Kondo Isami: Last Samurai Standing

About this episode

The episode explores the life of Kondo Isami, a samurai who faced the challenges of a changing Japan during civil war.

The samurai weren’t supposed to go quietly. This week, host Ben Thompson is joined by guest Mike Primavera to tell the story of Kondo Isami the peasant-born swordsman who rose to command the most feared killers in Kyoto: the Shinsengumi. As Japan cracked open under pressure from Western powers and internal rebellion, Kondo and his men became the iron fist of the collapsing shogunate — hunting assassins, cutting down rebels, and enforcing order with cold steel in the streets. But when civil war erupted and the emperor’s modern army marched forward with rifles and artillery, Kondo faced an impossible choice: adapt… or die defending a dying world. He chose the sword. This is loyalty pushed to its breaking point. An era ending in blood. And a man who stood firm while history moved past him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Ben Thompson

Guest: Mike Primavera

Topics covered

• samurai
• Japanese history
• Shinsengumi
• civil war
• loyalty
• adaptation

Keywords

• Kondo Isami
• samurai
• Shinsengumi
• civil war
• Japanese history
• loyalty
• adaptation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shinsengumi

Places: Kyoto, Japan

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