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Richard Cocks Head of the English Trading post who introduced the sweet potato |
William Adams Important figure in Japanese-Dutch and Japanese-English trade relations |
Jacques Specx Laid the groundwork for the Japanese-Dutch trade relations |
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| Richard Cocks lived in Hirado for 10 years as the head of the English Trading Post and used his position to include Chinese and East Asian goods in the trade between Japan and England. He is also well known as the first person in Japan to plant sweet potatoes. These potatoes were planted near Senrigahama Beach on the island of Hirado after they were brought back by William Adams from a trading mission to China as a souvenir from the Ryûkyû Islands (an old kingdom that is now known as Okinawa prefecture). | Adams was a navigating officer with the Dutch East India Company. In 1600, his ship De Liefde drifted ashore on the beach of Bungo in Oita Prefecture after an incident at sea. Later, he was taken into service by Ieyasu Tokugawa and became a diplomatic advisor of the Shogunate. He is well known under his Japanese name Anjin Miura and is one of the most important persons involved in setting up the Dutch Trade House and its commerce. Williams Adams died in Hirado in 1620 and a memorial stone in his honour is located in Sakigata Park near the harbour. | Through the mediation of William Adams, Jacques Specx received permission to trade and to build a trading post from Ieyasu Tokugawa. He became the first head of the Dutch Trading Post in Hirado. He asked the local lord for protection of the Dutch during their stay in Japan and devoted himself to the overseas trade of the Dutch Trading Post. He was also the person who laid the groundwork for the harbour of Hirado that was to become the first Dutch Trading Port in Japan. | ||
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Wang Zhi (Ôchoku) Guide for Chinese and Nanban ships and leader of buccaneers |
Lord Takanobu Matsura The samurai clan leader who made Hirado flourish through overseas trade |
Francisco Xavier Spanish-born missionary who introduced Christianity to Hirado |
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| Wang Zhi was also known as Gohô or Ôchoku in Japanese and was a young Chinese pirate who had several thousand followers and over 300 ships under his command. In exchange for the protection of Lord Takanobu Matsura, he involved himself in leading ships from China and Nanban to the harbour of Hirado and became a successful mediator. | The 25th lord of the Matsura clan was one of the first Japanese to see potential in foreign trade. He allowed Xavier to engage in missionary work when he came to Hirado and had a church with a cemetery built. He also gave protection to the forward-thinking Wang Zhi who led ships from China and Nanban to the harbour of Hirado. The story of Lord Takanobu Matsura has been passed down through generations as that of a famous commander who developed the foreign trade in Hirado. | Spanish-born Xavier started his work as a missionary for Portugal in Japan after he landed in Kagoshima in 1549. In 1550 he came to Hirado. The 25th Lord of the Matsura clan, Takanobu Matsura, who had high ambitions in foreign trade, allowed his missionary work in Hirado. It is said that over a hundred people were baptised within twenty days. A memorial stone in honour of Xavier has been placed in the Sakigata Park. | ||