First European Description of Life in Japan // 1585 'Striking Contrasts' Luis Frois - Primary Source episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 7, 2026 · 15 MIN

First European Description of Life in Japan // 1585 'Striking Contrasts' Luis Frois - Primary Source

from History's Living Voices: The Past, Told by Those Who Lived It · host HLV

"Many of their customs are so distant, foreign, and far removed from our own that is difficult to believe that one can find such stark contrasts among us and people who are so civilized." In 1543 Portuguese traders and missionaries landed in Japan and started the Nanban Trade Period. For half a century, these missionaries and traders interacted with the Japanese, up until the early sixteenth century and the beginning of the isolationist policies of the Edo period. Here we have missionary Luis Frois describing some of the differences he saw between Europeans and the totally foreign Japanese - on subjects ranging from hairstyles to abortion. Taken from chapters 1, 2, 3 and 14 of the translation 'The First Europeans in Japan, 1585', translated, edited and annotated by Richard K Danford, Robin D Gill and Daniel T Reff and published by Routledge. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/First-European-Description-Japan-1585/dp/041572757X https://www.routledge.com/The-First-European-Description-of-Japan-1585-A-Critical-English-Language/Frois-SJ-Reff-Danford-Gill/p/book/9781315852140 If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up! patreon.com/voicesofthepast — Don’t forget to subscribe to my brother's channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:- https://www.youtube.com/historytime — Music courtesy of:- - Epidemic Sound — Voice actor & editor:- David Kelly We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit. Thanks to: gino 張 https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2266352 Karen Arnold https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=316933 WikimediaImages https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=884013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Many of their customs are so distant, foreign, and far removed from our own that is difficult to believe that one can find such stark contrasts among us and people who are so civilized." In 1543 Portuguese traders and missionaries landed in Japan and started the Nanban Trade Period. For half a century, these missionaries and traders interacted with the Japanese, up until the early sixteenth century and the beginning of the isolationist policies of the Edo period. Here we have missionary Luis Frois describing some of the differences he saw between Europeans and the totally foreign Japanese - on subjects ranging from hairstyles to abortion. Taken from chapters 1, 2, 3 and 14 of the translation 'The First Europeans in Japan, 1585', translated, edited and annotated by Richard K Danford, Robin D Gill and Daniel T Reff and published by Routledge. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/First-European-Description-Japan-1585/dp/041572757X https://www.routledge.com/The-First-European-Description-of-Japan-1585-A-Critical-English-Language/Frois-SJ-Reff-Danford-Gill/p/book/9781315852140 If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up! patreon.com/voicesofthepast — Don’t forget to subscribe to my brother's channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:- https://www.youtube.com/historytime — Music courtesy of:- - Epidemic Sound — Voice actor & editor:- David Kelly We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit. Thanks to: gino 張 https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2266352 Karen Arnold https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=316933 WikimediaImages https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=884013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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First European Description of Life in Japan // 1585 'Striking Contrasts' Luis Frois - Primary Source

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This episode was published on July 7, 2026.

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"Many of their customs are so distant, foreign, and far removed from our own that is difficult to believe that one can find such stark contrasts among us and people who are so civilized." In 1543 Portuguese traders and missionaries landed in Japan...

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