Letter from English Samurai Describing his Life in Japan // 1611 Primary Source

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  • Опубліковано 5 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 529

  • @camiloasturrizaga3101
    @camiloasturrizaga3101 4 роки тому +1200

    Build me a ship.
    “I don’t know how.”
    It’s ok just try your best.
    “Ok here’s the ship.”
    I am greatly pleased with this ship and with you.

    • @digitalbrentable
      @digitalbrentable 4 роки тому +170

      The Emperor seemed both affable and terrifying.

    • @FurobaOA
      @FurobaOA 4 роки тому +119

      Adams did study and work as a shipwright in the Royal Navy for 12 years. They built the ships in Ito, shizuoka, in Tokugawa heartland.
      The largest vessel he built took a Japanese diplomatic mission to Spanish Mexico, from where they proceeded onto Europe overland.

    • @geoffedwards-tb4kp
      @geoffedwards-tb4kp 4 роки тому +11

      @@digitalbrentable They if wise and can see through false witnesses, are the best rulers. He seen right through the slander. He was a questioning King. A good dign as it neans he realises there is much to learn and knows he knows there are things to still be learnt. So isnt full of hiself.

    • @Mrkti
      @Mrkti 4 роки тому +1

      @Orville Alexander yeah, what is he talking about?

    • @CompagnonDeMisere25
      @CompagnonDeMisere25 4 роки тому +21

      @Orville Alexander I believe he is referring to Hasekura Tsunenaga's diplomatic mission which sailed over the pacific to Acapulco in the New Spain and then departed from Veracruz to the Europe trough the Atlantic.

  • @jackburton4790
    @jackburton4790 4 роки тому +727

    I love these videos, shows how people from all around the globe thought in the past. What you are doing is beyond valuable

    • @keshavshah488
      @keshavshah488 4 роки тому +6

      Yeah, true

    • @ThisOldHelmet
      @ThisOldHelmet 4 роки тому +3

      Why doesn’t he read Egg Shen’s experience with Lo Pan?

    • @deanasaurs
      @deanasaurs 4 роки тому +7

      This! I’ll finish student teaching next year and already plan on spending my classroom Friday’s w this series & my students.

    • @sisu4134
      @sisu4134 4 роки тому +6

      Deen Quoi - What an awesome idea!!! I would have loved that in school

    • @kylewood5607
      @kylewood5607 4 роки тому +2

      Fr

  • @VoxRationisSum
    @VoxRationisSum 4 роки тому +500

    It is fascinating to see Ieyasu being so interested in the politics of Europe at the time; a peek into the diplomatic genius that he was. This is such an awesome channel

    • @deathsheadknight2137
      @deathsheadknight2137 4 роки тому +10

      I guess he was a very Cosmopolitan man

    • @deathsheadknight2137
      @deathsheadknight2137 4 роки тому +23

      @Aprouzen maybe he had a pretty good understanding of what might happen

    • @mankytoes
      @mankytoes 4 роки тому +2

      I wonder how many less enlightened daimyos would have listened to the Jesuits and had him killed.

    • @thomas5585
      @thomas5585 4 роки тому +4

      He was scared the Christians would revolt and Spain and Portugal invade

    • @poggies7639
      @poggies7639 4 роки тому +1

      DeathsHead Knight It kind of initially bit them in the behind though since it leads to stagnation, it’s why China was so weak for so long, if you don’t let some foreign ideas in you lag behind the rest of the world.

  • @Will-Xaru
    @Will-Xaru 4 роки тому +258

    I remember reading the wiki article about this guy a while ago, really fascinating. I love reading about people from different cultures meeting for the first time. Him arriving in Japan changed the course of history in a way, because the armour cuirasses and the guns on his ship were used in the battle of Sekigahara which could have decided who became Shogun and also advanced Japanese ship and gun making. Apparently there's a town and festival in Japan named after him :)

    • @FurobaOA
      @FurobaOA 4 роки тому +51

      No town, but "Anjinzuka" Anjin's grave site (his bones were buried in Hirado though) is part of a public park in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. An identically named station can also be found. In the park they organize an annual Anjinsai in spring, attended by diplomats and naval attaches from The Netherlands, UK and USA., plus Japanese ministry of foreign affairs officials and regional politicians.

  • @Deadeye012011
    @Deadeye012011 4 роки тому +256

    He also helped modernise the Japanese Navy bringing it up to Western standards. He is said to have descendents in both England and Japan to this day as he fathered Children to both his English and later Japanese Wife.

    • @storiesfromhistory5553
      @storiesfromhistory5553 4 роки тому +26

      What a guy

    • @ub3rfr3nzy94
      @ub3rfr3nzy94 4 роки тому +58

      Joseph Joestar, couldn't help but cheat on his wife with Tomoko.

    • @samuraijackoff5354
      @samuraijackoff5354 4 роки тому +48

      Brad dіe Irriterend III
      They never saw him again when he was in Japan. He did send money and gifts though, I remember that eventually the gifts and money stopped coming.

    • @khalee95
      @khalee95 4 роки тому +43

      @@samuraijackoff5354 it's not that he would not return, he was not allowed to return home as his intellect was too valuable.

