。この戦争で近代戦を経験した薩摩藩は、方針を急展開してイギリスから学ぶようになり、徳川幕府から離反する動きを加速させます。
徳川幕府に対抗するクーデター派閥を形成し、後に成立する大日本帝国の中枢を担うことになります。
Excellent presentation.
Thanks for watching
I thought I was a bit of a history buff , but I've never heard of this story, Great video 👍
Another outstanding vid sir.
Many thanks.
History worth remembering!! Thank you!
Thanks for this, an account of a conflict I had no knowledge of.
This was very fascinating i never knew this history thanks for sharing
One thing I notice when hearing about the red coats is their moral. It's always sky high almost to the point that it becomes a danger. Well it did when they fought the Zulus. They are so immensely proud and so convinsed of their skills and invincibility. And of the army's superiority.
I'm amazed at how the british high command and the officers manages to instill such pride in the men and make them so proud to serve.
It goes back to the time of Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt. I've been reading Fortescues history of the British army and apparently during William IIIs mismanaged campaigns in Flanders in the 1690s many in England decried the fact that it was not in the 'natural order of things for English men to lose to French.' The french being of course, besides the germans, the most formidable enemy they ever fought. The successes of Marlborough and Wellington were felt to have 'set things back in their proper order' and gave a feeling of superiority which I think were not quite diminished until the disasters of the 2nd Boer and 1st world wars.
They were told that we are the greatest nation on earth ! Of course, at the time we were
I'm guessing the only imperial army to compare would have been the Romans. The same mindset, that the Romans and the Roman state was so much more superior to anything else and victory was assured.
Japan: "Oh neat, I would also like to try this 'colonization' thingy you Westerners are doing"
*proceeds to control nearly all of southeast asia*
Awesome video. Would love to know more about redcoats in Japan. British-Japanese military interaction has had an undervalued role. William Fairburn a Royal Marine did bayonet fencing against Japanese soldiers. Based on this experience, and street fighting in Shanghai, he went on to create the blueprint for what is now known as SWAT.
Fantastic thanks for the info. Is there any good books on Fairburn?
Err,Fairbairn I think. And he himself wrote a book on the subject. Became a Shanghai policeman. About as much as I know.@@redcoathistory
@@paulmanson253 thanks a lot. I’ve heard of his knife but don’t know much about him. Will look him up.
One of my father's cousins was in the British army in Shanghai. I met him when in Scotland - BIG man and the archetype of a military highlander. A Glaswegian brother-in-law was in the Hong Kong police; probably in the 1950s/1960s or maybe earlier. Those must have been "interesting" times. They were both interesting and entertaining men.@@paulmanson253
@@redcoathistory Fairbairn of knife legend has at least two TH-cam videos. He was portrayed by the American actor Jeremy Slate in the good movie The Devil's Brigade about the Canadian/Yank mountain assault group. Fairbairn did not like being portrayed as a young smart alec in an early scene in the mess hall meal. I believe he wrote a book. Of all the imaginary bad as#es in the movies the real ones are left to us history nerds! Ironic. There are other versions of him also slightly noted. I believe one is a Yank with a TH-cam video.
Looks like I've found a new favourite channel.
Great stuff. Thanks.
たったの一藩でイギリス相手に善戦したの面白い。国同士の戦争になったらイギリスでも勝つのは難しいと判断したから植民地化は諦めたんだろうね
Wasn't about colonization it was about trade.
This at the time is The British Empire. If they wanted you they take it. Remember they took over places like India.
@@renevil2105 イギリスがインドを支配するのに何年かかったと思ってんだよ。武力侵攻で日本を落とすのは当時の技術じゃ無理だし、インドの時みたいに謀略を巡らせても100年単位で時間が必要。他の未開の地域と同じように東アジアを植民地化出来ると思ってるならお花畑にも程がある。
Japan was a closed country. For centuries, the only place in Japan a foreign ship could stop was in Nagasaki - far away from the capital. For much of that time, only Dutch ships were allowed.
It was not until the late 19th century a foreign ship (American) dared approach the shores of Edo (the capital at that time), bringing modern goods to sell.
