Misplaced Pages

#410589

69-804: Port Island ( ポートアイランド , Pōto Airando ) is an artificial island in Chuo-ku , Kobe , Japan . It was constructed between 1966-1980 (Phase 1) and 1987-2009 (Phase 2) at Port of Kobe , and officially opened with an exposition called " Portopia '81 ." It now houses a heliport , numerous hotels , a large convention center , the UCC Coffee Museum , Japan's third IKEA store, and several parks. The Port Liner automated guideway transit system connects Port Island to Sannomiya Station and to Kobe Airport . 34°40′N 135°13′E  /  34.667°N 135.217°E  / 34.667; 135.217 This Hyōgo Prefecture location article

138-521: A rebellion by mostly Catholic converts , the Portuguese were expelled in 1639. The Dutch were moved to Dejima in 1641, under stricter control and scrutiny, and segregated from Japanese society. The open practice of Christianity was banned, and interactions between Dutch and Japanese traders were tightly regulated, with only a small number of foreign merchants being allowed to disembark in Dejima. Until

207-399: A clear distinction between land masses eligible for expansion into new island groups and those that do not qualify. According to this legal framework, low-tide elevations are considered part of the seabed and do not generate a territorial sea, EEZ, or continental shelf. However, they serve as a reference point for measuring the entitlements of nearby rocks or islands. Rocks, unlike islands, lack

276-516: A deal with the Portuguese to develop Nagasaki; soon the port was open for trade. In 1580 Sumitada gave the jurisdiction of Nagasaki to the Jesuits, and the Portuguese obtained the de facto monopoly on the silk trade with China through Macau . The shōgun Iemitsu ordered the construction of the artificial island in 1634, to accommodate the Portuguese traders living in Nagasaki and prevent

345-712: A definition of hybrid warfare that suggests it is targeted at populations. Additionally, China's objective is not to destabilise other states, but rather to enhance its national security by gaining control over regional waters. Furthermore, China is not aiming to seize control from another power, but rather seeks to establish a dominant security and political position in the region. It is worth noting that China employs unarmed or lightly armed vessels deliberately, as they are unlikely to resort to deadly force. However, others argue that China's greyzone tactics can be classified as hybrid warfare. Some viewpoints contend that China's establishment of military bases on artificial islands serves as

414-569: A long history in many parts of the world, dating back to the reclaimed islands of Ancient Egyptian civilization , the Stilt crannogs of prehistoric Wales , Scotland and Ireland , the ceremonial centers of Nan Madol in Micronesia and the still extant floating islands of Lake Titicaca . The city of Tenochtitlan , the Aztec predecessor of Mexico City that was home to 500,000 people when

483-488: A means to assert their territorial claims through the use of force. This approach is referred to as the Cabbage strategy, wherein a contested area is encircled by multiple layers of security to deny access to rival nations, ultimately solidifying their claim. While there is no consensus on China's motives behind the creation of artificial islands, it is widely acknowledged that China aims to bolster its power and influence in

552-766: A military barracks , lookout tower and a runway long enough to handle Chinese military aircraft. A largely touristic and commercial project is the Ocean Flower Island project on Hainan island. Kansai International Airport is the first airport to be built completely on an artificial island in 1994, followed by Chūbu Centrair International Airport in 2005, and both the New Kitakyushu Airport and Kobe Airport in 2006, Ordu Giresun Airport in 2016, and Rize-Artvin Airport in 2022 When Hong Kong International Airport opened in 1998, 75% of

621-533: A supervisor ( 乙名 , otona ) with about fifty subordinates. Numerous merchants supplied goods and catering, and about 150 interpreters ( 通詞 , tsūji ) served. They all had to be paid by the VOC . As the city of Nagasaki, Dejima was under the direct supervision of Edo through a governor ( Nagasaki bugyō ). Every ship that arrived in Dejima was inspected. Its sails were held by the Japanese until they released

690-529: A trading post on the island of Hirado . The departure of the Portuguese left the Dutch employees of the " Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie " ("VOC") as the sole Westerners with trade access to Japan. For 33 years they were allowed to trade relatively freely. At its maximum, the Hirado trading post ( 平戸オランダ商館 , Hirado Oranda Shōkan ) covered a large area. In 1637 and 1639 stone warehouses were constructed within

759-612: A year the Europeans were allowed to attend the festivities at the Suwa-Shrine under escort. Sometimes physicians such as Engelbert Kaempfer , Carl Peter Thunberg , and Philipp Franz von Siebold were called to high-ranking Japanese patients with the permission of the authorities. Starting in the 18th century, Dejima became known throughout Japan as a center of medicine, military science, and astronomy. Many samurai traveled there for "Dutch studies" ( Rangaku ). The Opperhoofd

SECTION 10

#1732772010411

828-484: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Artificial island In modern times, artificial islands are usually formed by land reclamation , but some are formed by flooding of valleys resulting in the tops of former knolls getting isolated by water (e.g., Barro Colorado Island ). There are several reasons for the construction of these islands, which include residential, industrial, commercial, structural (for bridge pylons) or strategic purposes. One of

897-473: Is being built on a 28 square kilometer artificial islands. Artificial islands negatively impact the marine environment. The large quantities of sand required to build these islands are acquired through dredging , which is harmful to coral reefs and disrupts marine life. The increased amount of sand, sediment, and fine particles creates turbid conditions, blocking necessary UV rays from reaching coral reefs, creating coral turbidity (where more organic material

966-606: Is home to several artificial island projects. They include the Yas Island , augmentations to Saadiyat Island , Khalifa Port , Al Reem Island , Al Lulu Island , Al Raha Creek, al Hudairiyat Island, The Universe and the Dubai Waterfront . Palm Islands ( Palm Jumeirah , Palm Jebel Ali , and Deira Island ) and the World Islands off Dubai are created for leisure and tourism purposes. The Burj Al Arab

1035-531: Is on its own artificial island. The Universe, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Waterfront, and Palm Deira are on hold. China has conducted a land reclamation project which had built at least seven artificial islands in the South China Sea off the coast of Palawan totaling 2000 acres in size by mid 2015. One artificial island built on Fiery Cross Reef near the Spratly Islands is now the site of

1104-607: Is taken in by coral) and increasing bacterial activity (more harmful bacteria are introduced into coral). The construction of artificial islands also decreases the subaqueous area in surrounding waters, leading to habitat destruction or degradation for many species. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty (UNCLOS), artificial islands are not considered harbor works (Article 11) and are under

1173-493: Is to exploit vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to achieve geopolitical and strategic goals. Some argue, that China's greyzone tactics mainly aim to improve its geopolitical position in a peaceful manner. In contrast to the greyzone tactics used by Russia in Crimea in 2014, China's approach differs significantly. One supporting argument is that the majority of the activities occur in uninhabited areas at sea, which contradicts

1242-544: Is understood as a form of conflict that combines conventional and irregular tactics. Hybrid warfare may also be defined as a multifaceted strategy aimed at destabilising a functioning state and dividing its society. This comprehensive definition portrays hybrid strategy as a versatile and complex approach utilising a combination of conventional and unconventional means, overt and covert activities, involving military, paramilitary, irregular, and civilian actors across different domains of power. The ultimate objective of hybrid warfare

1311-469: Is worth mentioning that artificial islands may include stationary oil rigs. Coastal states are permitted to undertake reclamation within designated areas as long as they fulfil their obligation to inform other countries and respect their rights, as outlined by UNCLOS rules. However, any artificial islands created through this process are restricted to maintaining a 500-meter safety zone around them and must not obstruct international navigation. Hybrid warfare

1380-780: The Kankō Maru , given by the government of the Netherlands the same year. The future Admiral Enomoto Takeaki was one of the students of the Training Center. The Dutch East India Company 's trading post at Dejima was abolished when Japan concluded the Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States in 1858. This ended Dejima's role as Japan's only window on the Western world during the era of national isolation . Since then,

1449-486: The Bakufu suddenly increased its interactions with Dejima in an effort to build up knowledge of Western shipping methods. The Nagasaki Naval Training Center ( 長崎海軍伝習所 , Nagasaki Kaigun Denshūsho ) , a naval training institute, was established in 1855 by the government of the shōgun at the entrance of Dejima, to enable maximum interaction with Dutch naval know-how. The center was equipped with Japan's first steamship,

SECTION 20

#1732772010411

1518-469: The Dutch (1641–1858). For 220 years, it was the central conduit for foreign trade and cultural exchange with Japan during the isolationist Edo period (1600–1869), and the only Japanese territory open to Westerners. Spanning 120 m × 75 m (390 ft × 250 ft) or 9,000 m (2.2 acres), Dejima was created in 1636 by digging a canal through a small peninsula and linking it to