    • @Rynewulf
      @Rynewulf 4 роки тому +41

      @@khalee95 reading through things, apparently Japan gave permission for him to leave but England refused to let him enter, so he didn't voyage back home

  • @praxis6172
    @praxis6172 4 роки тому +50

    I have a bunch of half Japanese and English relatives. Two unique island cultures. Love these peeks into the past. Cheers from 🇨🇦

    • @shane8037
      @shane8037 4 роки тому +13

      @widhbnw efDwdwDW it's a unique island culture because it's on an island, same as Haiti and the Dominican are unique island cultures

    • @billybobhouse9559
      @billybobhouse9559 4 роки тому +18

      @widhbnw efDwdwDW last time I checked, i lived on an island. Tried to walk to France once but had to turn back because my dangly bits started to freeze. That's when it dawned on me that I was surrounded by water. Learnt a harsh lesson that day. In all seriousness though, i get your point.

    • @jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901
      @jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901 4 роки тому +3

      @widhbnw efDwdwDW it's a culture on an island though...
      "Two unique island cultures"

    • @xandercorp6175
      @xandercorp6175 4 роки тому +2

      @widhbnw efDwdwDW It is, however, an island culture.

  • @FurobaOA
    @FurobaOA 4 роки тому +443

    Got refused a return voyage to England by his own countrymen after he had gotten permission to leave from the Japanese. He had slighted a nobleman by criticizing his brash manners in front of the Japanese. Adams was akin to a minister of foreign affairs and trade in Japan. Talk about pettiness....

    • @user-hh2is9kg9j
      @user-hh2is9kg9j 4 роки тому +27

      Did he ever see his wife?

    • @FurobaOA
      @FurobaOA 4 роки тому +93

      @@user-hh2is9kg9j Died some time after that in Hirado, Nagasaki, where the English trading factory was located. He was never able to go back to Gillingham.

    • @samuraijackoff5354
      @samuraijackoff5354 4 роки тому +12

      last shadow
      Never saw them again

    • @paulstone3590
      @paulstone3590 4 роки тому +2

      @@samuraijackoff5354 In this world. The next one? Yes, if it exist.

    • @modifiedcontent
      @modifiedcontent 4 роки тому +61

      Pettiness is still a British national trait

  • @nicholasthatcher7143
    @nicholasthatcher7143 4 роки тому +85

    There's an inquisitor's handbook that I think would be a good fit for the channel. It basically lays out the questions to ask those accused of heresy. Very interesting

    • @brianpeck4035
      @brianpeck4035 4 роки тому +8

      10 years ago i saw the Malleus Malificarum bound in human skin for $5000. Sounds similar as it lays out methods and questions for witches.

    • @FeyTheBin
      @FeyTheBin 4 роки тому +1

      Well I didn't expect that.

    • @artski09
      @artski09 4 роки тому

      eat this ham

  • @MarkRobinsonMBopo
    @MarkRobinsonMBopo 4 роки тому +181

    This would be the basis of James Clavell's Shogun i assume?

    • @tallest4eva
      @tallest4eva 4 роки тому +29

      Correct!

    • @gutar5675
      @gutar5675 4 роки тому +23

      Great book. Definite read for anyone interested in this subject. Anytime I read anything on the Opium wars and the history of Hong Kong, I always mention Taipan and Noble House too.

    • @caomhan84
      @caomhan84 4 роки тому +11

      @@gutar5675 Noble House is amazing. Clavell died too early. Authors of his type get criticized today for their books being too "made for TV" but they were wonderfully evocative. Noble House is 1300 pages, takes place in what...a 5-day span? Yet it is riveting from start to finish, and even a dinner scene crackles with tension. It's such a pity he died before he wrote the rest of his planned books in the Asian Saga. I always wanted HBO or Netflix or somebody to do an 8 or 10 part series of Noble House with the correct 1963 setting, instead of the 80s one with Pierce Brosnan.

    • @illustriouschin
      @illustriouschin 4 роки тому +3

      Unfortunately he gets so many things wrong about the language and culture.

    • @frankleepower2333
      @frankleepower2333 4 роки тому +1

      Thanks for asking, it was my exact thought!

  • @xmaverickhunterkx
    @xmaverickhunterkx 4 роки тому +236

    Isn't this guy the protagonist from Nioh?

    • @novaterra973
      @novaterra973 4 роки тому +24

      Yes.

    • @CrossBorderNerds
      @CrossBorderNerds 4 роки тому +65

      Yes and they made him Welsh for no reason.

    • @VoicesofthePast
      @VoicesofthePast  4 роки тому +167

      Yes. Is this game good? Will it run on my Dreamcast

    • @kazzsaru
      @kazzsaru 4 роки тому +72

      Dreamcast phaseout year: 2001
      NIOH release year: 2017
      this comment has broken me, my apologies.

    • @therealGibralter
      @therealGibralter 4 роки тому +41

      @@VoicesofthePast unfortunately no, it only works on a Neo Geo.

