Tenjiku Tokubei

Tenjiku Tokubei was a Japanese adventurer, merchant and writer of the early 17th century.

Tokubei traveled to Southeast and South Asia, hence his "Tenjiku" (Japanese name of "India") nickname.

He was born in Sendo-machi, Takasago-cho, in today's Hyōgo Prefecture in 1612. His father was a salt wholesaler. In 1626 at the age of fifteen, Tokubei was hired by a trading company in Kyoto. He pursued commercial activities aboard Japanese Red Seal Ships.

In 1627, Tokubei visited China, Vietnam and Siam (modern Thailand) on board a Japanese Red Seal ship. He would stay for some time in Siam and again visit the country on board one of the ships of the Dutch adventurer Jan Joosten van Lodensteijn. He also sailed to India, to the source of the Ganges, and the country of Magadha, and returned with great wealth and numerous stories to tell.

Upon his return to Japan, Tokubei wrote an essay titled "Tenjiku Tokai Monogatari", "Relations of sea travels to India" on his adventures in foreign countries, which became very popular in Japan.

He died around the age of 80 in his home town of Takasago.

He was a popular subject of woodcut prints in the 18th and 19th century.