The Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie traded with Japan from the beginning of the seventeenth century until halfway through the nineteenth century. Regularly – for a long time every year – a delegation set off to visit the Shogun at his court in Edo, present-day Tokyo. On such visits, the Dutch presented him with many gifts. It was their way of expressing their loyalty to the Shogun, whom the Dutch called ‘Emperor’.

The Shogun indicated one year in advance what gifts he wished to receive. The lists on which his detailed orders were listed were often illustrated; interpreters translated them. The Dutch called the orders placed by the Shogun ‘demands’.

The demands made by the Shogun during the period from 1750 to 1857 have been kept in the records of the Dutch Factory in Japan, part of the VOC records.

Read more about:
the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (United East India Company)
the V.O.C. in Japan
journey to the Court
the demands