This book describes the history of William Adams, an English sailor, who landed in Japan in 1600 and after a series of difficulties including the threat of execution and imprisonment, became the confidant of the Shogun.  Adams was given honours and titles, as well as a large estate and remained in Japan until his death in 1620.  He left a family in Japan and his son inherited his estate, and in England he also left a wife and daughter.

Most of the book details the establishment of the English trading depot or factory in Japan, an establishment which lasted ten years until 1623 when the English abandoned their attempt to trade with Japan.  Without the influence of Adams the East India Company would not have been able to establish themselves, and after his death the position of the outpost was not viable.

Adams wrote a number of letters and there are accounts of his early time in Japan.  Adams is still remembered today in Japan and a district of Tokyo, Anjin-cho (Anjin = the pilot) is named after him.

I strongly recommend this book, it highlights a forgotten period when the seamen of England, and the maritime nations of Europe, were prepared to risk everything to explore the world, sailing in tiny and fragile ships, with primitive navigational aids they sought riches and fame, and often died in the attempt.  Giles Milton became will know as an author with his book, “Nathaniel’s Nutmeg”, this book is just as readable and interesting.

However there is another aspect of this story which is worth consideration; Adams a man from a poor background, who grew up in Elizabethan England, became a Japanese noble, with a complete command of the Japanese language and customs and with a Japanese family.  When he was finally offered the chance to return to England he refused because he came to understand that his home was by then in Japan and that his friends were Japanese. 

Adams was almost as horrified by the disorderly behaviour of the English as the Japanese.  We are looking at the interchange between two totally different cultures; the violent adventurers of early 17^th century England, and the sophisticated hierarchies of Japan under the Shogun.  Adams was one of those unique individuals who was able to cross two extremely different cultures.

Milton notes that drinking was the only thing that the English and Japanese had in common. “Many Japanese saw nothing wrong in drinking themselves into oblivion and would continue with their revelries until there was no one left standing.  It was one of the few Japanese customs that was eagerly adopted by the English and the only one at which they truly excelled.”

Adams won the original support of the Shogun because of his useful skills, including his ability to build ships and he was also used as a translator.  The Shogun honoured Adams with the title of hamamoto, or bannerman, a retainer at the court, all the other hamamoto were samurai.  Adams’ Japanese name was Anjin Sama or Mr Pilot.

Japan in the 17^th century was, for Europeans, a strange country.  On one hand there was a casual violence, samari would test their swords on criminals, landlords could kill their tenants without restraint, and death was the penalty for minor offences.  On the death of a great lord some of his retainers would commit suicide (and in the past some had even chosen to be buried alive with their lord).  When the Shogun decided to repress the faith, the massacres of Japanese Christians were ruthless; whole families being burnt alive, including small children.  Losing armies would commit suicide by disembowelling themselves.  But on the other hand the Japanese cultivated good manners and protocol to an extend unknown in Europe.  The system of etiquette was complex and difficult for foreigners to understand.

In this complex and alien environment Adams prospered.  When the English ship Clove arrived in Japan in 1613 it’s Captain thought Adams a naturalized Japanese, affected and strange.  Adams was concerned with the negative impression made by the crew of unkempt and unruly Englishmen on the Japanese.

So looking back four hundred years we can learn much from William Adams, as he acted as a bridge between two totally different cultures.  In our own dealings with other cultures we will never have such extremes to deal with, but only by understanding the culture we are dealing with and accommodating our behavior to its customs and usages will we also be able to act as a bridge.