1587-601: The Principality of Sealand (often shorted to simply "Sealand") is entirely on a single artificial island. Over time, after World War II , several countries have been reported to have built artificial islands for strategic and military purposes. For instance, the Philippines and China have been reported to have constructed artificial islands in the South China Sea, primarily to assert territorial claims over

1656-604: The 'most perfect pearl' in the Persian Gulf, Durrat Al Bahrain is a US$ 6 billion joint development owned by the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH). The project is designed by the firm Atkins. It consists of a series of 15 large artificial islands covering an area of about 5 km2 (54,000,000 sq ft) and has six atolls, five fish-shaped islands, two crescent-shaped islands, and two more small islands related to

1725-561: The 12 nautical mile territorial sea, a country holds the right to reclaim land as it falls under its sovereign authority. However, beyond this 12 nautical mile limit, the country must consider whether its actions conform to the rights and jurisdictions recognised by UNCLOS. Reclamation activities conducted between 12 and 200 nautical miles are considered part of the process of establishing and utilising artificial islands, installations, and structures, governed by specific provisions within UNCLOS. It

1794-825: The Deputy Factor's Quarters were completed and opened to the public. In the spring of 2006, the finishing touches were put on the Chief Factor's Residence, the Japanese Officials' Office, the Head Clerk's Quarters, the No. 3 Warehouse, and the Sea Gate. Currently, some 10 buildings throughout the area have been restored. In 2017, six new buildings, as well as the Omotemon Bridge (the old bridge to

1863-404: The Dutch negotiated their own treaty in 1858, which ended Dejima's status as exclusive trading post, greatly reducing its importance. The island was eventually subsumed into Nagasaki city through land reclamation . In 1922, the "Dejima Dutch Trading Post" was designated a Japanese national historic site , and there are ongoing efforts in the 21st century to restore Dejima as an island. In 1543,

1932-714: The Marina area. In 1969, the Flevopolder in the Netherlands was finished, as part of the Zuiderzee Works . It has a total land surface of 970 km , which makes it by far the largest artificial island by land reclamation in the world. The island consists of two polders , Eastern Flevoland and Southern Flevoland. Together with the Noordoostpolder , which includes some small former islands like Urk ,

2001-479: The Maruyama teahouses. The yūjo were handpicked from 1642 by the Japanese, often against their will. From the 18th century, there were some exceptions to this rule, especially following Tokugawa Yoshimune 's doctrine of promoting European practical sciences. A few Oranda-yuki ("those who stay with the Dutch") were allowed to stay for longer periods, but they had to report regularly to the Japanese guard post. Once

2070-473: The Middle East'. Lusail & large areas around Ras Laffan , Hamad International Airport & Hamad Port . The New Doha International Airport is the second largest artificial island built in the world, with a size of 22km2. The Pearl-Qatar is the third largest artificial island in the world, with a size of 13.9km2. The island was built in 2006, by main contractor DEME Group. The United Arab Emirates

2139-545: The Nakashima River and moving a part of Route 499. Opperhoofd is a Dutch word (plural opperhoofden ) which literally means 'supreme head'. The Japanese used to call the trading post chiefs kapitan which is derived from Portuguese capitão (cf. Latin caput , head). In its historical usage, the word is a gubernatorial title, comparable to the English Chief factor , for the chief executive officer of

Port Island - Misplaced Pages Continue

2208-579: The South China Sea. China began building islands in the 1980s, initially creating a series of minor military garrisons. However, the reason why China faces criticism is because some of the reclaimed islands fall within the EEZs of other countries, which raises concerns about China's compliance with UNCLOS. Vietnam has also made a historical claim, pointing to its rule over the islands in the 17th century. The Philippines argues for its rights based on geographical proximity. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of

2277-588: The Spaniards arrived, stood on a small natural island in Lake Texcoco that was surrounded by countless artificial chinamitl islands. The people of Langa Langa Lagoon and Lau Lagoon in Malaita , Solomon Islands, built about 60 artificial islands on the reef including Funaafou , Sulufou , and Adaege. The people of Lau Lagoon build islands on the reef as this provided protection against attack from

