Changes

The first Dutch merchants arrived in the port in 1633, and were greeted by the head of the ''Nihonmachi''. Though the shogunate would impose maritime restrictions in 1635, banning direct Japanese involvement in overseas trade, Dutch records indicate that for the few years which the Dutch and Japanese coexisted in Hoi An, the Japanese completely dominated the port's economy<ref>Innes. pp187-188.</ref>. Even after 1635, Japanese were hesitant to deal with the Dutch, buying silks from the Chinese in such volume that the Dutch merchants were rarely able to purchase the amounts they desired, and had to face significantly higher prices resulting from the drastically reduced supply.

The first Dutch merchants arrived in the port in 1633, and were greeted by the head of the ''Nihonmachi''. Though the shogunate would impose maritime restrictions in 1635, banning direct Japanese involvement in overseas trade, Dutch records indicate that for the few years which the Dutch and Japanese coexisted in Hoi An, the Japanese completely dominated the port's economy<ref>Innes. pp187-188.</ref>. Even after 1635, Japanese were hesitant to deal with the Dutch, buying silks from the Chinese in such volume that the Dutch merchants were rarely able to purchase the amounts they desired, and had to face significantly higher prices resulting from the drastically reduced supply.

Over the course of the 17th century, the Japanese community in Hoi An gradually shrank and disappeared, assimilated into the Vietnamese community. Intermarriage not only within the ''Nihonmachi'', but between notable Japanese merchant families and the Nguyễn noble family, is indicated by contemporary records, grave markers, and various forms of anecdotal evidence. The descendants of several of these merchant families still hold today as heirlooms objects relating the families' connections to Vietnam<ref>Chuong, Thau. "Bridge of Friendship." in ''Ancient Town of Hoi An''. p209.</ref>.

Over the course of the 17th century, the Japanese community in Hoi An gradually shrank and disappeared, assimilated into the Vietnamese community. Intermarriage not only within the ''Nihonmachi'', but between notable Japanese merchant families and the Nguyễn noble family, is indicated by contemporary records, grave markers, and various forms of anecdotal evidence. The descendants of several of these merchant families still hold today as heirlooms objects relating the families' connections to Vietnam<ref name=chuong>Chuong, Thau. "Bridge of Friendship." in ''Ancient Town of Hoi An''. 302-304.</ref>.

Hoi An today is a small and relatively unassuming city, its port having long since silted up, leading to a sharp decline in its economic prosperity and significance. The precise location of the ''Nihonmachi'' within the city remains unknown, though scholars continue to explore the subject, using both contemporary records and archaeological findings. The so-called "Japanese bridge," also known as ''Lai Vien Kieu'' ("Bridge of Friends from Afar"), remains one of the city's most famous sites and serves as a reminder of the Japanese community that once thrived there. Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that this bridge marks the entrance to the ''Nihonmachi's'' main street; however, the fact that the bridge is not in fact constructed in a Japanese style has led a number of scholars to discount this idea<ref>Chuong, Thau. "Bridge of Friendship." in ''Ancient Town of Hoi An''.</ref>.

Hoi An today is a small and relatively unassuming city, its port having long since silted up, leading to a sharp decline in its economic prosperity and significance. The precise location of the ''Nihonmachi'' within the city remains unknown, though scholars continue to explore the subject, using both contemporary records and archaeological findings. The so-called "Japanese bridge," also known as ''Lai Vien Kieu'' ("Bridge of Friends from Afar"), remains one of the city's most famous sites and serves as a reminder of the Japanese community that once thrived there. Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that this bridge marks the entrance to the ''Nihonmachi's'' main street; however, the fact that the bridge is not in fact constructed in a Japanese style has led a number of scholars to discount this idea<ref name=chuong/>

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