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(also called ''Will Adams'')

(also called ''Will Adams'')

* ''Born: [[1564]] ''

* ''Born: [[1564]]''

*''Died: [[1620]] ''

* ''Died: [[1620]]''

 

An English navigator who settled in Japan. He is now famous as the prototype of the hero of James Clavell's quasi-historical novel [[James Clavell's Shogun|''Shogun'']].

An English navigator who settled in Japan. He is now famous as the prototype of the hero of James Clavell's quasi-historical novel [[James Clavell's Shogun|''Shogun'']].

Adams was pilot of the Dutch ship ''Liefde'' which arrived at [[Bungo province]] in Kyushu on April 19, [[1600]]. By the order of [[ Tokugawa Ieyasu]], then the chief [[tairo|tairô]] (senior counsellor), Adams was brought to [[Osaka]] as representative of the crew. He had an interview with Ieyasu on May 12 (1600/3/29) <ref>1600/3/29 assumes Adams used the Gregorian calendar of his Dutch ship.  If he as an Englishman used the Julian calendar, the date would be 1600/4/10.</ref>, and apparently favorably impressed him. After that Adams served Ieyasu in a number of fields, even building him an 8-ton European-style boat.  He also served as interpreter and as an agent for the Dutch and English companies. In the same way Adams played a role of no small importance in shaping the position of the bakufu towards Spain, Portugal and the [[Catholic Church]].

Adams was pilot of the Dutch ship ''Liefde'' which arrived at [[Bungo province]] in Kyushu on April 19, [[1600]]. By the order of [[ Tokugawa Ieyasu]], then the chief [[tairo|tairô]] (senior counsellor), Adams was brought to [[Osaka]] as representative of the crew. He had an interview with Ieyasu on May 12 (1600/3/29) <ref>1600/3/29 assumes Adams used the Gregorian calendar of his Dutch ship.  If he as an Englishman used the Julian calendar, the date would be 1600/4/10.</ref>, and apparently favorably impressed him. After that Adams served Ieyasu in a number of fields, even building him an 8-ton European-style boat.  He also served as interpreter and as an agent for the Dutch and English companies. In the same way Adams played a role of no small importance in shaping the position of the bakufu towards Spain, Portugal and the [[Catholic Church]].

Adams dreamed of returning to England, but the government would not let him. He became a [[hatamoto]] and was given land in the Miura Henmi 三浦逸見 district of [[Sagami province]], and so was called Miura Anjin (三浦按針), Anjin meaning "pilot." Though he was married, he also married a Japanese woman. He died of illness in [[Hirado]] in [[Hizen province]] (the Dutch, English, and Portuguese all had establishments there) in 1620. There is a grave in Henmi (now Yokosuka City) said to be his (Anjin-zuka).

Adams dreamed of returning to England, but the government would not let him. He became a [[hatamoto]] and was given land in the Miura Henmi (三浦逸見) district of [[Sagami province]], and so was called Miura Anjin (三浦按針), Anjin meaning "pilot." Though he was married, he also married a Japanese woman. He died of illness in [[Hirado]] in [[Hizen province]] (the Dutch, English, and Portuguese all had establishments there) in 1620. There is a grave in Henmi (now Yokosuka City) said to be his (Anjin-zuka).

There is a marker on the site of his [[Edo]] (now Tokyo) mansion; the address is  Chûô-ku, Nihon Bashi Muro-machi 1-10-8. Until the beginning of the [[Showa Period]] the area was called "Anjin-chô"; there is still an "Anjin-dôri (street)."  There is an annual festival in his honor (Anjin Matsuri) in Itô of Shizuoka Prefecture.

There is a marker on the site of his [[Edo]] (now Tokyo) mansion; the address is  Chûô-ku, Nihon Bashi Muro-machi 1-10-8. Until the beginning of the [[Showa Period]] the area was called "Anjin-chô"; there is still an "Anjin-dôri (street)."  There is an annual festival in his honor (Anjin Matsuri) in Itô of Shizuoka Prefecture.

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==References==  

==References==  

*''[[They Came to Japan]]''

*''[[They Came to Japan]]''