William Adams

William Adams (September 24, 1564–May 16, 1620), also known in Japanese as Anjin-sama (???, "Mr Pilot") and Miura Anjin (????, "the pilot of Miura"), was an English navigator who went to Japan, and is believed to be the first Briton ever to reach Japan.

Contacts with the Dutch East India Company

The Liefdes Captain, Jacob Quaeckernaeck, and the treasurer, Melchior van Santvoort, were also sent by Ieyasu in 1604 on a Shogun-licensed Red Seal Ship to go to Patani in Southeast Asia and contact the Dutch East India Company to bring trade to Japan. In 1605, Adams obtained a letter from Ieyasu inviting the Dutch to trade with Japan.

Related Topics:
Jacob Quaeckernaeck - Melchior van Santvoort - 1604 - Red Seal Ship - Patani - Southeast Asia - 1605

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Hampered by conflicts with the Portuguese, the Dutch were not able to send a ship until 1609, to the harbour of Hirado. Through Adams's negotiation with the Shogun, they obtained free trading rights thoughout Japan (in contrast, the Portuguese were only allowed to sell their goods in Nagasaki at fixed, negotiated prices), and to establish a trading factory there:

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The Hollandes be now settled (in Japan) and I have got them that privilege as the Spaniards and Portingals could never get in this 50 or 60 years in Japan. (William Adams letter to Bantam).

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