  • @ChrisGarcia.
    @ChrisGarcia. 4 роки тому +21

    This is an awesome channel

  • @82dorrin
    @82dorrin 4 роки тому +237

    "Been playing World of Tanks nonstop for about a week. Please send help."
    -William Adams (Miura Anjin)

  • @khaccanhle1930
    @khaccanhle1930 4 роки тому +50

    Although we always tend to put ourselves in a positive light, but he seems like a very humble and decent person. No wonder he got on so well in Japan.

    • @Rowlph8888
      @Rowlph8888 Рік тому

      He was English."Even now", their cultural mannerisms and predispositions are closer to the Japanese than "aany other" Europeans e.g.: modesty, weird politeness(But less painstakingly than the Japanese) and initial wariness/Introversion, rather than exuberance/extroversion

    • @Rowlph8888
      @Rowlph8888 8 місяців тому +1

      Japan was the opposite of humble and decent in its history before the mid-20th century. this whole idea of the samurai being honourable is a joke myth.They were opportunistic, bloodthirsty, ruthless and utterly selfish. They would try any underhand tactic and had to bring as many heads back to their Lord, after battle because nobody trusted each other, tThere was so much betrayal

  • @Xenotypic
    @Xenotypic 4 роки тому +119

    I think the ads would be better suited in the beginning or end, just a personal opinion. I love these videos so much, and it just breaks the immersion a bit. keep up the good work!

    • @tauceti8341
      @tauceti8341 4 роки тому +5

      Yep to me that was the sign to turn it off. Once I hear an ad I'm instantly turned off.
      In the beginning I know to skip 1-2 minutes.

    • @AliBaba-mb1pu
      @AliBaba-mb1pu 4 роки тому +2

      He has no patience.. if he waits he will get a big enough following to not need placement ads...

    • @jinshezzz
      @jinshezzz 4 роки тому

      It's a marketing trick

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 4 роки тому

      On a PC, the pressing the lower case L skips forward 10 seconds. That helps with embedded adverts.

    • @revinaque1342
      @revinaque1342 4 роки тому +5

      @@AliBaba-mb1pu In the meantime, he has to eat. And I don't mind fast-forwarding through an ad to support this channel

  • @AliBaba-mb1pu
    @AliBaba-mb1pu 4 роки тому +27

    You will have half a million subs by winter. Good job bro!!

    • @AliBaba-mb1pu
      @AliBaba-mb1pu 4 роки тому +3

      Could I request some Old Irish texts? ❤

  • @randomvintagefilm273
    @randomvintagefilm273 4 роки тому +8

    I believe what this channel is doing is so valuable. I am happy to be a Patreon member for this work!

  • @Obssy
    @Obssy 4 роки тому +37

    Now we know where James Clavell got the inspiration for Shogun.

    • @dougs7367
      @dougs7367 4 роки тому +4

      Knew this a long time ago.

  • @RedXD42
    @RedXD42 4 роки тому +285

    “So anyway they showed us a parchment with weird looking women, with particularly large eyes...”

    • @mfaizsyahmi
      @mfaizsyahmi 4 роки тому +51

      and tentacles. don't forget the tentacles.

    • @klyanadkmorr
      @klyanadkmorr 4 роки тому +19

      PROTO-MANGA/ANIMAE

    • @caiohimmermann80
      @caiohimmermann80 4 роки тому +1

      😳

    • @jonathanwells223
      @jonathanwells223 4 роки тому +1

      😬

    • @Caseyuptobat
      @Caseyuptobat 4 роки тому +7

      And they did show us this lascivious portraiture, which is named as "hentai," and declare it such as to be high art.

  • @paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522
    @paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522 4 роки тому +96

    -So we talked and then got thrown into prison
    -what then?
    -we talked
    And then?
    -we were thrown to prison after some time we talked

  • @NucleaRaptor
    @NucleaRaptor 4 роки тому +127

    Gomenasai, my name is William-Sama.
    I’m a 36 year old English Anjin (Navigator for you gaijins). I plot courses on my charts, and spend my days perfecting my map-reading and playing superior Nipponese games. (Hanafuda, Mahjong, Janken)
    I train with my Katana every day, this superior weapon can cut clean through steel because it is folded over a thousand times, and is vastly superior to any other weapon on earth. I earned my scroll of sword mastery two years ago, and I have been getting better every day.
    I speak Nipponese fluently, both Kanji and the Kyushu dialect, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about Nipponese history and their bushido code, which I follow 100%
    When I get my Nipponese Red Seal, I am moving to Edo to attend a prestigious Academy to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become a vassal to the Shogun or a merchant!
    I own several kimonos, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to Nippon, so I can fit in easier. I bow to my elders and seniors and speak Nipponese as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond.
    Wish me luck in Zipangu!

    • @Toropetskii
      @Toropetskii 4 роки тому +5

      Great comment

    • @Siteus1
      @Siteus1 4 роки тому +11

      bahahaaha this is from a copypasta right??

    • @トーキ-g8v
      @トーキ-g8v 4 роки тому +2

      Well good for him because he actually became a vassal

    • @notdon245
      @notdon245 4 роки тому +5

      Mahjong isn't Japanese but nice copypasta otherwise

    • @rsmith02
      @rsmith02 4 роки тому +6

      Kanji isn't something you speak.

