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The Dog Shogun: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and Edo's Animal Welfare Laws cover art

The Dog Shogun: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and Edo's Animal Welfare Laws

The Dog Shogun: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and Edo's Animal Welfare Laws

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When we think of Tokugawa rule, we picture military rigor and iron discipline. But the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, is remembered for something entirely different: a series of animal protection laws that earned him the nickname 'the Dog Shogun.' This episode explores Tsunayoshi's eccentric yet surprisingly modern decrees, which forbade cruelty to dogs, horses, and even flies. We trace the religious and political motives behind these laws — from his devotion to the Buddhist principle of mercy to his Confucian advisors who saw animal welfare as a sign of good governance. But enforcement was severe: samurai who harmed a stray dog could face execution, and entire neighborhoods were taxed to build kennels for Edo's stray dogs. We also examine the backlash: the laws were wildly unpopular, and after Tsunayoshi's death, many were quietly reversed. Was he a visionary or a tyrant? We wade into the controversy. Finally, we touch on how Tsunayoshi's rule shaped Edo's culture of pet-keeping, which persists in Japan today. A tale of power, ethics, and unintended consequences. #TokugawaTsunayoshi #DogShogun #EdoPeriod #JapaneseHistory #Samurai #AnimalWelfareHistory #Buddhism #Confucianism #InuKubō #EdoCastle #StrayDogs #ShōruiAwaremiNoRei #TokugawaShogunate #YanagisawaYoshiyasu #Genroku #Japan #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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