Miura Anjin (Kanji: 三浦按針,  English name: William Adams) was a British navigator born in Medway, England, during the late 16th century, a period known as the Age of Discovery. He arrived in Japan after being shipwrecked off the coast of Sashiu, Usuki City, in Oita Prefecture.

After his shipwreck, Anjin was summoned by Tokugawa Ieyasu and traveled to Osaka Castle, standing in for his ailing captain. Upon arrival in Osaka, Anjin was briefly imprisoned by Ieyasu. However, his knowledge of navigation and Western technologies earned him Ieyasu’s trust, and he was appointed as a diplomatic advisor.

The name "按針（Anjin）" means "pilot" or "navigator" in Japanese. Under Ieyasu's orders, it is said that Anjin constructed Japan’s first Western-style sailing ship in Ito.

Note: Although William Adams was given the name "Miura Anjin" when he was granted land by Tokugawa Ieyasu, we refer to him as Miura Anjin throughout this article for consistency.

During the second half of the 16th century, the world was deep into the "Age of Discovery." In 1522, Magellan had successfully circumnavigated the globe, setting the stage for an era of exploration and colonial expansion. Spain and Portugal initially dominated global exploration, but soon England and the Netherlands joined the competition for colonial dominance.

In this context, Miura Anjin (William Adams), a British sailor serving as the navigator of a Dutch ship, found himself shipwrecked in Usuki City, Kyushu, in 1600 (Keichō 5) after a treacherous journey.

That same year in Japan, a pivotal event—the Battle of Sekigahara—was unfolding. This battle would determine the future leadership of the country. Tokugawa Ieyasu was positioning his forces to seize power following the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In this period of upheaval, Ieyasu took a keen interest in the Western weapons aboard the Dutch trading ship, Liefde, on which Miura Anjin had arrived.

Adams' arrival coincided with one of Japan's most significant historical turning points, aligning him with the forces shaping the country's future.

In 1601 (Keichō 6), Tokugawa Ieyasu summoned Miura Anjin (William Adams) to Edo Castle and commissioned him to build a Western-style sailing ship. This initiated the search for an ideal location to construct the shipyard.

Historically, Japan had attempted to build large ships modeled after Chinese vessels during the Kamakura period. Minamoto no Sanetomo, the third shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ordered Chen Heqing, a craftsman from China’s Song Dynasty, to lead the construction. A Chinese-style ship was completed in 1217 (Kenpō 5) on the beach at Yuigahama, Kamakura. However, due to the shallow waters, the ship couldn’t be launched and eventually deteriorated without ever sailing.

It is believed that Ieyasu was aware of this historical failure, which is why he did not choose Yuigahama for the new shipyard. Instead, he selected the mouth of the Matsukawa River in Ito, a location rich in timber resources and backed by the Amagi Mountains. Anjin, along with ship magistrate Mukai Shogen, was sent to Ito to begin construction.

Ieyasu may have learned about the advantages of Ito’s terrain during the Siege of Odawara or while overseeing the construction of Edo Castle’s stone walls. Once in Ito, Anjin built a dock at the mouth of the Matsukawa River and began constructing two Western-style sailing ships.

One of the two Western-style sailing ships built in Japan by Miura Anjin (William Adams), a Japanese galleon, was later named San Buena Ventura and sailed to Mexico. A galleon is a large, ocean-going sailing ship primarily used for long-distance trade.

The first ship Anjin constructed was an 80-ton Western-style vessel, completed in 1604, which was used for surveying the Kanto region. In 1607, Anjin built a second ship, the 120-ton San Buena Ventura, in Ito. This ship became a key symbol of Japan's evolving maritime capabilities.

In recognition of this accomplishment, Tokugawa Ieyasu granted Anjin 250 koku of land in the Hemi area of Yokosuka City.

In 1609, an incident occurred when the former Governor of the Philippines, Don Rodrigo Vivero, and his crew were shipwrecked off the coast of Iwawada Village in Kazusa Province (modern-day Onjuku Town in Chiba Prefecture). After hearing the news in Sunpu, Ieyasu decided to lend Don Rodrigo the San Buena Ventura. Thanks to this generous act, Rodrigo and his companions were able to return safely to Mexico aboard the ship, departing from Uraga.

Miura Anjin (William Adams) utilized the riverbank at the mouth of the Matsukawa River as a shipyard for constructing ships in Ito. This location was particularly suitable for shipbuilding in an age without mechanical power due to two main characteristics: 1) the riverbank was steep and deep, and 2) the topography featured well-developed sandbanks.

Tokugawa Ieyasu chose Ito as the site for the shipyard and sent Miura Anjin and the ship magistrate, Mukai Shogen, to oversee the operations. Traditional research indicates that the sand dock was located on the right bank of the Matsukawa River; however, studies combined with geological surveys suggest that it may have actually been on the left bank.

Shipbuilding Methods Used by Miura Anjin at the Estuary of the Matsukawa River:

1. Digging a Hole: A hole was dug in the sandbank near the river mouth, and logs were laid down to create a base.
   
   
2. Dam Construction: Once the ship was completed, the river was dammed to collect water.
   
   
3. Launching the Ship: The dammed river water was then released into the hole where the ship was built, allowing it to float and be launched.
   
   

Miura Anjin (William Adams) first met Tokugawa Ieyasu in Osaka, where Ieyasu interrogated him. Over time, Ieyasu became increasingly interested in Anjin's knowledge and skills. When the Battle of Sekigahara broke out, Ieyasu took control of Osaka Castle, and Anjin, along with his companions, was restricted from leaving, forcing them to remain in Uraga for about two years.

By 1601, after securing his dominance over Japan, Ieyasu began meeting with Anjin more frequently in Edo. Eventually, Ieyasu ordered Miura Anjin and the ship magistrate Mukai Shogen to travel to Ito, in Izu Peninsula, to construct a small Western-style sailing ship. They successfully built a vessel with an 80-ton cargo capacity, smaller than the Liefde, but Ieyasu was highly impressed with its completion.

Following this success, Anjin began serving as a diplomatic advisor to Ieyasu. The next year, Ieyasu commissioned Anjin to construct a second, larger Western-style ship, the San Buena Ventura. In recognition of his contributions to shipbuilding and navigation advancements in Japan, Ieyasu awarded Anjin two swords and a 250-koku estate in the Heimi area.

Tadashi Makino is a leading researcher on Miura Anjin (William Adams) and has played a pivotal role in promoting Anjin’s legacy. As the executive director of the Ito Tourism Association, he advocated for the establishment of the "Anjin Festival" to honor Anjin’s contributions, dedicating much of his youth to planning and organizing the event.

A former naval officer, Makino was naturally drawn to Anjin, who had also been a captain in the British fleet, sparking his passion for researching Anjin’s life and achievements. Makino conducted extensive interviews with key figures in Anjin studies, including Seiichi Iwajiro, Akio Okada, Saburo Minagawa, Tatsuhiko Ogawa, Yoshiharu Ida, and Ichiro Iida. He visited numerous locations associated with Anjin, such as Gillingham in Kent, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Tessel Island, and Vlieland, retracing Anjin's journey.

Makino’s research culminated in several publications, including The Footsteps of Miura Anjin and The Blue-Eyed Samurai: Miura Anjin. For younger readers or those unfamiliar with Anjin, he authored a children’s picture book titled The Blue-Eyed Samurai: The Story of Miura Anjin. Makino's work is prominently featured in the Miura Anjin exhibition room at the Tokaikan, a significant cultural site in Ito.

Through his dedicated research and travels, Tadashi Makino has become an indispensable figure in preserving and celebrating the history of Miura Anjin.