3-053-513 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches in Japan: the grave of Will Adams, near Yokoska, Japan, 1873. Adams was an Englishman lived in Japan in the service of the Emperor of Japan at the beginning of the seventeenth century. 'Adams, or Anjin-Sama...died at Hemi-Mura...the grave of Adams and his Japanese wife...is on a hill not far from the village, and was overgrown with vegetation. The monument is that of a Hatamoto, a rank which Adams held under Gongen Sama...on the monument of his wife could be traced the words "Kan-jiu-ichi-nen, 7th month, 16th day" - equal to our a. d. 1633, or 239 years ago. From this it is supposed that the wife survived him thirteen years, for his will, which is still preserved in the archives of the India House in London, is dated Dec. 7, 1620...[A] Kentish pilot...he had learned to read and write the Japanese language...It is said that he selected the spot for his grave, and it is evident that it must have been a favourite haunt of his. It is a prominent knoll among the wooded hills and undulating valleys about Yokoska...Mr. J. Walter...has been at considerable expense in having it repaired and put in order, so as to preserve it for the future. The stone platform, stone rail, and stairs were all erected by him'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.