When the Japanese saw how much technology had advanced during their closed period, they went into overdrive, sending Samurai to Europe and America to study and bring back the knowledge to Japan.
Probably the fastest industrial revolution in the world (until Deng-era China, I suppose).
Great video as always. Would to see one about the VoC relationships
Yes the British and Japanese were firm allies and Japan actually fought with the Allies in WW1. But the Americans forced the treaties to be absolved in the 1920s. The Americans fearing war with both Britain and Japan a possibility, this act served to increase Japanese hostility to the US and spurred their alliance with Germany in the1930s.
The Japanese were one of the victorious powers at Versailles however they felt snubbed by the other all white delegates. The treaty or Versailles was chaired by US president Woodrow Wilson now acknowledged as a ardent Southern white supremists. Nationalism increased in Japan during the 1920's and exploded when the Depression struck making imports expensive leading to ultra nationalism and expansionist aims from a increasingly militaristic controlled government. As you said the UK was incorraged to test up treaties made circa 1900 by the USA further isolating Japan from international trade agreements ie with the British empire and commonwealth. Even up until 1940 the biggest threat was considered the USSR but double agents off set the threat leading to expansionist plans in South East Asia assuming priority.
@@mike-cl7pbThe result of American insecurity and Democrat Racism, really did lead to the militarization of Japan and the disaster in China in the 1930s. If Japan had been treated fairly and alliances maintained, World history could have been very different
Interesting article. A fascinating period of Japanese history not widely known about in the UK. Political turmoil.
Love this episode Chris, stand out viewing as usual-----very 'last samurai'
Thanks Gerry. Hope all is well with you mate.
I’m a former Royal Marine who obviously has a certain amount of knowledge in regards to Corp history but I didn’t know that the Marines were involved in active service against the Japanese in their country.
I spent time in Japan as an active duty Marine and I love history. I never knew that the US Marines and the Redcoats stood shoulder to shoulder prior to the 20th century. The fact that this slipped past me is actually strange. Thank you for another brilliant lesson.
Hi Phillip, a very late reply to your comment, sorry about that, the story of William Seeley V.C is great, a brave man and fully deserving of his medal, unfortunately he was not a Marine, he was an ordinary seaman in the Royal Navy, none the less, he was a hero and so were the other four Americans who won the medal.....a friend and ally from across the pond.
I've been living here in Japan for over 34 years and I never knew about these battles. This was fun. Thanks for the lesson. By the way, your Japanese pronunciation is atrocious, but your knowledge of history is spot on mate!
Thanks - glad you enjoyed the video - luckily I don't claim to be a Japanese scholar 😅
11:41 Accents AND pronunciation 😅😅. But you have an endearing energy, great pacing and very decent editing! You're a great storyteller like many Brits I've met! Subscribed!
Ha ha a mixed review sir but one takes the positives. Many thanks .
I admit I winced with every "sam-mū-rye" but I kept going because I liked the story.
March 1, 2024 - As a Yank and serious Anglophile, I'm quite pleased that I happened upon this channel. I've subscribed to it because as an old geezer 😊who has been a student of military affairs and history for decades. As testament, I am the proud owner of a W.Britain military figures collection. I have specialized in collecting figures representing the famous Scottish regiment the Black Watch 42nd. Foot. My collection honors the various conflicts that the Black Watch have fought in, but not in the world wars. My main display is of Scottish regiments that fought at Waterloo. Which includes the Black Watch, The Gordons, and the Scots Greys Cavalry Regiment. I of course have any number of books dedicated to British Military History. Regarding this video, I was very amused a the casual presentation of the host. Which included his wife(?) questioning as to whether intend to go somewhere. 😁That reminded me of something that a female friend once told me. She asked her husband, "Where you going?" To which he answered, "I'm not going anywhere." She in turn said.. "Well.. why is your car running?"😁 I never found out what the answer was. 😏
Welcome to the channel. It sounds like you have a fantastic interest in British/Scottish Military history so I think you will enjoy the channel. Keep in touch.
