Japan-Thailand Business Forum

Japan Thailand Business Forum is an association which consists of persons who have once worked in Thailand as executives of various Japanese companies as well as government offices located in Thailand.

It was organized in August 2002 for a purpose of exchanging frank opinions with Thai authorities in regard to tourism, economy, investment and other various subjects.

Sceneries of Thai Borders
sketched by H. Murata

Muslim mosque in Sungai Kolok, the far southern town of Thailand on the Thailand-Malaysia border.

Reports of Chinese Junks

48th Release 2023.1.1
Public Relations Committee of JTBF

It is considered that the trade between Japan and Thailand stopped during Japan's "sakoku" era starting in 1630s when Japan closed her door to the rest of the world. But it actually continued through intermediary of Chinese junks, which voyaged from not only Chinese coasts but also from Southeast Asian coasts. They were permitted to enter Nagasaki harbor of Japan but were obligated to report political and social situations of the country of departure. Those reports still remain to our public view. Mr. Yoneo Ishii, late honorary professor of Kyoto University, focused on reports of junks which came from Southeast Asian coasts, translated to English and edited to a book "The Junk Trade from Southeast Asia". Public Relations Committee of JTBF are intersted in introducing the book and are delivering, on this web site, selected reports of junks which came from Thailand. Will be released every month 2 to 3 articles in time sequence. We are grateful to Mr. Tadashi Ishii, son of Mr. Yoneo Ishii, for kindly accepting our request to use copyright of the book of Mr. Yoneo Ishii.

Ship No.80 from Siam, 25 August 1707

Our ship was commissioned by the King of Siam. On the 28th day of the 5th month [27 June] this year we left Siam with 103 tojin on board accompanied by three other ships, making a fleet of four. We have now been told that one of the three accompanying ships, Wang Dingguan's ship, has entered here already as Ship No. 79. The rest should be arriving in due course. During our voyage nothing happened at sea and we entered here directly today without making any stops in Japan. Both captain Wu Chishen and vice-captain Li Guozhen are here for the first time. Our ship came here as Ship No. 52 in the year before last.

In Siam and her neighbouring "inner" countries peace prevails. You must have heard about that in detail from the Chinese ships which entered here earlier. There is no need for repetition. There is nothing else to add.

The 28th day of the 7th month. Year of the Boar.

Ship No.82 from Siam, 26 August 1707

The King of Siam commissioned our ship. On the 28th day of the 5th month [27 June] this year we left Siam with 79 tojin on board accompanied by three other ships, making a fleet of four. We have been told that two of them have arrived already as Ships No. 79 and No. 80. The last one should be arriving soon. During our voyage nothing unusual happened at sea. We entered here directly today without making any stops in Japan. Our captain Yang Yaoguan was purser aboard Ship No. 80 last year. This is our ship's first voyage.

In Siam peace prevails as usual. There was no news of disturbances from the neighbouring "inner" countries. You must have heard details about the situation in Siam from the Chinese ships which entered earlier. There is nothing else to report to you.

The 29th day of the 7th month, Year of the Boar.

Royal Thai Embassy / Board of Investment / Tourism Authority of Thailand / JTECS / AOTS / JCC Bangkok / JFTC /



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	Japan-Thailand Business Forum Japan Thailand Business Forum is an association which consists of persons who have once worked in Thailand as executives of various Japanese companies as well as government offices located in Thailand. It was organized in August 2002 for a purpose of exchanging frank opinions with Thai authorities in regard to tourism, economy, investment and other various subjects. Sceneries of Thai Borders sketched by H. Murata Muslim mosque in Sungai Kolok, the far southern town of Thailand on the Thailand-Malaysia border. Reports of Chinese Junks 48th Release 2023.1.1 Public Relations Committee of JTBF It is considered that the trade between Japan and Thailand stopped during Japan's "sakoku" era starting in 1630s when Japan closed her door to the rest of the world. But it actually continued through intermediary of Chinese junks, which voyaged from not only Chinese coasts but also from Southeast Asian coasts. They were permitted to enter Nagasaki harbor of Japan but were obligated to report political and social situations of the country of departure. Those reports still remain to our public view. Mr. Yoneo Ishii, late honorary professor of Kyoto University, focused on reports of junks which came from Southeast Asian coasts, translated to English and edited to a book "The Junk Trade from Southeast Asia". Public Relations Committee of JTBF are intersted in introducing the book and are delivering, on this web site, selected reports of junks which came from Thailand. Will be released every month 2 to 3 articles in time sequence. We are grateful to Mr. Tadashi Ishii, son of Mr. Yoneo Ishii, for kindly accepting our request to use copyright of the book of Mr. Yoneo Ishii. Ship No.80 from Siam, 25 August 1707 Our ship was commissioned by the King of Siam. On the 28th day of the 5th month [27 June] this year we left Siam with 103 tojin on board accompanied by three other ships, making a fleet of four. We have now been told that one of the three accompanying ships, Wang Dingguan's ship, has entered here already as Ship No. 79. The rest should be arriving in due course. During our voyage nothing happened at sea and we entered here directly today without making any stops in Japan. Both captain Wu Chishen and vice-captain Li Guozhen are here for the first time. Our ship came here as Ship No. 52 in the year before last. In Siam and her neighbouring "inner" countries peace prevails. You must have heard about that in detail from the Chinese ships which entered here earlier. There is no need for repetition. There is nothing else to add. The 28th day of the 7th month. Year of the Boar. Ship No.82 from Siam, 26 August 1707 The King of Siam commissioned our ship. On the 28th day of the 5th month [27 June] this year we left Siam with 79 tojin on board accompanied by three other ships, making a fleet of four. We have been told that two of them have arrived already as Ships No. 79 and No. 80. The last one should be arriving soon. During our voyage nothing unusual happened at sea. We entered here directly today without making any stops in Japan. Our captain Yang Yaoguan was purser aboard Ship No. 80 last year. This is our ship's first voyage. In Siam peace prevails as usual. There was no news of disturbances from the neighbouring "inner" countries. You must have heard details about the situation in Siam from the Chinese ships which entered earlier. There is nothing else to report to you. The 29th day of the 7th month, Year of the Boar.

	Royal Thai Embassy / Board of Investment / Tourism Authority of Thailand / JTECS / AOTS / JCC Bangkok / JFTC /