JAPAN AND THE WEST: SOURCES FROM DUTCH ARCHIVES

PARTS III, IV & V

On microfiche

The series

In cooperation with the National Archives of the Netherlands, MMF has launched a new series of microfiche publications to make material on Japan held in Dutch archives more easily accessible for research. Three new parts are now available (Summer 2001).

Documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Part III. The archive of the Dutch legation in Japan, 1870-1890

Chronologically this archive follows the period covered by Part I of this series "Documents concerning the negotiation of a trade agreement with Japan, 1852-1870". There are many documents in Japanese, English and French in this part, as well of course as Dutch. Types of materials and subjects treated include:

General correspondence 1870-1890 with some diaries of the correspondence; correspondence concerning shipments of books and Japanese paper; the Dutch civil registry; marriage of a Dutch doctor with a Japanese woman before the Japanese authorities; Dutch consulates in Japan and their personnel; consular service, rights, etc.; and correspondence and other documents in Japanese concerning the commission of Dutch consular officials, 19th century.

Further there is correspondence concerning the persecution of Christians in Japan 1867-1872; Dutch land and property in Yokohama, Edo and Kanagawa; division of land at Yokohama and Kobe (Hiogo) among Dutch, French, English and Swiss 1860-1877; with the governor-general of the Netherlands East Indies 1874-1877; recruitment of Japanese soldiers for Dutch service in the East Indies 1867-1875; concerning hunting and hunting licenses in Japan; opening and closing of Japanese ports for foreigners and foreign settlements in those ports 1864-1879; opening Japan for foreigners 1873-1877; on Dutch citizens in Japanese service or who want to enter Japanese service 1872-1875; dissolution of a contract between a Dutch engineer and the Japanese school for foreign languages Kagoshima 1877-1879.

There is also correspondence concerning placing or moving navigation lights; permission to fly Dutch flag on ships 1867-1875; over Japanese coins 1867-1876; and the issuing of internal passports by the Japanese government 1874-1877, 1890.

Further this part contains documents concerning disputes between Dutch firms and between the Nederlandsche Handelmaatschappij and a Japanese for fraud; liquidation of a Dutch coal mining firm; accepting or soliciting Japanese knighthoods (honors); and finally measures against the spread of cholera.

Part IV. The archive of the Dutch consulate at Nagasaki 1860-1915

This archive contains correspondence for the period 1860-1908 with calendars of the correspondence for 1868-1892; 1892-1913. In particular, 1867 has some important letters concerning opening the harbors of Hiogo and Osaka.

There are also various other documents including the bookkeeping 1898-1907, notarial acts 1860-1883, 1890, 1898 and some wills. Further there are files on police business in Deshima 1862; an auction house at Nagasaki 1860-1863; bankruptcy; and various legal cases.

Finally, one finds a register of Dutch nationals 1882-1915, a list of Swedish and Norwegian subjects 1883-1896; a file on graves of foreigners at Nagasaki; and documents concerning buying, selling and renting property at Deshima and in the "foreign compound".

Part V. The archive of the Dutch consulate at Yokohama, 1860-1870

This archive contains the general correspondence of the consulate 1860-1870, with calendars/diaries of the correspondence; correspondence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague 1864-1870 including copies of letters sent; correspondence with the consul-general during his trip to Edo 1860-1862; correspondence concerning Japanese rights of import-export; correspondence concerning the Dutch naval hospital at Yokohama 1865-1869 and the Dutch naval coaling station there 1865-1869. Further there are cash books 1861-1865; records concerning warehouse and "kambang" accounts 1860-1862, and finally receipts and other documents in Japanese.

JAPAN AND THE WEST, PARTS I-II

Part I. Documents concerning the negotiation of a trade agreement, 1852-1870
Price: € 1,170
Part II. Political reports, 1887-1940
Price: € 745
Special combined price parts I-II: € 1,725

Of related interest

WAR AND DECOLONIZATION IN INDONESIA, 1940-1950

This continuing series from the National Archives of the Netherlands covers the period of the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies in the Second World War and the ensuing turmoil of decolonization that commenced with the war's end in August 1945, leading to the independence of Indonesia in December 1949. There are four parts currently available.

Part V: The Archive of the Office for Japanese Affairs, Batavia, 1945-1950

This part concerns the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies from 1942 until 1945 and its aftermath in the years after 1945 with many documents in the Japanese language.

For more information, please contact MMF Publications at mmf@microformat.nl