National Historic Site National Park Service Vancouver National Historic Reserve

As one of the first permanent Shogun's annual tribute. The Japanese European settlements in the journey to Tokyo was less than four Pacific Northwest and the western hundred miles, but the ship and its Castaways headquarters for the British cargo would never arrive. Caught Hudson's Bay Company for more in a typhoon, her large rudder than 20 years, Fort Vancouver snapped and her mast and rigging hosted many important guests. were rendered useless. At the Few were more extraordinary than mercy of the currents, the fourteen- three Japanese sailors, survivors member crew drifted out of control of the Hojun-maru. The fifteen- for months,survivln"g"onTlce and meter Hojun-maru left the port of rainwater. One by one, all but Nagoya in October of 1832, three of the sailors perished. carrying rice and other gifts for the

The Fort's After fourteen months adrift, the captives." Captain William McNeil, Hojun-maru fmaWy washed ashore of the Llama,found the castaways, Visitors near what is now Cape Flattery, ransomed them,and brought them . Three surviving to Fort Vancouver. In his typically sailors, , Kyukichi, and hospitable fashion, Dr. McLoughlin Iwakichi were "rescued" by gave the sailors medicine,food, Indians. Cold, sick, and and instruction in English. He then malnourished, they spent the secured their passage on a ship to winter as slaves tied together with London. McLoughlin hoped the leather thongs. The Makah castaways might be returned frequently traded with the Hudson's home and used "as a wedge in Bay Company, and soon news of opening trade negotiations with the sailor's captivity reached John the Japanese government." Since The castaways. Otokichi, McLoughlin, Chief Factor of Fort 1603, Japan had closed its ports Kyukichi and Iwakichi Vancouver. He sent rescue parties to the outside world. by land and sea to "make an investigation and release the

Britain's King William IV financed officials, who offered him Adrift in a Sea the sailors' passage to Macao, repatriation. Having married an China. From there the three English wife and achieved a of Diplomacy attempted several times to return successful postition with the to Japan. Only Otokichi met with British Navy, Otokichi declined. success.,|n 1854, servjng as Thus the status of the sailors as translator for H/WS Winchester, he castaways would never truly end. related his story to Japanese

Approximate route of Hojun-maru from Japan to North America, October 1832 to January 1834.

Nagoya, Japan

For more information contact the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Visitor Center at 1-800-832-3599