Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Our whole series on the samurai can be found here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuFCebpCxd4iXskRq7gemedn
EP 1: youtu.be/4gMBq1hiiWI
EP 2: youtu.be/e-s0i_cQaWo
EP 3: youtu.be/00nEH8kCBsw
EP 4: youtu.be/XYRqwrDZPQo
Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com
What made the Samurai such elite warriors? How did the Minamoto clan seize control of vast swathes of Japan in the 12th century? And, which of their Samurai rivals would enact their bloody downfall…?
0:00 Samurai Civil War Begins – Taira vs Minamoto
3:20 Warrior Culture vs Courtly Japan
7:05 Samurai Brutality & Beheading Culture
10:59 Power, Honor, and Ruthlessness
14:04 Rise of the Minamoto in Eastern Japan
17:13 Taira Dominate the West & Control Trade
20:43 Crisis in Kyoto After Emperor’s Death
24:13 Palace Coup & Night of Fire
27:04 Minamoto vs Taira Power Struggle
31:17 Kiyomori Takes Control of Japan
34:05 The Fox Legend & Rise of a Tyrant
38:03 Exile of Yoritomo – A Fatal Mistake
42:05 Plot to Overthrow Kiyomori
46:10 Warrior Monks Enter the War
49:00 Battle of Uji Bridge Begins
52:02 Heroic Last Stand on the Bridge
56:02 Birth of Samurai Ritual Suicide
59:14 War Escalates Across Japan
1:02:03 Death of Kiyomori & Omen of Doom
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Creative Director of Animation: Michael Sherdyts
Lead Animator / Production Lead: Kate Korolko
Lead Illustrator: Vadym Berkutenko
Illustrator: Viktoria Lafazan
Map Animator: Mike Dunakovskiy
3D Artist / Blender Animator: Vishal Dekuzy
Video Editor: Jack Meek, Harry Swan & Adam Thornton
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett
Senior Producer: Callum Hill
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
Our whole series on the samurai can be found here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuFCebpCxd4iXskRq7gemedn
EP 1: youtu.be/4gMBq1hiiWI
EP 2: youtu.be/e-s0i_cQaWo
EP 3: youtu.be/00nEH8kCBsw
EP 4: youtu.be/XYRqwrDZPQo
Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com
What made the Samurai such elite warriors? How did the Minamoto clan seize control of vast swathes of Japan in the 12th century? And, which of their Samurai rivals would enact their bloody downfall…?
0:00 Samurai Civil War Begins – Taira vs Minamoto
3:20 Warrior Culture vs Courtly Japan
7:05 Samurai Brutality & Beheading Culture
10:59 Power, Honor, and Ruthlessness
14:04 Rise of the Minamoto in Eastern Japan
17:13 Taira Dominate the West & Control Trade
20:43 Crisis in Kyoto After Emperor’s Death
24:13 Palace Coup & Night of Fire
27:04 Minamoto vs Taira Power Struggle
31:17 Kiyomori Takes Control of Japan
34:05 The Fox Legend & Rise of a Tyrant
38:03 Exile of Yoritomo – A Fatal Mistake
42:05 Plot to Overthrow Kiyomori
46:10 Warrior Monks Enter the War
49:00 Battle of Uji Bridge Begins
52:02 Heroic Last Stand on the Bridge
56:02 Birth of Samurai Ritual Suicide
59:14 War Escalates Across Japan
1:02:03 Death of Kiyomori & Omen of Doom
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Social channels:
instagram.com/theresthistory
tiktok.com/@theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social
threads.com/@theresthistory
Creative Director of Animation: Michael Sherdyts
Lead Animator / Production Lead: Kate Korolko
Lead Illustrator: Vadym Berkutenko
Illustrator: Viktoria Lafazan
Map Animator: Mike Dunakovskiy
3D Artist / Blender Animator: Vishal Dekuzy
Video Editor: Jack Meek, Harry Swan & Adam Thornton
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett
Senior Producer: Callum Hill
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley
