Reize van Maarten Gerritsz. Vries in 1643 naar het Noorden en Oosten van Japan

A Dutch fleet set sail in 1643 under the command of Maarten Gerritsz Vries, aiming to chart the mysterious coasts of the north‑east Asian seas. The ship Castoricum’s journey is recorded in a meticulous journal kept by the opperstierman Cornelis Jansz Coen, who notes every latitude, island sighting and encounter with local vessels. As the crew pushes past the familiar routes of the East Indies, they glimpse the rugged shoreline of Japan’s northern territories, describing the landscape and its people with a mix of curiosity and the practical concerns of a seafarer.

The edition enriches the original log with period maps, facsimile sketches and detailed ethnographic notes by the renowned scholar Philipp von Siebold, including observations on the Ainu language and culture. Listeners also receive a compact seaman’s guide to places like Jezo, Karafuto and the Kuril islands, offering insight into 17th‑century navigation techniques. Together, these elements create an immersive portrait of early Dutch exploration, blending adventure, science and the first European impressions of a remote part of the world.