ThisexcellentPBSdocumentaryseriesconsistsofthreepartsof1houreachcoveringJapanesehistoryfromthearrivalofthePortuguesein1543tothearrivalofPerryandtheAmericansin1854.NarratedbyRichardChamberlain,interspersedwithinterviewsofWesternandJapaneseacademics,thisfascinatingshowisillustratedwithre-enactmentsandperiodartwork.PartIcoverstheMomoyamaperiodofcivilwarthroughNobunagatoHideyoshiandtellsoftheriseofTokugawaIeasuandendswiththesiegeofOsakacastlein1615.PartIIcoverstheTokugawaShogunatefrom1603totheShimabararebellionin1638,whichledtotheclosureofJapanunderIeasu'sgrandson.Westerninfluence,includingChristianity,isimportantinthisperiod.PartIIIcoverstheperiodofJapaneseisolation,fromthetimeoftheDutchconcessioninNagasakiharboruptothearrivalofAmericancommodoreMatthewPerryin1854.TheSamuraiclassdeclinesduringthisperiodasthemerchantclassrises,Japanesecultureflourishes,andEdo(Tokyo)becomesthelargestcityintheworld.