A GENTLEMAN FROM JAPAN

An incredible sea story that turns the Age of Exploration on its head, following the first Japanese man to set foot on North America and England.

On November 12, 1588, five young Asian men - led by a twenty-one-year-old called Christophertraveled up the River Thames to meet Queen Elizabeth I. Christopher's epic sea voyage had spanned from Japan, via the Philippines, New Spain (Mexico), Java and Southern Africa. On the way, he had already become the first recorded Japanese person in North America. Now, Christopher was the first ever Japanese visitor to England, and no other would leave such a legacy for centuries to come. The story of Christopher is almost utterly forgotten and has never been fully told before. A Gentleman from Japan is a fast-paced, historical narrative of adventure, cross-cultural endeavor, intellectual exchange, perseverance, espionage and conflict in the Age of Exploration. THE JAPON BOYE is more than an adventure story. It sheds a particular light on England in the 16th century. It reveals opinions of Asian culture during the time, showing a Western desire for contact with Japan and China, and also tells the stories of other Japanese merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers who were traveling the world at the time. Thomas Lockley is Associate Professor at Nihon University College of Law in Tokyo, where he teaches courses about the the international and multicultural history of Japan and East Asia. He's published research papers and articles, including the first in the world regarding the life of Yasuke. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.