Rating: 
Summary: Vivid account of the early Japanese-European encounter
Review: The book spans the time between the Portuguese navigator Fernão Mendes Pinto first arrived in Kyushu, Japan in 1542 (Pinto was the first European to set foot on Japan) till the time of the English pilot William Adams' death in 1690 at Adams' age of 55. Pinto's own records as well as Francis Xavier's (Spanish Jesuit missionary) are used to describe Japan during the time of Pinto. William Adams' ship log was used to reconstruct his voyage to Japan. Adams' ascension in the shogun's (Tokugawa Ieyasu) court is treated rather lightly through his own, scant records. The remaining half of the book roughly follows Richard Cocks' (an English Merchant who arrived in Japan later than Adams) account of events. This is first and foremost a maritime history. Though Japanese culture, domestic military struggles (Ieyasu's victory over the 4 regents, and over Hideyori -- Hideyoshi Toyotomi's son; Ieyasu had been appointed as the regent for Hideyori -- in Osaka) are covered, the emphasis lies on the voyages and the trades the 4 competing Europe powerhouses (Spain, Portugal, Holland, and England) made during this time span. Detailed descriptions of trades these four countries made at/with Bantam (Indonesia), Ayutthaya (Thailand), Moluccas (or "Spice Islands" in Indonesia), Macao, Ming Dynasty are plentiful. Also found abundant are: records of power struggles among these European countries, internal correspondences of the East India Company, and the vulgarities of the European sailors.Given the title of the book I expected something resembling a biography -- I expected more first-hand accounts of Adams or clearer focus on him. However the book did not turn out to be a disappointment. To the contrary it was greatly entertaining to read maritime history weaved with individual voices. Later on I began to suspect that the publishers and not the author had named the book. The obnoxiousness of the subtitle "the Englishman who opened Japan" is my reason as of why.
Rating:
Summary: tough characters, fascinating story
Review: The story of these forlorn mariners, starved and thrashed but not beaten by the ocean, is gripping. A handful of survivors finally manages to land, by chance and fate rather than by planning, in the same harbor as Portuguese adventurers sixty years earlier. One of these men who was too tough to die went on to become a powerful aristocrat in the Shogun's court. What an incredible story! This is the story of Will Adams, AKA Anjin San, the mariner from Limehouse after whom Anjincho in Tokyo is named. It is told very fluently and articulately by Giles Milton. However, I felt that Milton's writing borders on the slapdash, and wonder if he reread what he had written. In the first paragraph of the Prologue, we are informed that the sailors saw above them 'unfamiliar stars.' The earth is round; at the same latitude, the same stars shine, and Adams had certainly traveled through many latitudes. How on earth could they have seen unfamiliar stars? Further down the page we read that the palaces and pagodas had 'cuneiform roofs.' That stalled me: were the roofs written in Akkadian or Sumerian? I realized he must have meant wedge-shaped, but why didn't he just say so? I suspect the author was in more of a hurry to get another book into print than to understand his topic fully. Adams was undoubtedly close to the Shogun, but Milton implies that he was the Shogun's main adviser and consultant. Throughout, Milton relies too heavily on the European view, without enough consideration of the Japanese outlook. On page 12 of the hardback version, we read that the retainers carried 'maces, their insignia of office.' Maces, in feudal Japan? Show me one, please. Further we read that it was a 'troublesome period.' Troubled, not troublesome. Osaka Castle is described twice, (p 95 and 227), both times with the phrase 'held to be impregnable.' Finances in 'a parlous state' appears thrice (20, 26, 246). In Chapter 6, we are told the Chinese merchants wore long ponytails. In 1603, the end years of the Ming Dynasty, only a small minority from the North wore ponytails. The queue was not imposed on ethnic Han Chinese until later in the century. And so forth and so on. Milton is a very talented writer and a great storyteller. Now he has to slow down and be more rigorous.
Rating: 
Summary: To live in 16th/17th century Japan
Review: The story of William Adams is a very well known subject in Japan, as is also stated at the end of the present book. The way, however, in which the author writes about the leading character (Adams) as well as events of significance around him in connection with the world, as it was perceived in that age, and travel in that world is according to my opinion phenomenal. Aside from some factual errors, which by the way can only be found by the knowledgable (and it's part fiction, so what does it matter anyhow?), the book's story is a gripping and at times moving tale of heroism in an age when travel towards distant places in the orient was still a true adventure. I have been traveling to and from Japan during the last six years, whilst actually living in Japan for about three of those years, having made it my profession to study things Japanese. I still have to learn so much, that I cannot claim to be a specialist in the true sense of the word yet, but I believe that I can tell a good story concerning Japan when I see it, and this is such a story. I would recommend it wholeheartily to anyone with an interest in Japan as well as Europe and relations between those two in that specific period of time. Even people who are not interested in any of the above could find pleasure in reading this book and maybe even should, since I believe it will widen their horizon.
