British trading post

The British East India Company established the Japanese trading post factory in Hirado (Nagasaki Prefecture). In 1613 (Keicho 18), John Saris presented a letter of sovereignty from King James I to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and with the help of fellow Tokugawa William Adams (Miura Anjin), the company was granted a red seal for trade with Japan and opened. Factory chief Richard Cox and several other staff handled imported goods and cargo from Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese ships captured in cooperation with the Dutch fleet throughout the country. However, the company was outnumbered by the Dutch trading post, which had been established earlier, in terms of merchandise supply and sales, and attempted to trade directly with China (Ming Dynasty), but was unsuccessful. Due to poor management and the strengthening of controls after Ieyasu's death, the company closed in 1623 (Genwa 9) with a large amount of bad debt.

[Nakamura Shigeo]

"Japan-related overseas historical materials: Diaries of the British trading post chief" (Translated and annotated by the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo, 1979-1980, University of Tokyo Press)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスの東インド会社が平戸(ひらど)（長崎県）に置いた日本商館factory。1613年（慶長18）ジョン・セーリスがジェームズ1世の国書を徳川家康に献じ、同国人ウィリアム・アダムズ（三浦按針(あんじん)）の斡旋(あっせん)によって日本貿易特許の朱印状を得て開設した。商館長リチャード・コックス以下数名を置き、輸入品やオランダ艦隊と共同で捕獲したポルトガル、イスパニア、中国船の積み荷などを国内各地にさばいた。しかし商品補給や販売面で先発のオランダ商館に抑えられ、中国（明(みん)）との直接貿易を画策したが成功せず、経営不振と家康死後の統制強化などにより、多額の不良債権を抱えたまま、1623年（元和9）閉鎖した。

［中村　質］

『東京大学史料編纂所訳注『日本関係海外史料　イギリス商館長日記』（1979～1980・東京大学出版会）』

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