2346-606: The ambit of this Hirado trading post. Christian-era year dates were used on the stonework of the new warehouses and these were used in 1640 as a pretext to demolish the buildings and relocate the trading post to Nagasaki. With the expulsion of the last Portuguese in 1639, Dejima became a failed commercial post and without the annual trading with Portuguese ships from Macau, the economy of Nagasaki suffered greatly. The Dutch were forced by government officials to move from Hirado to Dejima in Nagasaki. From 1641 on, only Chinese and Dutch ships were allowed to come to Japan, and Nagasaki harbor

2415-418: The area. This is opposed by the legal argument supported by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is noteworthy that UNCLOS serves as the primary legal framework that governs the use and control of maritime zones. This convention establishes regulations on how coastal states can exercise their sovereignty over territorial waters, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones ( EEZs ), and

2484-597: The bankruptcy of the East-India Company in 1795, the Dutch government took over the exchange with Japan. Times were especially hard when the Netherlands, then called the Batavian Republic , was under French Napoleonic rule . All ties with the homeland were severed at Dejima, and for a while, it was the only place in the world where the Dutch flag was flown. The chief VOC trading post officer in Japan

2553-445: The capacity to sustain human habitation or support economic activity. While they generate a territorial sea, they do not establish an EEZ or continental shelf. UNCLOS stipulates that both rocks and islands must be naturally formed and remain above water at high tide. The Spratly Islands have been a subject of contention among multiple countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and China. China's claim to

2622-547: The continental shelf. China's claim to the South China Sea dates back to the 1940s. At that time, China recovered islands in the name of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation , and there was no reaction from Vietnam or any other state against it. In 1947, China drafted the eleven-dash line (also referred to as the nine-dash line ) to outline the geographical scope of its authority over

2691-585: The court, such as astrolabes , a pair of glasses, telescopes, globes, medical instruments, medical books, or exotic animals and tropical birds. In return, the Dutch delegation received some gifts from the shōgun . On arrival in Edo, the Opperhoofd and his retinue, usually his scribe and the factory physician, had to wait in the Nagasakiya ( 長崎屋 ) , their mandatory residence, until they were summoned at

2760-400: The court. During the reign of the somewhat eccentric shōgun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, they were expected to perform Dutch dances and songs for the amusement of the shōgun after their official audience, according to Engelbert Kaempfer . But they also used the opportunity of their stay of about two to three weeks in the capital to exchange knowledge with learned Japanese and, under escort, to visit

2829-522: The disputed waters. Similarly, Russia has allegedly done so in the Arctic, both for strategic and military purposes. These reports are subject to ongoing political and diplomatic debates. The island-building activities of China have been the subject of close examination by experts, who suggest that they are driven by strategic objectives. The issue at the heart of the matter revolves around China's claim that its historical entitlement justifies its actions in

Port Island - Misplaced Pages Continue

2898-581: The history of direct contact between Japan and Europe began with the arrival of storm-blown Portuguese merchants on Tanegashima . Six years later the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier landed in Kagoshima . At first Portuguese traders were based in Hirado , but they moved in search of a better port. In 1570 daimyō Ōmura Sumitada converted to Catholicism (choosing Bartolomeu as his Christian name) and made

2967-464: The island was expanded by reclaimed land and merged into Nagasaki. Extensive redesigning of Nagasaki Harbor in 1904 obscured its original location. The original footprint of Dejima Island has been marked by rivets; but as restoration progresses, the ambit of the island will be easier to see at a glance. Dejima today is a work in progress. The island was designated a national historic site in 1922, but further steps were slow to follow. Restoration work

3036-514: The islands, despite entering the dispute relatively late, has been supported by arguments asserting historical presence and construction activities on the islands as a basis for their claim. In terms of international law, land reclamation itself is not explicitly prohibited. There is no specific rule within international law that prohibits any country from engaging in land reclamation at sea. The legality of such activities primarily depends on their location in relation to adjacent land territories. Within

3105-633: The isolationist era, Dutch people were generally banned from Nagasaki and Japanese from Dejima. Similarly, Ellis Island , in Upper New York Bay beside New York City , a former tiny islet greatly expanded by land reclamation , served as an isolated immigration center for the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, preventing an escape to the city of those refused entry for disease or other perceived flaws, who might otherwise be tempted toward illegal immigration . One of

3174-473: The jurisdiction of the nearest coastal state if within 200 nautical miles (370 km) (Article 56). Artificial islands are also not considered islands for purposes of having their own territorial waters or exclusive economic zones , and only the coastal state may authorize their construction (Article 60); however, on the high seas beyond national jurisdiction, any "state" may construct artificial islands (Article 87). The unrecognised micronation known as