  • @molybdomancer195
    @molybdomancer195 11 місяців тому +3

    So many things in Gillingham Kent where I now live are named after Will Adams as this is his birthplacd

  • @bigcat5348
    @bigcat5348 4 роки тому +56

    Is there anything we can hear about Gonzalo Guerrero, the Spaniard who became a Mayan warrior?

    • @Aodhan_Raith
      @Aodhan_Raith 4 роки тому +3

      Okay this guy sounds like a badass. I want to hear about him.

    • @eldavid8774
      @eldavid8774 4 роки тому

      There os a lot of info on him but i dont think he write anything

    • @gregoryillinivich5328
      @gregoryillinivich5328 4 роки тому +1

      ua-cam.com/video/CYwPTTrxtDw/v-deo.html

  • @danielveras150
    @danielveras150 4 роки тому +22

    So sad that this happened in the only time that Portugal and England were at war with each other

    • @xandercorp6175
      @xandercorp6175 4 роки тому +3

      @Hernando Malinche If your countrymen are killing each other in that generation, yes you are mortal enemies. The fact that you used to be allies just made it worse.

    • @Whydoyoureadme
      @Whydoyoureadme 4 роки тому +8

      @@xandercorp6175 This was during the Iberian Union, so I would argue any war with Portugal was actually a war against the King of Spain using his Portuguese crown.

    • @treeismyusernamewhyjustwhy
      @treeismyusernamewhyjustwhy 6 місяців тому

      Portugal and England were never really allies, people need to see that

  • @Artur_M.
    @Artur_M. 4 роки тому +59

    I find it interesting and a bit amusing that Adams referred to the Shogun as "emperor". It admittedly does reflect well the practical state of things. It makes me wonder if he ever mentioned the actual Emperor (Tennō) in his writings and if he did, how did he called him?
    I also have some flashbacks of the 1980 TV miniseries "Shogun", based on a novel by James Clavell which was in turn loosely based on the story of Adams.

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 4 роки тому +16

      "Emperor" is probably the closest English word he had to Shogun, which would have been meaningless to his English readers.

    • @DarcOfTheShadows
      @DarcOfTheShadows 4 роки тому +3

      That book is honestly pretty great, and the miniseries is surprisingly faithful for an adaptation of a thick-ass book like that. The scene where Blackthorne teaches Toranaga the hornpipe dance is one of my favorite things ever.

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 4 роки тому +9

      @@SwayRod836 the Shogun was the effective ruler of Japan. (The Emperor existed but was powerless.)

    • @elimalinsky7069
      @elimalinsky7069 4 роки тому +11

      @@SwayRod836 The shogun was the actual ruler of Japan. He was from the noble warrior caste (samurai), while the emperor was from the noble civilian caste. Effectively Japan was a military junta ruled by military elite, while there was a civilian nobility centered around the court in Kyoto, which had no nominal power and was largely ceremonial and religious, representing the indigenous Shinto religious authority.
      Europeans at the time would only refer to the actual ruler of any country as king or emperor, while what we refer to as the Emperor of Japan nowadays would have been seen as either something like an archduke or an archbishop.

    • @Enixon869
      @Enixon869 4 роки тому +8

      I remember some other documentary that said to help other Europeans understand their roles, European writings would often call the Shogun "the Emperor of Japan" and the actual Emperor "the Pope of Japan"

  • @pablofromearth
    @pablofromearth 4 роки тому +105

    Ah, our oldest ancestor, the first weeabo, he walked so we could Naruto run

  • @Kriosaivak
    @Kriosaivak 4 роки тому +49

    "Build me a ship."
    "I don't know how."
    "Build me a ship."
    "Ok."

    • @OstblockLatina
      @OstblockLatina 3 роки тому +1

      I'd be like: Sheesh, dude! I'm not following you around the palace pestering you to make me sushi just because you're Japanese! Here, I made you a raft made of broomsticks and firewood, HAPPY?!

  • @malcolmt7883
    @malcolmt7883 4 роки тому +55

    Do me a favor, build me a ship, just 80 tons or so...

  • @サイタマの南
    @サイタマの南 3 роки тому +17

    William Adams is also famous in Japan. Ieyasu Tokugawa was able to learn about the religious war at that time. It was because of him that Japan did not become a Portuguese colony.
    He was treated by Ieyasu Tokugawa as a diplomatic adviser and is also known by the Japanese name "Miura Anjin".

    • @CassiusFA
      @CassiusFA 2 роки тому

      Yeah he did kinda cause those catholic purges. The Jesuits and spanish shouldn't have made a habit of regicide or kidnapping the royalty of new countries they encountered

    • @aaronclarke1434
      @aaronclarke1434 Рік тому

      Why would Japan have become a Portuguese colony without him?

    • @Xgil2Play
      @Xgil2Play 5 місяців тому

      "It was because of him Japan did not become a Portuguese colony"
      You have no idea how much hearing those words seeth me with anger 😂

  • @disappointmentinc3522
    @disappointmentinc3522 4 роки тому +6

    There are still many things in his home town named for him. I pass them daily.

  • @Whatshappening2024
    @Whatshappening2024 4 роки тому +53

    Im English and in Japan, I was not imprisoned upon arrival, nor did I meet the emperor...

    • @dougs7367
      @dougs7367 4 роки тому +8

      And unfortunately there are still Christians pushing their nonsense there

    • @CoolioXXX52
      @CoolioXXX52 4 роки тому +18

      @@dougs7367 moron

    • @Frostingale
      @Frostingale 4 роки тому +2

      @@dougs7367 you do mean everywhere, correct?

    • @muscleman9792
      @muscleman9792 3 роки тому +8

      @@dougs7367 Found the fedora-wearing Redditor

    • @mullythebully5557
      @mullythebully5557 Рік тому

      ​@dougs7367 well he is God so yeah

  • @stuartiles5498
    @stuartiles5498 3 роки тому +7

    I'm happy to find this video. I live in Fukuoka, Kyushu and have been on the Willam Adams trail for a while. I recently went to Hirado where Adam's lived and died. Went inside his house and visited his grave which was very special. Next, I want to go to Oita prefecture where he first set foot in Japan.

    • @rudman97
      @rudman97 Рік тому

      He lies in that grave.
      His unfortunate brother's bone remains with those of some other crewmates' lies probably somewhere among the piles of sacrificed objects in some random Hawaiian Island....
      Unthinkable journey it was.

  • @AlexanderosD
    @AlexanderosD 4 роки тому +7

    This was a fantastic one. William Adams was an amazing guy. I remember hearing about him from a friend of mine who recommended the book, Shogun.

  • @i.m.7710
    @i.m.7710 4 роки тому +3

    Shogun! Never read the book, but have watched the movie many times. 😍😍😍

  • @Netherfly
    @Netherfly 4 роки тому +44

    "All friendship with all nations." Yeesh. How ballsy.

    • @feral7523
      @feral7523 4 роки тому +12

      Of course its the shitlist for you if your Irish, French, Dutch, American(native&colonial), Indian(icl pakistani,afghani,bangladeshi), Spainish, African, Australian(native&colonial), Chinese, Jewish, Scotish, Welsh, Austrian, Russian, German and just about everyone else.

    • @shane8037
      @shane8037 4 роки тому +26

      @@feral7523 explain using examples how Britain, the quintessential ZOG, is opposed to the well-being of jews

    • @eps200
      @eps200 4 роки тому +5

      @@feral7523 I cant remember us screwing over the Jews, Arabs, turks, Egyptians, azeria, iranians, libyans, bedouin ect. Yeah we screwed all them over i'm pretty sure the jews we never got around to....

    • @edmann1820
      @edmann1820 4 роки тому

      @@eps200 Well we did kind of expel them or force convert them for 350 years. Expelled under Edward the 1st in 1290 readmitted to England by Oliver Cromwell 1655.

    • @edmann1820
      @edmann1820 4 роки тому +17

      @@feral7523 I think England has been far kinder to the Dutch than it has been cruel. They literally helped them win independence and have been on the same side in wars more often than the other way around. There also isn't any contemporary negative stereotypes of the Dutch. Unless you count being tall, attractive and laid back as a negative stereotype.

  • @omursaraslan6316
    @omursaraslan6316 4 роки тому +1

    Great reading voice. Very calming. More please!

  • @NarffetWerlz
    @NarffetWerlz 4 роки тому +14

    P.S.:
    I also had this whole thing about being immortal and Irish, for some reason, and I had to fight many spirits and demons over this 'amrita' stuff. Killed an eight-headed snake monster too.
    Also John Dee is a 100 eyed monster too, watch out for that. I'll title the letter.... 'Nioh' I think. Expect to receive it around 2017.

  • @michaelparker2887
    @michaelparker2887 4 роки тому +3

    This story...he is so like Jacob in Egypt, gaining the kings favor by his goodness and honesty.

    • @13basses
      @13basses 4 роки тому +1

      Somewhat. He was used as a counter to the Jesuits who had a monopoly on the trade between japan and china. With the Englishmen he had a bargaining chip to keep them in line.

    • @paradiseagent5881
      @paradiseagent5881 4 роки тому +1

      Do you mean Joseph? Jacob was his father

    • @michaelparker2887
      @michaelparker2887 4 роки тому

      @@13basses Ok, Does not warrent "somewhat" to me, but even more so!

    • @michaelparker2887
      @michaelparker2887 4 роки тому

      @@paradiseagent5881 Yes

  • @DevinDTV
    @DevinDTV 4 роки тому +210

    He never did return to England. He did, however, get a hot Asian wife.

    • @cv4809
      @cv4809 4 роки тому +72

      Living the weeaboo dream

    • @blindpringles
      @blindpringles 4 роки тому +34

      He did get to send a lot of money back home though. And I think he wrote often, or as often as you can when it takes 2 months to get a letter.

    • @supermegaguy666
      @supermegaguy666 4 роки тому +5

      ser Karl Andersson 1586-???

    • @storiesfromhistory5553
      @storiesfromhistory5553 4 роки тому +18

      @@blindpringles Probably closer to 8+ I know it regularly took 6 months to sail from England to India at the time but I don't know how much longer from India to Japan. You also had to wait for the right time of year for the monsoon winds to be blowing the right way to return. Round trips to Asia could easily take 2 years.
      I realize you probably weren't trying to be precise, I'm just adding extra interesting information

    • @shelbyseelbach9568
      @shelbyseelbach9568 4 роки тому +2

      @@blindpringles you can write as often as you want, the speed of the postal service doesn't stop one from writing letters.

