Changes

In [[1641]], following the expulsion of the Portuguese in [[1639]], Dejima became the home of the VOC. The Dutch made a single payment which was divided equally among the twenty-five original Japanese merchant investors. For a few decades beginning in [[1655]], the shogunate allowed a free trade policy in the port, but from [[1685]], trade and other matters in the port town came under the control of the ''[[Nagasaki bugyo|Nagasaki bugyô]]'', the chief shogunal official in the city.

In [[1641]], following the expulsion of the Portuguese in [[1639]], Dejima became the home of the VOC. The Dutch made a single payment which was divided equally among the twenty-five original Japanese merchant investors. For a few decades beginning in [[1655]], the shogunate allowed a free trade policy in the port, but from [[1685]], trade and other matters in the port town came under the control of the ''[[Nagasaki bugyo|Nagasaki bugyô]]'', the chief shogunal official in the city.

The island was miniscule, roughly 564 meters in circumference,<ref>The north wall ran 190 meters, the southern wall 234 meters, and 70 meters on east and west.</ref> with a land area under 4,000 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'' in size (3.2 acres, or just under 13,000 m²). Dejima was home to only about forty-four buildings, the original Japanese-style structures being soon replaced by the only European-style buildings in Edo period Japan, which housed at any given time only about ten to fifteen officers (including ''kapitan''s, factors, clerks, and physicians), plus their families, cooks, and servants.<ref>Gonnami, Tsuneharu. "[https://circle-prod.library.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/21181/Images_of_foreigners.pdf?sequence=1 Images of Foreigners in Edo Period Maps and Prints]." Unpublished manuscript. Presentation at symposium "Edo: Past & Present," University of British Columbia, April 1998. p8.</ref> These included two warehouses built by the Dutch<ref>One fireproof and built for textiles in [[1666]], and one for sundries built in [[1674]].</ref> and one built by the shogunate for its own purposes in [[1696]]. Shogunate authorities frequently searched the island for signs of smuggling or other illegal activities, in which scholars believe members of the VOC did indeed, at times, engage.

The island was miniscule, roughly 564 meters in circumference,<ref>The north wall ran 190 meters, the southern wall 234 meters, and 70 meters on east and west.</ref> with a land area under 4,000 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'' in size (3.2 acres, or just under 13,000 m²). Dejima was home to only about forty-four buildings, the original Japanese-style structures being soon replaced by the only European-style buildings in Edo period Japan, which housed at any given time only about ten to fifteen officers (including ''kapitan''s, factors, clerks, and physicians), plus their families, cooks, and servants.<ref>Gonnami, Tsuneharu. "[https://circle-prod.library.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/21181/Images_of_foreigners.pdf?sequence=1 Images of Foreigners in Edo Period Maps and Prints]." Unpublished manuscript. Presentation at symposium "Edo: Past & Present," University of British Columbia, April 1998. p8.</ref> These included two warehouses built by the Dutch<ref>One fireproof and built for textiles in [[1666]], and one for sundries built in [[1674]].</ref> and one built by the shogunate for its own purposes in [[1696]]. Several offices for shogunate officials were also located on the island, and shogunate authorities frequently searched the island for signs of smuggling or other illegal activities, in which scholars believe members of the VOC did indeed, at times, engage.

Access to mainland Japan, i.e. permission to leave Dejima, was via a wooden bridge (later replaced by one in stone) on the north side of the island. Access was severely limited, but included regular journeys made by all 10-15 VOC representatives to pay respects to the shogun at [[Edo]]. These visits took place annually until [[1790]], after which the Dutch visited the shogun only once every five years until [[1850]], when the practice came to an end. These missions generally cost around 3.7% of the company's annual profits.

Access to mainland Japan, i.e. permission to leave Dejima, was via a wooden bridge (later replaced by one in stone) on the north side of the island. Access was severely limited, but included regular journeys made by all 10-15 VOC representatives to pay respects to the shogun at [[Edo]]. These visits took place annually until [[1790]], after which the Dutch visited the shogun only once every five years until [[1850]], when the practice came to an end. These missions generally cost around 3.7% of the company's annual profits.