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William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.

Following his father's death at the age of 12, Adams apprenticed in a shipyard where he honed his skills in shipbuilding and navigation. He later joined the Royal Navy, serving under Sir Francis Drake during the conflict against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

In a fateful turn of events, Adams found himself aboard the Liefde, a Dutch ship, which, after 19 months at sea, encountered a typhoon that decimated its crew. Only 23 of the original 110 men survived as the battered vessel made its way to the port of Bungo (modern-day Usuki, Oita Prefecture), where authorities seized the ship and imprisoned its crew in Osaka Castle.

On May 12, 1600, Adams was brought before Tokugawa Ieyasu at Osaka Castle. The ship's cargo, including cannons and firearms, piqued Ieyasu's interest, leading him to order its transfer to Uraga for inspection.

Adams's fate took a remarkable turn when Ieyasu became his patron, valuing his intellect, mathematical prowess, and nautical expertise. Despite having a family in England, Adams was forbidden from leaving Japan and became Ieyasu's trusted advisor and official interpreter. In return for his loyalty, Adams was granted samurai status, bestowed with the two swords of the samurai, and provided with an estate in Uraga Harbor, among other privileges.

Under the name Miura Anjin, Adams married the daughter of a samurai official and had two children. He continued to serve the Tokugawa faithfully, conducting trade on behalf of various trading houses while also enjoying the Shogunate's permission to engage in his own trading ventures.

Adams passed away in Hirado, north of Nagasaki, in 1620, leaving behind a legacy that inspired numerous books and even computer games. Today, a monument in Tokyo's Anjin-cho commemorates his remarkable life and contributions to Japan.

 


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