Rating: 
Summary: Rather Three-and-a-half Stars
Review: The writing is pretty good and the text of this book is good for anyone with absolutely no understanding of Japan and the early exploration of the North Pacific. It does paint a rather broad canvas. This is selective and course history -- the bits have been ripped out and pieced together to paint a rather gory and exciting tale. The book really holds your attention and it a rather quick and surprisingly light read --- in that sense it is also a good introduction to the early contact with Japan. If you like well written, light history, this will keep you turning the pages. If you are interested in using it as a starting point to dropping off in deeper reaches of exploration. I enjoyed it. I am not sure it is good history however. But if you read enough history, then this is not a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Fun to read, informative as well
Review: This book is a true story about William Adams, an Englishman that was Tokugawa closest western right-hand. Early chapters talks about the history of the arrival of the first Europeans in Japan, and their journey. The incredible journey of William Adams was also discussed in detail. Although there are some fact that I couldn't believe, for example: they met a certain tribe in South America that are 7 feet tall. The book also talks about how the Europeans traders live in Asia (Japan, China, Java) at those times. The diseases they have survived through, the nutrition, the drunkeness and the parties that they had, the deals with local native ruler, competition among the Europeans traders (English, Spanish, Dutch, Portugese). Religious affairs was also discussed, the spread of Christianity in Japan, why Tokugawa declared an edict against Christianity after a "close-eye" period. The most interesting part is the detail on Osaka Castle battle. It's the battle between Tokugawa's army and Hideyori's followers. I have read a short summary of this battle in history book, but this detail was much more interesting. Final words: this book was both entertaining and informative.
There are some stuff that I can't believe, but I think that's just because I haven't research much into it.
Rating:
Summary: East Meets West...briefly
Review: This book is about a brief period in Japanese history (early 17th century) when the English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese were all vying for special trading privileges with Japan, a society they found to be even more civilized than Europe (despite the cruelty of those in power). Using many excerpts from the writings of the men who lived in Japan, Milton describes the concerns of their daily lives, which included rivalries between Protestants (English & Dutch) and Catholics (Spanish & Portuguese), determining which European goods might sell in Japan, getting & staying on good terms with those in power, and seeking opportunities for pleasure and recreation. Milton also chronicles the foothold gained by Christianity in Japan due to the Catholic priests, and the horrific persecution of the Japanese converts which came later. A fascinating peek into the past.
Rating:
Summary: Less about Adams than the first English trading company
Review: This books covers well the history of the first English and Dutch attempts to trade in the far east including Japan and less about Adams himself. Samurai William Adams comes and goes thoughout the book but I never felt I got to know Adams well; this is in contrast with Cocks, the leader of the English factory in Japan, whom I came to understand very well. The author was likely handicapped from access to authentic Japanese accounts of the period.
Rating:
Summary: Less about Adams than the first English trading company
Review: This books covers well the history of the first English and Dutch attempts to trade in the far east including Japan and less about Adams himself. Samurai William Adams comes and goes thoughout the book but I never felt I got to know Adams well; this is in contrast with Cocks, the leader of the English factory in Japan, whom I came to understand very well. The author was likely handicapped from access to authentic Japanese accounts of the period.
Rating:
Summary: Informative
Review: This is a very detailed yet simplified account of the early contact with Japan. I really enjoyed this book as I love stories of exploration and hardship, history and the Japanese culture. Anyone who shares one or all of my interests will love this book.
The only downside is that sometimes the details are rather long winded and you get loads of information you dont really care about.
Rating:
Summary: Would be an awesome novel - even better for being true
Review: Very well written book ... one of the best historical books I've read which deals with a little known passage of history. This account of the first meeting of the Japanese and the Western civilisations of Holland, England and Spain is truly explosive ... it includes episodes of piracy, political intrigue, religious fanaticism and even cannibalism. Giles Milton has structured his account in a logical and easy to follow manner, and the well drawn illustrations also aid greatly in understanding.
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