Commissioned as a pilot for a Dutch fleet in 1598; William Adams sailed to the East Indies [Indonesia] via Cape Horn in South America. The expedition was prior to those of the Dutch and British East India companies; but the objective was similar鈥攖o trade their cargo for silver in South America; which was to be exchanged for nutmeg; mace; pepper and cloves in the Moluccas. A secondary option was to obtain silver in Japan.

Blighted severely by mutiny; scurvy; starvation and murder; Adams' fleet was much diminished when it reached Kyushu in April 1600. The Portuguese Jesuits did their best to dissuade the shogun from trading with the Dutch; but Ieyasu ignored their pleas and welcomed Adams into the fold; allowing him to trade; and inviting him to work as a naval architect.

Adams married a local woman and never returned to Europe. He died in Japan aged 55 in 1620. Fondly remembered in Japan as 'Anjin-sama'; Adams was the inspiration for the character of John Blackthorne in James Clavell's bestselling novel 'Shogun'.