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During this brief but vibrant period, Japanese communities (''Nihonmachi'') existed in many of the major ports and political centers of the region, including Batavia in the Dutch East Indies, Hoi An in Nguyễn-controlled southern Viet Nam, Manila in the Spanish-controlled Philippines, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The largest<ref name=Ishii>Ishii. p1.</ref>, and perhaps most famous, ''Nihonmachi'' of the period was that in the Siamese port city and royal capital of Ayutthaya, whose head, [[Yamada Nagamasa]], bore prominent posts and titles in the royal court. Yamada led an army of 700 Japanese, and took part in suppressing rebellions, civil wars, and succession disputes; he was also allowed to control monopolies over particular goods, such as deerskin, and was given at least nominal governorship of a few provinces at various points<ref>Wray. p10.</ref>.

During this brief but vibrant period, Japanese communities (''Nihonmachi'') existed in many of the major ports and political centers of the region, including Batavia in the Dutch East Indies, Hoi An in Nguyễn-controlled southern Viet Nam, Manila in the Spanish-controlled Philippines, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The largest<ref name=Ishii>Ishii. p1.</ref>, and perhaps most famous, ''Nihonmachi'' of the period was that in the Siamese port city and royal capital of Ayutthaya, whose head, [[Yamada Nagamasa]], bore prominent posts and titles in the royal court. Yamada led an army of 700 Japanese, and took part in suppressing rebellions, civil wars, and succession disputes; he was also allowed to control monopolies over particular goods, such as deerskin, and was given at least nominal governorship of a few provinces at various points<ref>Wray. p10.</ref>.

On the other end of the spectrum, though the port of Tonkin in northern Vietnam played an important role in the region's silk trade, the local Trinh authorities actively discouraged the formation of a ''Nihonmachi'' there. This is believed to have largely been the result of concerns over the martial nature of the Japanese in the region (many were samurai serving as pirates and mercenaries), and over the shipments of weapons and munitions from Japan to Siam and southern Vietnam. In order to avoid potential violence within their chief port, the Trinh lords sought to avoid any significant permanent Japanese presence, though many notable and prominent Japanese merchants did frequently make port there. Indeed, while many of the Japanese active in these ports were peaceful merchants, many others were more violent and opportunistic, leading uprisings and rebellions, and/or lending out their services to whomever could pay. While Yamada Nagamasa led a band of Japanese royal guard loyal to the Siamese king, other ''rônin'' fought for the king of Cambodia, against Siam.<ref>Gunn, 224.</ref>

On the other end of the spectrum, though the port of Tonkin in northern Vietnam played an important role in the region's silk trade, the local Trinh authorities actively discouraged the formation of a ''Nihonmachi'' there. This is believed to have largely been the result of concerns over the martial nature of the Japanese in the region (many were samurai serving as pirates and mercenaries), and over the shipments of weapons and munitions from Japan to Siam and southern Vietnam. In order to avoid potential violence within their chief port, the Trinh lords sought to avoid any significant permanent Japanese presence, though many notable and prominent Japanese merchants did frequently make port there. Indeed, while many of the Japanese active in these ports were peaceful merchants, many others were more violent and opportunistic, leading uprisings and rebellions, and/or lending out their services to whomever could pay. While Yamada Nagamasa led a band of Japanese royal guard loyal to the Siamese king, other ''rônin'' fought for the king of Cambodia, against Siam.<ref>Geoffrey Gunn, History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800, Hong Kong University Press (2011), 224.</ref>

=====Ayutthaya=====

=====Ayutthaya=====

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>Chuong, Thau. "Bridge of Friendship." in ''Ancient Town of Hoi An''.</ref>.

==References==

==References==

*[[William Wray|Wray, William]]. “The 17th Century Japanese Diaspora: Questions of Boundary and Policy.” Thirteenth International Economic History Congress, Buenos Aires 2002. Preconference: Corfu, Greece, 21-22 September 2001.

*[[William Wray|Wray, William]]. “The 17th Century Japanese Diaspora: Questions of Boundary and Policy.” Thirteenth International Economic History Congress, Buenos Aires 2002. Preconference: Corfu, Greece, 21-22 September 2001.

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[[Category:Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Cities and Towns]]