Yamada Nagamasa

Yamada Nagamasa was born in Sumpu, Suruga province. His father was a knife maker, but after his father’s death Yamada did not continue his father’s profession. He found a job at the castle of Numazu where, at the age of 16, he became one of Lord’s Okubo’s palanquin bearers. After his death, Yamada obtained a position as a dockworker in the port city of Sakai, located in what is today Osaka Prefecture.

By interacting with sailors Yamada became interested in sailing, and in 1612 he set sail southbound onboard a shogunal sponsored ship carrying a group of adventurers and a cargo of goods to be sold for profit in Siam. Once in Siam he quickly learned Siamese language, and became protégée of Kii Kyuemon, the leader of the Japanese community in Ayutthaya. He entered in the deerskin trade and started building up his wealth and fame.

Yamada also served in a campaign aimed to curb the Burmese invasions that were in that period regularly ongoing in the northern part of the Siamese kingdom. As had proved himself as a soldier and King Som Tham invited him to his palace to reward him for his courage and loyalty. In 1628 he was appointed regent of the young king. He also became the next leader of Baan Ippun, the Japanese community in Ayutthaya, after Kii Kyuemon returned for good to Japan.

In 1630 Yamada got involved in the court intrigues and was poisoned by his rivals.