The Trading Post at Dejima

In 1641 the Dutch merchants in Japan were housed on a small fan-shaped island in Nagasaki Bay called Dejima. This handscroll affords a glimpse of the foreigners’ daily life at the post. They engage in a game of badminton, and the Japanese painter emphasized exotic aspects, including imported animals and the European custom of tipping one’s hat as a gesture of greeting.

The Trading Post at Dejima

In 1641 the Dutch merchants in Japan were housed on a small fan-shaped island in Nagasaki Bay called Dejima. This handscroll affords a glimpse of the foreigners’ daily life at the post. They engage in a game of badminton, and the Japanese painter emphasized exotic aspects, including imported animals and the European custom of tipping one’s hat as a gesture of greeting.