1564-1620

Tells the story of William Adams, an Englishman who was part of a Dutch crew that arrived in Japan in 1600 in hopes of opening trade, discussing how he became a favorite in the ruling shogun's court, and his later attempts to extend trade privileges to England.

Drawing upon the journals and letters of William Adams, the first Englishmen to set foot in Japan, Samurai William presents a unique glimpse of Japan before it once again closed itself off from the world for another two hundred years.