
This video might not help you ace a final, but it will definitely help you get motivated to study Japanese history.
Japanese history can be pretty complicated and detailed when you start looking at all the specifics, but if you’re looking for a quick review from pre-history to modern times, this video will certainly get the job done!
Titled simply and directly “history of japan,” this nine-minute, highly stylized YouTube video, complete with 90s-style animation and musical highlights, features humorous narration that will help you remember everything you learned (and then forgot) in class.
But our description can’t do it justice — you’ll just have to watch it to get the full enjoyment!
While this certainly won’t replace your textbook or your professor, we do have to say the video is hugely enjoyable — and we wish more educational videos made the effort to have fun with their subjects!
As for the person who created it, it seems that Bill Wurtz is a musician/YouTuber who’s been active online for quite some time! Though it looks like most of his older videos were only a few seconds long…but no less humorous!
▼ Like this!
▼ And this!
Hopefully Bill will make more long explanation videos — we’ll certainly be looking forward to them! Maybe even a video about science?
Source/images: YouTube/bill wurtz

This crazy 4-minute clip is the most epic fan-made anime tribute we’ve seen this year
A brief history of emoji, language standards, and why you can text piles of poo to your friends
These 20-year-old Uniqlo commercials may be the best we’ve ever seen!
This cat is not impressed with its friend’s smelly butt 【Video】
Doraemon meets Dragon Ball in the weirdest mash up we’ve seen today
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Sushi Push Pops aiming to be Japan’s newest sakura season snack sensation
Minecraft User Decides to Make Kinkakuji, Eventually Creates the Entire City of Kyoto
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Japan’s elementary school backpacks grow up with new high-class randoseru for adults
Number of foreigners working in Japan hits all-time high, 25 percent come from same country
Starbucks Japan offers special sakura picnics at Reserve Roastery Tokyo beside Meguro River
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pikachu and Eevee become handmade Lladró porcelain sculptures to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Dragon Ball & Attack on Titan’s theme songs—recreated with taiko, flutes, and beatboxing!【Video】
This video of someone making ramen miniatures is the most relaxing thing on YouTube【Video】
“Hello Tokyo” is one of the most stylish sightseeing videos we’ve ever seen【Video】
Kanji Tetris is the coolest way to practice and play with Japanese that we’ve ever seen【Video】
History of game controllers shows us how much gaming has evolved over 40 years【Video】
This compilation of Japan’s best 2015 commercials is most insanity per second we’ve seen 【Video】
Get ready to rock! 38 awesome covers of video game music in 17 minutes
【Fixed】 Collection of Ingenious Short Skits From the Japanese Program That Brought Us “Matrix Ping Pong” Now on YouTube
Sh*t Japanese Girls Say and Other Hilarious Truths From an American Living in Japan
Why do cats love this middle-aged man so much? We don’t know, but we want to be him!【Video】
Informative video condenses everything about Japan into sixteen minutes of pure gold【Video】
Viral Video Worlds Collide: Hitler Raps to Gangnam Style
Japanese police make first-ever YouTuber arrest for uploading video game gameplay videos
New Miyazaki Pref. tourism ad gets laughs with the incomprehensible dialect of an ancient god
Japanese Plastic Figure Stop Motion Videos Look Amazing, Make Little Sense