  • @Big_E_Soul_Fragment
    @Big_E_Soul_Fragment 4 роки тому +294

    Weeb details his trip to glorious Nippon, colorized

  • @wulfherecyning1282
    @wulfherecyning1282 4 роки тому

    Man, that must have felt so satisfying; having influence enough to worry the people who tried to have you killed, and then doing them a favour.

  • @johnschleeter5957
    @johnschleeter5957 4 роки тому +1

    this is the sight I look so forward to when anew comes up

  • @gbeepee9995
    @gbeepee9995 4 роки тому +5

    I remember learning about this guy in my Japanese history class in Tokyo. It’s so great to see this video!!!

  • @gabzdark07
    @gabzdark07 4 роки тому +4

    Weird he didn't mention battling the giant snake. All that amrita must have gotten to him.

  • @usedx115x
    @usedx115x 4 роки тому +16

    Was the text modernized at all? It was very easy to understand for 1611. Much easier than Shakespeare.

    • @usedx115x
      @usedx115x 4 роки тому +3

      @Hernando Malinche If it was 1000 years ago it would be Old English and near impossible to read.

    • @Brakvash
      @Brakvash 4 роки тому +3

      @@usedx115x a very apt statement. It would be like me reading Viking Norse (I'm a Swede) - good luck with that!

    • @heymancoolvideo
      @heymancoolvideo 4 роки тому +11

      Shakespeare is rap lyrics, this is a business email.

  • @KasranFox
    @KasranFox 4 роки тому +2

    one thing that stood out to me is that "do them a friendship" is something he actually says in the letter - that's the kind of grammar i use when i'm being goofy, but here it is being used sincerely by a well-educated person. huh.

    • @eudyptes5046
      @eudyptes5046 4 роки тому

      Maybe English grammar was different in 1611? huh.

    • @nihilvox
      @nihilvox 4 роки тому

      I imagine it's a prototype form of "Do them a solid", or "to do a favor" (ex, "I'm gonna do this thing because I like you a bit more than I like most people - I favor you")

    • @mikicerise6250
      @mikicerise6250 4 роки тому

      English is English and has been for hundreds of years. Young people imagine they've invented much that has simply been passed down to them.

  • @LtNumnums
    @LtNumnums 4 роки тому +5

    Having read the book Shogun many times this one was particularly interesting. Keep them coming!

  • @jonathonjubb6626
    @jonathonjubb6626 4 роки тому +3

    I am currently half way through "Shogun" (Clavell) this sounds quite familiar!

  • @rowbearly6128
    @rowbearly6128 4 роки тому +1

    The book on this is fascinating.

  • @PS3Man141
    @PS3Man141 4 роки тому +9

    No mention of Yoki. Guess he encountered them after this writing

    • @predalienplush780
      @predalienplush780 4 роки тому +3

      Yea it's like he doesn't even give a shit about that guy ho stole Saoirse from him

  • @goyonman9655
    @goyonman9655 4 роки тому +7

    I recognize the language from the year 1611

  • @pooyafitness
    @pooyafitness 4 роки тому +3

    I wish someone would make a movie out of this.

    • @aluckyshot
      @aluckyshot 3 роки тому +1

      Read a James Clavell novel. Shogun is great but they are all good. You will like it.

    • @dreworyan5652
      @dreworyan5652 8 місяців тому +1

      The new Shogun on HULU is just this. Amazing production & quality. Highly recommend 🙏🏼

  • @iLLeag7e
    @iLLeag7e 4 роки тому +1

    You and Pete are my 2 favorite up-and-coming youtubers. If I knew 100 people like you guys I'd be winning at life. Great work, cant wait for more

  • @JohanIngeborg
    @JohanIngeborg 4 роки тому +5

    William Adams - The first Weeb

  • @chriswoolever
    @chriswoolever 4 роки тому +1

    This is by far my favorite channel, what your doing is invaluable. your channel should be required viewing for our youth

  • @MrThatguyuknow
    @MrThatguyuknow 4 роки тому +13

    The emperor seems like a pretty chill dude honestly
    8:25 also this man is definitely a time traveling Nicolas Cage

  • @t.j.payeur5331
    @t.j.payeur5331 4 роки тому +41

    Wow..the real John Blackthorne...

  • @SeaDog337
    @SeaDog337 4 роки тому +1

    Good old -John Blackthorne- William Adams. My second favourite explorer.

  • @rhysnichols8608
    @rhysnichols8608 4 місяці тому

    When he refers to the ‘emperor’ he means Tokagawa Ieasu the Daimyo of the province he arrived in. He would later go on to become the shogun and ruler of Japan but at this time he was one of 5 leaders of the country when he first met William adams

  • @CompagnonDeMisere25
    @CompagnonDeMisere25 4 роки тому +3

    I hope you'll do reading of an account of Hasekura Tsunenaga's visit to Rome.

  • @nicholasschrader7179
    @nicholasschrader7179 4 роки тому +1

    What a cool emperor, fair judge of character.

