BS Nippon Presents 'Michifumi Ishida's Journey Through History': The Truth Behind the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle – 2-Hour Special Unveils the Secrets of Japan's 'Strongest Castle' with Exclusive Access to Restricted Areas – Airs Wednesday, June 17 at 8 PM

Airing on BS Nippon, 'Michifumi Ishida's Journey Through History' is a historical documentary series that reveals the 'truth' and 'romance' of Japan's past through Ishida's unique perspective and engaging narration. On Wednesday, June 17 at 8 PM, historian Michifumi Ishida and Japan's foremost castle researcher, Yoshihiro Chida, will conduct an in-depth investigation of Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and National Treasure. Known as the 'White Heron Castle' for its elegant white appearance, the program explores why this iconic castle has survived for over 400 years. To uncover its secrets, the team gains special access to normally off-limits restricted areas, examining stone walls bearing traces from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's era, architectural features, and the ultimate defensive system of Japanese castle design—the 'renritsu-shiki tenshu' (connected keep complex). The program deciphers the truth behind Japan's most magnificent castle, combining cutting-edge research with on-site exploration.

【Highlight 1】Exclusive Access to Restricted Areas: Unveiling the Secrets of Himeji Castle's 'Strength'

The biggest highlight is the special entry into areas normally closed to the public. The team investigates the interior of the National Treasure Himeji Castle's 'renritsu-shiki tenshu' to fully reveal why it is known as the 'strongest castle.' Complex passageways designed to confuse enemies, defensive structures enabling attacks from all directions, and numerous mechanisms allowing prolonged sieges—all reveal the castle's true nature as a fortress built for war, not just beauty.

【Highlight 2】Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, Kanbei: The Legacy of Great Warlords in Himeji Castle's History

Himeji Castle bears the footprints of legendary figures who shaped Japanese history—Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Kuroda Kanbei. The program explores the castle's role in Hideyoshi's 'Chugoku Ogaeshi' campaign after the Incident at Honno-ji, which helped him seize power, and delves into the grand castle construction led by Ikeda Terumasa after the Battle of Sekigahara. From the Sengoku to the Edo period, the program uncovers the drama of national unification through the castle that witnessed turbulent eras.

【Highlight 3】Princess Sen and Himeji Castle: A Turbulent Life and the Stories Left in the Castle

Born as Tokugawa Ieyasu's granddaughter, married to Toyotomi Hideyori, and having her fate dramatically altered during the Summer Siege of Osaka, Princess Sen later remarried to Honda Tadakatsu, lord of Himeji Castle, and began a new life in Himeji. The program visits sites associated with Princess Sen, exploring the resilient life of a woman who endured the chaos of war.

＜Program Overview＞

Program Title: Michifumi Ishida's Journey Through History – The Truth Behind the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle – 2-Hour Special

Cast: Michifumi Ishida (Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies), Yoshihiro Chida (Castle Archaeologist, Professor at Nagoya City University's Graduate School of Humanities and Professor Emeritus at Nara University), and Michiko Tanaka

Broadcast Date and Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:54 PM

Broadcast Network: BS Nippon