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The Dutch in Japan Essay

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“The Red Haired Barbarians:” The Dutch in Japan

The success of Dutch merchants in Japan illustrates the uniqueness of the Dutch
Republic amongst the 17th century European countries. Not only would the Dutch come to dominate trade in Asia, in Japan they would demonstrate a practicality that would enable them to be the singular Western force present in a country that would severely isolate itself from any foreign intrusion. The V.O.C. could indeed be a ruthless cartel in securing trade from its competition and in dealing with indigenous populations around the world, as in the case of slavery where human beings were reduced to mere commodities to be bought and sold. Yet, the relationship between early Dutch traders, the
V.O.C., and …show more content…

He ushered in the longest era of peace in his country, and his decisions determined the fate of both the Portuguese and Dutch in Japan. (Totman)
One merchant ship was the first successful Dutch emissary to arrive in Japan in
1600. The Liefde arrived in Japan nearly two years after it left Rotterdam on 27 June
1598 with four other heavily armed ships. Their mission was to go to the Moluccas to buy spices as well as to explore the Silver-ryke (the Silver Empire) of Japan. They were later informed that they were also to assault and plunder Spanish and Portuguese strongholds along their route in Africa and Asia. Only the Leifde survived to reach the
Usuki Bay in Kyushu. The original 110-man crew was reduced to 24 emaciated survivors. The Japanese inhabitants of the area pillaged the cannons, rifles, and other assorted weapons, as well as the figurehead of the ship, a representation of Erasmus
(which can still be seen at the National Museum in Tokyo). Crew members Jan Joosten van Lodensteyn and the single Englishman aboard the ship, William Adams, were taken to Tokugawa Ieyasu in Edo to be interrogated by a Portuguese interpreter. The Shogun was pleased with their responses and crewmembers were compensated for their losses and were allowed to live in Japanese society. This initial meeting with Tokugawa gave the Dutch permission to trade with Japan. (Dutch)
During the period of 1600-1641, the Dutch were allowed

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