This film explores the period between the 16th and 19th centuries in Japan by examining the lives of shoguns, samurais, geishas, and the very few westerners allowed into Japan.

Title from container. Originally produced in 2003. "PBS Home Video" -- Container. Documentary. Dolby surround stereo. "An Empires special." Originally broadcast on television as episodes of the "Empires" series.

The Greeks : crucible of civilization(ca. 140 min.) (c1999) ([Vol. 1]) / produced by Atlantic productions in association with PBS and Devillier Donegan Enterprises -- The Medici : godfathers of the Renaissance (ca. 220 min.) (c2003) ([Vol. 2]) / produced by Lion Television in association with PBS and Devillier Donegan Enterprises -- Japan : memoirs of a secret empire (ca. 160 min.) (c2003) ([Vol. 3]) / produced by Lyn Goldfarb Productions, Inc. and Plug-In, Inc. in association with PBS and Devillier Donegan Enterprises ; written by Joan Owens Meyerson, Lyn Goldfarb, Deborah Ann DeSnoo -- Egypt's golden empire (ca. 160 min.) (c2001) ([Vol. 4]) / a Lion Television Production in association with PBS and Devillier Donegan Enterprises ; writer, Justin Pollard -- The Roman empire : in the first century (ca. 219 min.) (c2001) ([Vol. 5])/ produced by Goldfarb and Koval Productions in association with PBS and Devillier Donegan Enterprises ; written by Margaret Koval.