Murayama Tōan

Murayama Tōan was a Japanese merchant and magistrate of the city of Nagasaki who played an important role in the handling of Nanban trade with Christian powers, and led an invasion to Taiwan.

Originated from Nagoya and a modest family background, a young Murayama went to Nagasaki where he built a successful merchant carrier and ammassed a fortune. He was baptized in Nagasaki and received the name „Antonio“. As a influential person in the town, Murayama was nominated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a feudal lord credited with completing the 16th century unification of Japan, as the local tax farmer. Hideyoshi even changed his name to "Tōan" because he could not pronounce "Antonio" easily.

In 1603-1604 Murayama became Magistrate of Nagasaki and among his achievements counts regulation of the silk trade with the Portuguese through the introduction of the "bulk-purchase" pancada system (ito-wappu for the Japanese). In 1616 he was sent on a mission to invade Taiwan which ended with failure. The aim was to establish a base for the direct supply of silk from China, instead of having to supply it from Portuguese-controlled Macao or Spanish-controlled Manila.

Murayama was executed in 1619 by the shogun order. The real reason is unknown.