The Land of the Rising Sun’s eight female rulers are all but forgotten, but their lives and reigns were filled with drama

From island-hopping in southerly Okinawa to farm experiences in rural Aomori and skiing in far northern Hokkaido, this diverse archipelago offers intriguing local culture, ancient history and epic wilderness experiences around every corner — and deeper exploration reaps huge rewards

The Tale of Genji , the Japanese novel that dazzled the West

Did you know that Thomas Müntzer, leader of the German Peasants’ War in 1525, used a rainbow flag to rally his followers? It’s an aptly exuberant image for the radical charisma of Müntzer, and for the

Our pick of the latest military history books

This mission was so secret that few published records exist. Now, best-selling author Damien Lewis has unearthed the full incredible story from long-hidden files, family archives and untold personal accounts