@@redcoathistory Sir, thank you for your kind and quick response. I have to warn you that I am quite loquacious 😊, as you can see from my comments. I am a late night person here in New England, and you apparently are an early riser. I have a service that allows me to watch British domestic TV channels like the BBC. So I am quite up on what is going on in Old Blighty. I didn't mention it but my bookshelf Waterloo display not only has the Scottish regiments, but also some French infantry on the attack with a wonderful French lancer. Who may represent the French cavalry that chased off The Scots Greys after their overly enthusiastic charge, causing them to over-extend themselves, and leave them open to a counter attack. One display is from one of the British campaigns in Egypt/Sudan where a British officer won I believe the Victoria Cross, and a lesser rank won another medal. (They are the only figures representing a British Army regiment that isn't Scottish). One of my stand alone figures is reminiscent of the Black Watch "Lone Scottish Piper" that played at the closing of the handing over rule of Hong Kong. I remember watching it live on TV in 1997, as the poor piper had to deal with high winds and perhaps a few rain drops. Stay well Sir, and as we Star Trek fans say "Live long and prosper!🖖🏻"😊
the era when the British army doubled as a drug cartel in China
Yes they where into drug trade, human trafficking and theft of anything they could lay their hands upon. The Pedo Palace still has its hands in many of these areas to this day.
The usual suspects, The Sassoon family…..
@@bushwhackeddos.2703 At the time opium was the wonder drug of it's day. It seemed to cure everything and gave people the first real pain relief that they had ever had . It was seen as a medicine. And the British had the best product.
I was about to type exactly this and saw you had already done it. Smart man.
If you look at the Opium Wars, it was nowhere near as big and devastating as you think . The Germans would have done way worse on an average day before breakfast. Opium was the wonder drug of its day, and the Chinese were already addicted . Opium seemed to be the cure for everything.
Well presented young man! I enjoyed this and forwarded it to my youngest son who is like his dad a history buff!!
Thankyou, Sir.
Seeley was the second American to receive a VC; he was, however, the first citizen of the U.S. to receive the VC. The first was Alexander Roberts Dunn, a Canadian, for actions at Balaclava.
The other four U.S. recipients of the VC received it as a result of actions on the Western Front with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.
lmfaooooo we all knew he was talking about actual americans. stay mad my northern brother
@@satleet, "actual Americans?" That's an arrogation, if ever I've read one.
@@abchaplin calm down, it's just that "American" typically refers to the USA, "North America" refers to the landmass, which includes Canada, Mexico, and US, and "the Americas" refer to both north and south America, but no other country of the Americas refer to themselves as Americans except the US, it's even in our name, "the US of America" Canada is just referred to as Canadians, unless you want us to be referred to as "unitedians " or "stateians" it'll stay as americans. and yes, the US are actual "Americans", since it's in our name, unless Canada's name is changed to "PA" or "provinces of America" then no, you aren't an actual American, nor can you refer to yourself as one, BUT, you can say "i live in north America" or "i'm north American" since "Americans" refers to only the citizens of one country.
@@stefthorman8548, that is how many use it, but my view is informed by historical events. Our dominion was established by the British North America Act. We anglophones did not refer to ourselves as "Canadians" -- back then, "Canadians" meant "canadiens" -- until after the failure of the Imperial project between the Boer and Great Wars. Up to that point, we were British. At a meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet in the spring of 1917, an attendee was heard by Sir Robert Borden to remark that "At last the Americans are in." SRB growled in response, "We've been here for three[sic] years!" Keep in mind that SRB was Canada's last prime minister born before confederation -- and that he was a Bluenoser and proud of it.
In the end, "American" is a colloquialism, admittedly widely used. Please note that, in official documents, the U.S. government does not use it to refer to its people except perhaps its indigenous peoples. It will use phrases such as "U.S. citizens and/or residents." Coinages such as Frank Lloyd Wright's "Usonian" never took hold. Other languages, however, have "Estadunidense" (Spanish) and "Étatsunien" (French) which succinctly covers the U.S.A.'s peoples.
In the end, I think we should reclaim the term as applying to us. When people ask if we are American, we should say "Yes, from the Canadian part," or some such.