3243-510: The mainland with a small bridge. The island was constructed by the Tokugawa shogunate , whose isolationist policies sought to preserve the existing sociopolitical order by forbidding outsiders from entering Japan while prohibiting most Japanese from leaving. Dejima housed European merchants and separated them from Japanese society while still facilitating lucrative trade with the West. Following

3312-447: The mainland), were restored. The bridge was officially opened in attendance of members of the Japanese and Dutch royal families. Long-term planning intends that Dejima will again be surrounded by water on all four sides; its characteristic fan-shaped form and all of its embankment walls will be fully restored. This long-term plan will include large-scale urban redevelopment in the area. To make Dejima an island again will require rerouting

3381-465: The mid-19th century, the Dutch were the only Westerners with exclusive access to the Japanese markets. Dejima consequently played a key role in the Japanese movement of rangaku ( 蘭學 , Dutch learning) , an organized scholarly effort to learn the Dutch language in order to understand Western science, medicine, and technology. After the 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa set a precedent for more fully opening Japan to foreign trade and diplomatic relations,

3450-628: The most well-known artificial islands is the Île Notre-Dame in Montreal , built for Expo 67 . The Venetian Islands in Miami Beach, Florida , in Biscayne Bay added valuable new real estate during the Florida land boom of the 1920s . When the bubble that the developers were riding burst, the bay was left scarred with the remnants of their failed project. A boom town development company

3519-414: The people who lived in the centre of Malaita. These islands were formed literally one rock at a time. A family would take their canoe out to the reef which protects the lagoon and then dive for rocks, bring them to the surface and then return to the selected site and drop the rocks into the water. Living on the reef was also healthier as the mosquitoes, which infested the coastal swamps, were not found on

SECTION 50

#1732772010411

3588-428: The polders form Flevoland , the 12th province of the Netherlands that almost entirely consists of reclaimed land. An entire artificial archipelago , Marker Wadden has been built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife, the project started in 2016. Maldives have been creating various artificial islands to promote economic development and to address the threat of rising sea level . Hulhumalé island

3657-534: The propagation of their religion. This was one of the many edicts put forth by Iemitsu between 1633 and 1639 moderating contact between Japan and other countries. However, in response to the uprising of the predominantly Christian population in the Shimabara - Amakusa region, the Tokugawa government decided to expel the Portuguese in 1639. Since 1609, the Dutch East India Company had run

3726-454: The property was created using land reclamation upon the existing islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau . Currently China is building several airports on artificial islands, they include runways of Shanghai international Airport Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport being built on a 21 square kilometer artificial island , Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport , Sanya Hongtangwan International Airport designed by Bentley Systems which

3795-493: The reef islands. The Lau people continue to live on the reef islands. Many artificial islands have been built in urban harbors to provide either a site deliberately isolated from the city or just spare real estate otherwise unobtainable in a crowded metropolis. An example of the first case is Dejima (or Deshima ), created in the bay of Nagasaki in Japan 's Edo period as a contained center for European merchants . During

3864-474: The region. These actions contribute to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea . Dejima Dejima ( Japanese : 出島 , lit.   ' exit island ' ) or Deshima , in the 17th century also called Tsukishima ( 築島 , lit.   ' built island ' ) , was an artificial island off Nagasaki , Japan that served as a trading post for the Portuguese (1570–1639) and subsequently

3933-519: The right to sail, fly, and conduct military exercises in those waters. Nevertheless, China has repeatedly challenged this principle by constructing artificial islands, imposing restrictions on navigation, and militarising the area. The legal implications surrounding China's island construction efforts present complex challenges. A key issue revolves around determining the classification of land masses as either rocks or seabed, which holds significant importance in these disputed cases. Maritime law establishes

4002-484: The sea using EEZ as the basis of their claims. UNCLOS Article 60 stipulates that naturally formed islands can generate EEZs, while artificial islands cannot. Therefore, China's construction of artificial islands raises questions about whether they can legitimately claim an EEZ around those islands. UNCLOS also enshrines the freedom of navigation and overflight in the EEZ of coastal states, which implies that all countries have