  • @kaijukojin4371
    @kaijukojin4371 4 роки тому +5

    Wasn't this guy who the miniseries "Shogun" was based on?

  • @The_Gallowglass
    @The_Gallowglass 4 роки тому +1

    Anyone who hasn't seen it yet, try to find the miniseries Shogun. It is about Anjin.

  • @corneliusmcmuffin3256
    @corneliusmcmuffin3256 4 роки тому

    Was not expecting the ASMR world of tanks ad.

  • @mitskofitzgerald2361
    @mitskofitzgerald2361 8 місяців тому +1

    It wasn't Emperor William was dealing with, but Ieyasu who eventually became Shogun.

  • @houstonhelicoptertours1006
    @houstonhelicoptertours1006 4 роки тому +2

    Makes me want to read 'Shogun' again...for the first time in 30 years.

  • @carllove3705
    @carllove3705 4 роки тому +12

    This must be where the Author James Clavell got the story line for his novel Shogun. It is so very similar in every way.

    • @revinaque1342
      @revinaque1342 4 роки тому +4

      Yes, William Adams was definitely the inspiration for Blackthorne

    • @PaulvonOberstein
      @PaulvonOberstein Рік тому +2

      @@revinaque1342 Blackthorn is William Adams, just as Toranaga is Tokugawa. Clavell just changed their names and some historical details to give himself more creative freedom. Many of the characters in Shogun are historical people given different names.

  • @caomhan84
    @caomhan84 4 роки тому +14

    "Anjin-san!" (Toshiro Mifune voice). But....5/10 for not having Richard Chamberlain's decidedly NON-English accent 😂

    • @gutar5675
      @gutar5675 4 роки тому +1

      I never saw the movie, but I know about it from reading Shogun and being a big fan of Toshiro Mifune. It is an interesting choice to say the least, haha. It seems like not only him, but the Dutch and the Portuguese have American accents, as well.

    • @caomhan84
      @caomhan84 4 роки тому +6

      @@gutar5675 if I remember correctly, the Dutch and Portuguese were played mostly by Englishmen. The prominent Portuguese role of the other navigator was played by John Rhys-Davies...because of course, he can play anything from Irish to Egyptian. 😂

    • @Hrogoff
      @Hrogoff 4 роки тому +1

      @@caomhan84 ...and dwarf!

  • @judgebigmansion3492
    @judgebigmansion3492 3 місяці тому +1

    So THIS is the guy that Shogun was based off

  • @ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13
    @ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13 2 роки тому

    I absolutely love this channel I only found it last week now it's my favourite on UA-cam but was that the real letter ???

  • @mv11000
    @mv11000 2 роки тому +1

    Just read about Adams in Wiki. What an amazing life this man has had, and today I learned about it from the man's own words - thanks to you. Your channel is great.

  • @marcydrake9159
    @marcydrake9159 4 роки тому

    Dude, love your channel. Also, four ads for a 12 minute video is a lot. Makes me hesitate to click when I didn’t before. Would be cool if you could pare it back a little. Great content, even better with less interruptions. 👍

    • @VoicesofthePast
      @VoicesofthePast  4 роки тому +1

      Hello! Thanks for drawing my attention to it. UA-cam have recently enabled mid roll ads on all videos, and if you didn't have any on the video they added them for you. That's what has happened here. I shall remove all of them, sorry for that!

    • @marcydrake9159
      @marcydrake9159 4 роки тому

      Voices of the Past You are awesome! I’m back to clicking with confidence. Again, gotta say I absolutely love your channel. This is stuff I’ve never come across before, thanks for making it available and for being so kind in your reply! 🙂👍

  • @CptEddyPrice
    @CptEddyPrice 4 роки тому

    its fascinating how deep his faith was...

  • @mephestopholes
    @mephestopholes 4 роки тому +1

    Now I have to watch Shogun again.

  • @andreweden9405
    @andreweden9405 4 роки тому +1

    Very nice! But please do more 15th century stuff in general, it's my favorite century! Also, please read more from interactions between Muslims and European Christians in the Middle Ages. Thank you for what you do!

  • @andrewbay8891
    @andrewbay8891 3 роки тому +1

    Poor dude just wanted to go home

  • @Crowbot3K
    @Crowbot3K 3 роки тому

    This letter and likely other details Adams wrote were fictionalized into an enjoyable novel and miniseries called Shogun by James Clavell.

  • @theexpert758
    @theexpert758 4 роки тому +1

    This stuff is so cool.

  • @AuthenticDarren
    @AuthenticDarren 4 роки тому +2

    I could have listened to a lot more of that. William Adams is a very interesting character.
    Thankyou for this video.

  • @BenKlassen1
    @BenKlassen1 4 роки тому

    Brings new meaning to the phrase "guilded cage."

  • @ThisOldHelmet
    @ThisOldHelmet 4 роки тому +48

    Misleading. This video was made in 2020, not 1611.

  • @CarlosVValdez
    @CarlosVValdez 4 роки тому

    Thanks

  • @ungeimpfterrusslandtroll7155
    @ungeimpfterrusslandtroll7155 4 роки тому

    What a great guy.