@@abchaplinTY. I thought "America' was some kind of goddess or something, like 'Europa " for Europe is. Your line is unknown to me.
Good stuff! Enjoyed this chapter of British history.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.
Japan is the Britain of Asia.
The parallelism is very much interesting.
More like the prussians of asia, they modernized and reformed their country in the blink of an eye.
@@Anonnonner9546 A mixture of both, perhaps.
I’ve always seen Japan as the Germany of Asia. Very industrious and economically solid. I can see what you mean though.
Immigration means it's now not true
Just discovered this channel. Never knew Britain and Japan went to war in the 1800s. Would love to see a historical movie of this, something akin to Zulu, Waterloo, Gettysburg or The Last Samurai.
I went to school with a kid called Allcock. We used to joke with him about it, 'allcock no brains, allcock no balls etc ' being Australian in the seventies , he was the one who would laugh the hardest 😂.
We used to be able to take And give a joke .
that is sooooo good, the ships band playing 'Oh Dear What can the Matter be', as they shot the place up (07.50)... so understated.
"Those damned American colonists"
As a damned American colonist, I approve this message.
What about the splitter part?
@@aking-plums6985 - Absolutely 😁
@@aking-plums6985 - Absolutely
@@aking-plums6985 Said with nothing but love and respect Dear boy.
@@aking-plums6985the redcoats may have been better off over here
Great video.....I was unaware the Brits fought the Samarai....My second great grandfather was with the 18th Regiment of Foot in the Opium Wars of 1842...Well done, and very informative.
Another interesting story, surely British colonial history wasn't boring!
It's strange that the US navy, neverthless the ACW, could spare ships and men for overseas missions.
P.s. as shown on your video, the redcoats are soldiers, not warriors, andi the fomer generally eats warriors for lunch!👍
Always love the content, I would love a video of what British army training would have looked like during the Zulu and boar wars.
Funnily enough I have a video coming out on Victorian army fitness training that you may enjoy.
@@redcoathistory exactly what I am looking for, thanks
4:36 "only the merchants were itching for a war"
Isn't it always the case? (´ー｀)
Fascinating! Just discovered your channel, looking forward to watching more vids.
Welcome aboard! - New video has just been released that you may enjoy.
Lesson to be learnt: Never allow foreigners to setup "trading ports" or "merchant colonies" on your nation, because soon they will deploy troops for security and all hell breaks loose.
A modern special economic zone is usually set up with local government cooperation.
A trade without security is essentially robbing
Interesting. These are the parts of history I seek. Things I know not much about. Thanks for the video!
Several of my forebears were captives at Dunbar, indentured to Puritan farmers in Massachusetts, and they wedded the daughters of their masters.
Another branch was couturiers for the rich. Queen Mary stayed at our house in Yorkshire during the first night of her exile, and we gave, to her, a dress. Her death may have been mercifully faked, so as to get the heat off of her, while simultaneously getting her out of the fracas.
Chas. 2 stayed at the house of another branch of my family, the sister of Geo. Carteret of Jersey, during Charles's exile, before he went to France.
That’s great research! I love ‘micro/family history like this.
It must have taken you ages.
Forgive my ignorance but did you refer to Mary of Modena?
Nice to be appreciated, thank you.
Yes, but some cumulative from a sketchy earlier paid research, and some input from cousin.
@@robertcottam8824
Mary Queen of Scots.
@@robertcottam8824
Harry Parkes Sahib and tales of daring do! Fantastic coverage that I'd never heard of! Back in the day you threatened Britons at your peril! 🏴🇬🇧
Only the British of this era could claim an indigenous army protecting its nation and national interest in its homeland as “rebels”. All while they force their way in to profit of its riches.
Classic stuff.
Rebels to the Japanese Emperor not to the British...
Always enjoy your videos.
Good show Sir !
Many thanks, Sir!
The Satsuma domain had been purchasing large quantities of Western weapons and warships from Thomas Blake Glover. Emperor Meiji was educating the Japanese people so that Japan would not be influenced by Western ideas. He created the Imperial Rescript on Education, and Inazo Nitobe wrote Bushido, a collection of ancient samurai morals.