4071-451: The ship to leave. They confiscated religious books and weapons. Christian churches were banned on the island and the Dutch were not allowed to hold any religious services. Despite the financial burden of maintaining the isolated outpost on Dejima, the trade with Japan was very profitable for the Dutch, initially yielding profits of 50% or more. Trade declined in the 18th century, as only two ships per year were allowed to dock at Dejima. After

4140-526: The town. Allegations published in the late 17th and early 18th century that Dutch traders were required by the Shogunate to renounce their Christian faith and undergo the test of treading on a fumi-e , an image of Jesus or Mary , are thought by modern scholars to be propaganda arising from the Anglo-Dutch Wars . Following the forced opening of Japan by US Navy Commodore Perry in 1854,

4209-424: The world's largest artificial islands, René-Levasseur Island , was formed by the flooding of two adjacent reservoirs. Technological advancements have made it feasible to build artificial islands in waters as deep as 75 meters. The size of the waves and the structural integrity of the island play a crucial role in determining the maximum depth. Despite a popular image of modernity, artificial islands actually have

SECTION 60

#1732772010411

4278-782: Was added the personal trade of VOC employees on Dejima, which was an important source of income for them and their Japanese counterparts. They sold more than 10,000 foreign books on various scientific subjects to the Japanese from the end of the 18th to the early 19th century. These became the basis of knowledge and a factor in the Rangaku movement, or Dutch studies. In all, 606 Dutch ships arrived at Dejima during its two centuries of settlement, from 1641 to 1847. For two hundred years, foreign merchants were generally not allowed to cross from Dejima to Nagasaki. Japanese civilians were likewise banned from entering Dejima, except interpreters, cooks, carpenters, clerks and yūjo ("women of pleasure") from

4347-515: Was building a sea wall for an island that was to be called Isola di Lolando but could not stay in business after the 1926 Miami Hurricane and the Great Depression , dooming the island-building project. The concrete pilings from the project still stand as another development boom roared around them, 80 years later. Bahrain has several artificial islands including Northern City , Diyar Al Muharraq , and Durrat Al Bahrain . Named after

4416-624: Was called the Opperhoofd by the Dutch, or Kapitan (from Portuguese capitão ) by the Japanese. This descriptive title did not change when the VOC went bankrupt and trade with Japan was continued by the Dutch Indies government at Batavia . According to the Sakoku rules of the Tokugawa shogunate , the VOC had to transfer and replace the opperhoofd every year with a new one. And each opperhoofd

4485-469: Was expected to travel to Edo to offer tribute to the shogun . Originally, the Dutch mainly traded in silk , cotton, and materia medica from China and India. Sugar became more important later. Deer pelts and shark skin were transported to Japan from Formosa , as well as books, scientific instruments and many other rarities from Europe. In return, the Dutch traders bought Japanese copper, silver, camphor , porcelain, lacquer ware, and rice. To this

4554-508: Was reclaimed to establish a new land mass required to meet the existing and future housing, industrial and commercial development demands of the Malé region. The official settlement was inaugurated on May 12, 2004. The Pearl Island is in the north of the Qatari capital Doha , home to a range of residential, commercial and tourism activities. Qanat Quartier is designed to be a 'Virtual Venice in

4623-478: Was started in 1953, but that project languished. In 1996, restoration of Dejima began with plans for reconstructing 25 buildings in their early 19th-century state. To better display Dejima's fan-shaped form, the project anticipated rebuilding only parts of the surrounding embankment wall that had once enclosed the island. Buildings that remained from the Meiji period were to be used. In 2000, five buildings including

4692-593: Was the only one they were allowed to enter. On the administrative level, the island of Dejima was part of the city of Nagasaki. The 25 local Japanese families who owned the land received an annual rent from the Dutch. Dejima was a small island, 120 metres (390 ft) by 75 metres (246 ft), linked to the mainland by a small bridge, guarded on both sides, and with a gate on the Dutch side. It contained houses for about twenty Dutchmen, warehouses, and accommodation for Japanese officials. The Dutch were watched by several Japanese officials, gatekeepers, night watchmen, and

4761-599: Was treated like the representative of a tributary state, which meant that he had to pay a visit of homage to the shōgun in Edo . The Dutch delegation traveled to Edo yearly between 1660 and 1790, and once every four years thereafter. This prerogative was denied to the Chinese traders. The lengthy travel to the shogunal court broke the boredom of the Dutch stay, but it was a costly affair. Government officials told them in advance and in detail which (expensive) gifts were expected at

#410589