Click here to go to the YouTube video Hi, welcome to Japanese history in three minutes. I’m teacher Sat, a national government licensed guide interpreter living in Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan. Our theme this time is the Asuka period.Let’s take a look at Japan around the 6th and 7th centuries when Prince Shotoku was active and the Asuka culture flourished. In the 6th century, the powerful Soga clan took control of the Yamato government. Soga Umako enthroned her niece, Empress Suiko. And her nephew, Prince Shotoku, was assigned to assist the empress in politics as regent.  Prince Shotoku established the twelve-level cap and rank system and appointed officials…