Katana was also used after WW2. Mongolians who were mercenaries of the Chinese Communist Party used guns and katana, so the Chinese Communist Party's construction methods depict Mongolians with katana.
British physician and diplomat Sir Rutherford Alcock (1809 - 1897). "I have seen many a battlefield," "but of sabre wounds I never saw any so horrible. One man had his skull shorn clean through from the back and half the head sliced off to the spine, while his limbs only hung together by shreds." "They have attained the climax of dexterity. The sword is always carried at the side, and adepts in the use of it wound the moment it is drawn." "The fatal stroke, upwards, is given in the act of drawing. Hence, placing the hand on the hilt is equivalent to presenting a cocked revolver, and if the assailant is not disabled in the act it is too late for defence."
British researcher Basil Hall Chamberlain (1850 - 1935) "Japanese swords excel even the vaunted products of Damascus and Toledo. To cut through a pile of copper coins without nicking the blade is, or was, a common feat."
Francis James Norman (1855 -)"Though highly scientific, kenjutsu is a very rough-and-tumble sort of sword-play, absolutely free from parade and all theatrical touches, but wonderfully practical withal. As Japanese chivalry is most uncompromisingly based upon the idea that all is fair in war,so Japanese swordsmen resort to certain methods which are highly reprehensible from our point of view. "
Yet Anglo Saxon swords were of better quality than both Damascus and katana.
@@mikeycraig8970 High-quality Japanese knives that are highly regarded today are made using the same traditional method as katana.
th-cam.com/users/shortsTldpPYewaQo
Japan's Hitachi Metals developed Yasugi Specialty Steel (yasuki hagane) by analyzing steel in Katana around 1970. Yasugi Steel has the same properties as katana, so it is hard, impact resistant, and hard to break. Yasugi Specialty Steel is used for a variety of purposes, including knife steel, high-grade kitchen knife materials (Kai Corporation, Zwilling), razor materials (Gillette, Schick, Wilkinson razor steel), automobile parts materials, automobile engine parts, aircraft engine parts, etc. It is used in In the 12th century, katana craftsmen moved to Seki City and manufactured katana in large quantities. Currently, around 100 companies in Seki City produce kitchen knives, razor blades, bottle openers, can openers, and medical cutlery.
@@mikeycraig8970 Katana steel is of high quality, so modern Japanese kitchen knives are made from Katana steel. Japanese steel company Hitachi Metals analyzed Katana steel and developed Yasugi Specialty Steel around 1970. Yasugi Specialty Steel produces cutlery steel, high-grade kitchen knife materials (Kai Corporation, Zwilling), razor materials (Gillette, Schick, Wilkinson razor steel), medical cutlery, automobile parts materials, automobile engine parts, and aircraft engine parts.
@@tn1881 I'm just stating what an old archeologist told me. Steel of the quality the Anglo Saxons used was prized the world over for it's superior quality. There was much more he said at the time but it was some 25 years ago and I don't remember it all. However knew what he was talking about and it made perfect sense, at the time.
@tn1881 Just… No. You are completely, pathetically ignorant. To start with, high end modern Japanese knives are NOT made with “katana steel.” I know because I own several. They’re made with Swedish carbon steel or ultra modern steels like zdp189. Katana steel is basically hardened wrought iron: it is sharp, but it breaks very easily. That’s why in a historically accurate film like The Seven Samurai one of the protagonists stockpiles swords so he can switch to a new one as they break. The Japanese military stopped using “katana steel” and used tougher imported spring steel even before the Russo Japanese war. Because unlike you, their knowledge of swords was from the real world and not manga… Yes, Japan produces excellent steel today. But it’s from western ore using western methods, you very, very strange person. (Japanese ore had to be panned from riverbeds and it’s really, really awful.)
This is totally new to me.
Same as! And I’m supposed to be an ‘academic’! 😂
A lot of these events have been somewhat dramatized by the Author James Clavell in his "Asian Saga" book Gaijin, the rest of the series is pretty good too.
