About
Passing through the bustle of Tokyo Station and walking along Yaesu Street, you will notice a solitary bronze plaque quietly standing on the central median. This is the “Jan Joosten Memorial,” created by the Dutch sculptor L.P. Braat. Two compasses are combined to form a celestial globe, with Jan Joosten’s profile engraved on the left and the Dutch ship Liefde, on which he sailed, depicted on the right. At the top center, the emblem of the Dutch East India Company of that era is proudly displayed, while at the bottom, a sun motif reminiscent of an old map shines brightly.
This memorial was erected on April 20, 1980, to commemorate the 380th anniversary of Japan-Netherlands relations. In 1600 (Keicho 5), Jan Joosten drifted ashore in Bungo on the Dutch ship Liefde together with William Adams and others, and remained in Japan. He gained the trust of Tokugawa Ieyasu and served as an advisor on diplomacy and trade, receiving a residence outside Wadakura Gate near Edo Castle. This area was named “Yayosugashi” after him, which later became “Yaesu,” and the name remains as a place name to this day.
Next to the memorial stands the “Bell of Peace,” towering at seven meters high. This was installed in 1988 (Showa 63) to commemorate Chuo Ward’s declaration as a “City of Peace.” Twenty-six bells made in the Netherlands play seasonal melodies. The sound of the bells, which ring every hour, brings a moment of tranquility and peace amid the city’s hustle and bustle.
Jan Joosten’s legacy is also engraved in the Yaesu Underground Mall. On Sotobori Underground Street No. 1, his commemorative statue is installed and is also cherished as the underground mall’s mascot. Learning that his Japanese name “Yayosu” evolved into “Yayosugashi” and then “Yaesu,” you can feel the history of this area more intimately.
Located in the heart of Tokyo, this place has a deep historical connection with the Netherlands. The memorial and the sound of the bell quietly tell the story of the encounter between a voyager from a distant foreign land and Japan, and the history of friendship that followed.