Though known primarily today by the Chinese-style name "Kyan," he was originally from Sakai in [[Izumi province]] near [[Osaka]]. At the age of 35, Kyan traveled to Ryukyu, and entered the service of King Shô Nei. During the 1609 invasion, on account of his Japanese education and background, he led several attempts at negotiation efforts, though all ultimately failed. He remained on the main island of [[Okinawa]] throughout the invasion, and so his diary is most detailed beginning with the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] landing at [[Unten Harbor]] on 1609/3/25. | Though known primarily today by the Chinese-style name "Kyan," he was originally from Sakai in [[Izumi province]] near [[Osaka]]. At the age of 35, Kyan traveled to Ryukyu, and entered the service of King Shô Nei. During the 1609 invasion, on account of his Japanese education and background, he led several attempts at negotiation efforts, though all ultimately failed. He remained on the main island of [[Okinawa]] throughout the invasion, and so his diary is most detailed beginning with the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] landing at [[Unten Harbor]] on 1609/3/25. |