Our family friends from Wales always ask my parents(California) how things are "in the colonies."
Respect to you limeys from us yanks. Keep your history and traditions alive.
Fantasizing video. Impressive reading too.
Amazing account of little known battles. Was a medal issued for these?
Thanks a lot. You know I’m not sure about the medals. I suspect not, but joshua Provan might know. I’ll ask him.
Really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it. Any other subjects you'd like to see me cover?
@@redcoathistory Thanks for your reply. Honestly, I've only just discovered your channel and there's a lot of good looking content so I'll have to come back to you on that.
In fact, Britain was unable to defeat Satsuma and retreated. Britain had the most advanced warships and cannons, but three ships were destroyed and the captain and second-in-command Commander were killed in action. Many houses in Satsuma were burned, but the British suffered more casualties.
Don't fuck with the british. We went out that far and still kicked ass.
The Satsuma still ended up conceding to most of the British terms and opened up trade again. The bombardment was not traditionally conclusive but Britain had made her point, those warships also were damaged not destroyed
@@joshwebb5016 It is true that Britain was defeated by Satsuma and retreated. Although Satsuma won the battle, they recognized that British weapons were superior. Satsuma prioritized overthrowing the Edo Shogunate and thought it would be more advantageous to team up with Britain. Even though they won, they teamed up with the enemy. This flexibility is what makes Satsuma strong. Satsuma did the same thing to Choshu, earning them their wrath, but later formed an alliance with them and overthrew the Edo Shogunate. They are really good at combat and diplomacy.
@@user-is5jz6pz1fyour have to be japanese 🤣🤣 this is hilarious to read. "Well yes we agreed to all of their demands, but only after we defeated them and showed them that we won that we decided to accept our (totally not) defeat
@@aaroncousins4750 aaroncousins4750: We retreated with three ships destroyed and our captain and second in command killed, but we won🤣
History, as it was never covered during my developing years. Kudos.
Let’s talk about the forgotten battle of Malaya in 1940 in which the Japanese army took on British colonial troops!
70,000 japanese soldiers on bike defeating 140,000 british colonial soldiers with motorised vehicles. Something the brits don’t want you to remember
And the last samurai (the foreign officer fighting alongside the samurai) against british troops was actually a French!! His name is Jules Brunet
not Redcoats, wrong time period my friend
@@overwatch65 the japanese had their ‘revenge’ anyway, in terms of military (not ideology)
@@nerdyguy1152 they were good soldiers but General Slim got the better of them in the Burma and India arenas, the Aussies bettered them in Papua and the Americans in the Pacific. Their leaders put them into the field with little to no logistical support and sometimes even without food. They were brave but an army needs more than bravery to win whole campaigns.
I believe, based on his reference to "getting home to Sagdahoc " that the American referenced is from the lovely state of Maine, where I lived for 10 years.
If you ever cross the big pond to visit, I strongly recommend it.
Great video!
Would love to! My goal is a military history tour around the US one day
Brilliant, loved it
Fantastic video production
Well, Japan wasn't really closed.
Trade was possible, but only through the Dutch or Chinese. China because close, the Dutch because they had agreed to mind their own business and be strictly about trade, something in which they outbid the Portugese who had insisted on imposing catholicism on Japan.
In an interesting historical boomerang effect, breaking this deal and forcibly opening Japan rapidly modernising it, creating imperialistic Japan that proceeded to start invading other countries, eventually into the Second Sino-Japanese War which I'd argue was the technical start of World War 2. Leaving Japan to its devices during this era until roughly the 1880s or 1890s and paying a couple Dutch guys to trade for them would've probably ensured Japan was so late to modernise they wouldn't have been in any position to wage war on anyone.
Russia receiving less of a stomping in the region might even influence the stability of the czarist government and who knows how that would've worked out.
The fall of the Romanov’s had more to do with their appalling domestic policies - and defeat in the First World War.
Best wishes
Hmm, I thought I knew a thing or two about the British Empire, and the 'exploits' of the so-called red-coats - yet I had no idea about this! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers from Sweden.