| ::OTHER TOPICS :: While I’m becoming known by many as a scholar of the Bakumatsu period, I have interests in other periods of Japanese and world history, as well. Some of these include: *Takenaka Hanbei, the eminent strategist of the 16th-century Saito clan. Who was he? Why were his strategies so successful? How did he adapt in his role as a strategist for Hashiba Hideyoshi? *Kato Kiyomasa, the blacksmith’s son turned daimyo lord. What gave him his reputation of “Devil” in Korea? What were the details of his connection to Nichiren Buddhism? *Matsudaira Tadayoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s little-known fourth son. *The different branches of the Matsudaira clan of Mikawa. Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Anjo-Matsudaira may have become famous, but what of the others? What were their roles in the pre-Warring States and Warring States era, and what became of them in the Edo Period? Did they always see eye to eye? UPDATE: Branches of the Mikawa-Matsudaira Clan, and basic information on each, available here *Hori Hidemasa, one of Hideyoshi’s generals. *The origins of the Matsumae clan, who rose from origins in the Takeda of Wakasa Province to become the ruling family of Ezochi (modern-day Hokkaido). *The life and times of Amakusa Shiro Tokisada. Non-Japanese topics include: *The life and work of Diana Agabeg Apcar, first and only Armenian ambassador to Japan. *The orations of the Roman senator and lawyer Marcus Tullius Cicero. *The life of the 5th century Armenian general Samuel Mamigonian. *The history of the American Revolutionary War. *Roman battlefield tactics. *Forgotten history of World War II. *The Hittite language and its influence upon Armenian and Greek.
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