a new heir born today for japanese throne

[dick benbow]

A boy, just under 6 lbs and to be named tommorrow. He was the third child to the prince and princess, he has two older sisters which caused a little anxiousness about who would suceed to the throne. Interesting stuff if you follow japanese culture......

[Regenmeneer]

Last night when working behind my computer, there was a special news broadcast on some of the Dutch tv channels. The channels followed it closely, maybe because the Japanese crownprince, his wife and daughter, were on vacation in Holland this summer.

It gives us a chance to get a feel for Japan, the Japanese and their culture.

[Lee]

Hi Pal,

As you know better than most being from Holland that the histories of your two great nations are closely tied to one another.

Thus, it is not at all then strange ~ knowing of your two nations economic and historical ties that news of the possible new heir to the throne of Japan's Imperial House would be big news in Holland.

However, most do not know that when Admiral Perry (the first American of reknown note) first landed in Japanese waters on behalf of the US government - that the Japanese who boated out to greet his four war ships spoke to his (American) naval crew in fluent Dutch...as the Japanese, as you know, had been trading with the Dutch for centuries before the American's or the British or most all other Western nations began their trade to the then closed nation of Japan.

In any event...the birth of this child is very big news to those who are captivated by the historical importance of this event. As I am.

Lee
Grand Cayman

[koilee]

There was a picture of people in a big koi suit type thing on the bbc website celebrating, think its meant to bring good luck or something

[Regenmeneer]

You are so right Lee. Holland and Japan have over 400 years of mutual history. And besides that, Dutch and Japanese Royals seem to get along very well. And where did you think Orenji came from

Interesting story about Admiral Perry. I didn't know he was greeted in Dutch. He must have thought he had taken a wrong turn somewhere. LOL

[Lee]

R-

No, R - Admiral Perry didn't think he had made an error and had taken a wrong turn.

In fact, history tells us that Admiral Perry had spent a considerable effort to learn all that he could (directly) from the Dutch before embarking on his mission...to open trade with the Japanese.

However, much of what he had been told had been misleading - as the Dutch (the great seamen and canny merchants that your people are...)quite rightly did not provide him with totally accurate information as (they didn't want the trade competition which had been exclusively theirs for some several hundred years prior)to be shared with any other nations.

However, the Americans being both aware that Japan would soon be opened for trade to other nations...sent Admiral Perry.

At the time the Japanese wanted to remain closed to "all" nations - and, in doing so had always kept the Dutch merchants and seamen segrated only onto a small island off of (I don't now recall the name of the Japanese port - prohibiting the Dutch from ever venturing onto the mainland of Japan.

Thus, the Japanese who did business with them (the Dutch) eventually learned Dutch...and, having seen no other men of similar size and complexion - assumed when they saw the men of Admiral Perry fleet arrive that they were also from The Netherlands.

Perry, was not, however, the first American to arrive in Japan. His American naval successor was 'pushed' off the island by the Japanese...and, he and his crew quickly'sailed away'.

There was another American - who was a young adventurer who jumped off an American whaling ship and either rowed or swam ashore even years before Perry...his name curiously enough was Ranald McDonald (no joke) - (Not Ronald, but Ranald.)

However, the Japanese thinking Ranald was some strange foreign creature was put into a bamboo cage and was paraded all around Japan for over two years...upon being released he found his way once again home...where he wrote two volumns of his time in Japan.

In China the Dutch again with the Japanese - were once again connected. However, that more recent moment of history and relationship is not as pleasant - as it involved the murder of hundreds and perhaps thousands of Chinese then living in Tawain...

Indeed, even we also in this part of the world owe much of our own history to the Dutch - particularly for their contribution to opening trade to our very nearby island...of Jamaica.

It's quite facinating...

All the best,

Lee A.
Grand Cayman

[Regenmeneer]

Lee,

the small man-made island in the harbor of Nagasaki is called Dejima or Deshima. It was constructed in 1634 as ordered by the Shogunate, and was first occupied by Portugese. In 1637 there was a uprising of Japanese converted by the Spanish and Portugese to Catholicism. The areas inhabited by the Japanese Catholics were pockets of resistance, and fearfull that they would obay to the pope instead of him, the shogun ordered that all foreigners should burn their own houses. The dutch were the only ones that did burn their houses, and helped crush the uprising. They were rewarded by becoming the only nation, next to the Chinese, to be allowed to trade with the Japanese. In 1641 the Shogun ordered all dutch to stay exclusively at Dejima. Dejima was a small man-made island, and therefore not considered to be Japanese soil. The Dutch had to adhere to stringent rules, were not allowed to go to the mainland (except for a yearly visit to the Shogun in Edo), and had to pay for all the Japanese guards and government officials. The Dutch were known for their science, and Rangaku, or study of the Dutch, was a way for the japanese to get to know the western world.

Because of the 400 year anniversary of the connection between Japan and Holland, there was a plan to restore Dejima to it's former glory. I believe that nowadays it's a sort of amusementpark, with all kind of Dutch history, like houses, street organs and even a real size replica of a VOC ship. Funny aint it

[junglegeorge12]

Does anyone know the name of the new male heir?

[Regenmeneer]

In todays ceremony he was named Hisahito.

[Lee]

R-

What a wonderful tidbit of history - thank you.

Yes, I knew about the island and the connection, but not in such detail as you provided. Good stuff.

As I earler may have written, I am now reading a very interesting book (also) about the Dutch and the Spanish Jews who were welcomed into Holland after having escaped the tortures and death of the then popular Inquisition (of Spain and Portugal) which offered those Jew's their protection; than the then universally popular anti-semitisim which was (then) being promulgated by the Catholic Church.

R- that welcome (of safety and protection) to those few Jews who were luckily to escape certain death or conversion during the three hundred years of The Inquision and who made it to Holland were also permitted by the Dutch to open trade to the Caribbean - where many Jewish families later settled.

The family names of many of those who came from Spain via Holland exist to this day within my own country and in the nearby island of Jamaica - are direct decedents of those same Dutch Jews...

Yes, what a wonderful moral and good people - are the Dutch.

And, what a terrific koi show you guys put on in Arcen, as well...I can't wait to return again next year.

All the best,

Lee
Grand Cayman Island