  • @ExVeritateLibertas
    @ExVeritateLibertas 4 роки тому +17

    "I have been made a lord and given 80 slaves. I cannot decide if I should leave this land..."

  • @JRandallS
    @JRandallS 4 роки тому +10

    The geographical similarities of Japan and England/UK probably allow for the development of some similar perspectives, such as the need for naval power, use of the water as a barrier against invasion, emphasis on a system of war-lords to control the masses, yet without the normal ability to shift loyalties to neighboring countries easily.

    • @philhughes3882
      @philhughes3882 3 роки тому +2

      Plus, relatively high populations forced into living in small areas lead to the evolution of complex codes of conflict avoiding behaviour. Both Japanese and British are famous for their politeness for example. (Or USED to be be, in Britain's case).

    • @Rowlph8888
      @Rowlph8888 Рік тому

      They also the most similar cultures in Traditional mannerisms and predispositions, of the majority of citizens, especially traditional politeness, modesty(But the Japanese far more painstaking in both of these), understated gestures and initial wariness/appearing taciturn as opposed to exuberance/extroversion (more American and Latinesque).

  • @olorin4317
    @olorin4317 4 роки тому +7

    I love this. It's inspiring me to write a story.

  • @Lattidude
    @Lattidude 4 роки тому

    This guy has a statue in my home town. It always has a traffic cone on its head.

  • @chaosXP3RT
    @chaosXP3RT 3 роки тому

    The UA-cam channel, Kings and Generals, did a video on Adam Williams!

  • @Leo-us4wd
    @Leo-us4wd 4 роки тому +5

    Tocharian records by the Chinese
    Or
    Minoan records by the Egyptians?

  • @osvaldofranco9036
    @osvaldofranco9036 4 роки тому +4

    is this the guy the movie series"Shogun" was baced on ? 🤔

    • @dougs7367
      @dougs7367 4 роки тому +2

      Yep

    • @osvaldofranco9036
      @osvaldofranco9036 4 роки тому

      @@dougs7367 cool!!!, thanks, enjoy!!!😄😉👍🏼🤘🏽🖖🏽 ua-cam.com/video/a5TAqq39N9U/v-deo.html

  • @crackfloor
    @crackfloor 4 роки тому +4

    That shogan was a good ruler lol

  • @bojanatanaskovic2465
    @bojanatanaskovic2465 4 роки тому

    There should be a game called World of Thanks where you show much gratitude to your former enemies.

  • @angelacousins7518
    @angelacousins7518 4 роки тому

    Now I know where the plot for the novel Shogun comes from.

  • @steffennilsen2132
    @steffennilsen2132 4 роки тому +19

    VoftP on World of Tanks: "Historical accuracy is key here"
    The things you say for money

    • @Nikolai508
      @Nikolai508 4 роки тому

      People often sell themselves for money.

  • @Section5_CdnIntelService
    @Section5_CdnIntelService 4 роки тому +11

    Just curious. He was no carpenter never mind a ship builder, so how did he manage to build a seaworthy vessel?

    • @DevinDTV
      @DevinDTV 4 роки тому +3

      good question. i imagine he got help from other foreigners

    • @lysytoszef
      @lysytoszef 4 роки тому +14

      He was not, but his crew were veteran sailors, so he probably used their expertise.

    • @xandercorp6175
      @xandercorp6175 4 роки тому +13

      Adams did study and work as a shipwright in the Royal Navy for 12 years.

    • @mikicerise6250
      @mikicerise6250 4 роки тому +2

      He was just being humble.

    • @Selendeki
      @Selendeki 2 місяці тому

      My guess is that the kind of European that makes it over to Japan in 1611 is probably quite smart and has solid education and work experience

  • @callumwarmington405
    @callumwarmington405 4 роки тому

    People were smarter than we think they were in the past.

  • @storytime6263
    @storytime6263 4 роки тому +1

    God truly showed him favor.

  • @juandavidrestrepoduran6007
    @juandavidrestrepoduran6007 4 роки тому

    Tip: do the in-video publicity either at the start or the end of the video

  • @NoNonsenseNumbskull
    @NoNonsenseNumbskull 4 роки тому +3

    Nioh and Nioh 2 brought me here...

  • @lpsp442
    @lpsp442 4 роки тому

    Thanks, World of Tanks. Thorld of Tanks.

  • @cnhnx
    @cnhnx 4 роки тому +22

    Did Adams ever realized that the Shogun wasn't the emperor and there's actual emperor of Japan? Not that it mattered I guess, the Shogun was the one who run the country.

    • @barnsleyman32
      @barnsleyman32 4 роки тому +11

      he may have been simplifying it for his western audience who probably wouldn't understand the idea of there being both an emperor and a seperate head of government in an age of absolute monarchy

    • @skyworm8006
      @skyworm8006 4 роки тому +3

      Emperor is a better description in this context, 'Shogun' would mean nothing being a word from another language. The actual emperor was more like religious leader.

    • @skyworm8006
      @skyworm8006 4 роки тому

      @@barnsleyman32 Yes they would because England and many other European countries have had parliaments for their entire existence and when the monarch was more relevant they lived in a feudal society (which strictly limits any sort of central power).