The Dutchman Behind the Name Yaesu (八重洲)

When walking through Tokyo Station, many people will likely notice the name "Yaesu" (八重洲) on numerous signs. Yaesu is an area in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, primarily located east of Tokyo Station. It is widely believed to be named after Dutch navigator Jan Joosten van Lodensteijn (1556?–1623), commonly known as Jan Joosten (ヤン・ヨーステン). His name was phonetically adapted into Japanese as "耶楊子" (Yayōsu), which later evolved into "八代洲" (Yayosu) and is thought to have eventually become "八重洲" (Yaesu).

Jan Joosten van Loodensteyn Statue in the Yaesu Shopping Mall

In 1600, Jan Joosten arrived in Japan alongside English navigator William Adams (1564–1620), better known in Japan as Miura Anjin (三浦按針), who served as the inspiration for the character John Blackthorne in the 1975 novel Shogun, later adapted into a TV series in 2024. They were aboard the Dutch vessel De Liefde when it drifted ashore in Japan. Later, Jan Joosten served as a diplomatic advisor and interpreter under Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), gaining the shogun's trust.

The area where his Edo (modern-day Tokyo) residence once stood was located along the inner moat between Wadakura Gate and Hibiya. In his honor, it was named Yayosu-gashi (八代洲河岸), a name that remained in use until the Meiji period (1868–1912).

Jan Joosten Memorial

In 1980, the Jan Joosten Memorial, a plaque commemorating the 380th anniversary of Japan-Netherlands relations (日蘭修好380周年記念ヤン・ヨーステン記念碑), was placed near the Nihonbashi 3-chome Intersection. The plaque features an emblem of the Dutch East India Company at the top, a portrait of Jan Joosten on the left, and an image of De Liefde on the right. Behind the plaque, a monument set by Chuo-ku commemorates their declaration as a peace-loving city in 1988. The monument incorporates 26 bells manufactured in the Netherlands.

In addition, a statue of Jan Joosten can be found in the Yaesu Shopping Mall (Yaechika Shopping Mall) nearby. The mall also introduced a yurukyara (ゆるキャラ), or mascot character, of him which made its debut in 2018.

Yurukyara of Jan Joosten