The Japanese use of cannon

[Akeichi Mitsuhide]

The Erasmus is not just a ship if anyone wonders. Its a popular vessel and used for 2 pieces of nice japanese work: Shogun the novel and Shogun the mini-series. Wanna know more ? Look in a book of ship records or go to the museum it is in(less its still on the bottom of the jap sea, in which case u have to dive for it).

[Tomisama]

Ok, the “Liefde” was the actual name of the ship (which means Love or Charity), but the ship, it’s crew, and it’s manifest were very real, and very really in Japan in April of 1600.

"Erasmus", or Saint Elmo (the patron saint of sailors) was most likely only a figurehead on the vessel, and a more meaning full reference to it by it’s English crewmembers (and easier to say than the Dutch name).

There is a monument depicting the vessel in the Yaesu district, Nihonbashi, Tokyo.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Adams_%28sailor%29

[Wundai]

Liefde means love in my country's language ;)