Japanese–Portuguese conflicts refers to the military engagements between Portuguese and Japanese forces, that took place in Japan, Macau and Timor, in the 16th, 17th, and 20th centuries.

Background

In 1541, 1542 or 1543 (sources differ) Portugal established contact with Japan. Japan was then involved in a long civil-war but since Ming China had officially cut relations with Japan meant that Portuguese merchants could serve as an profitable commercial intermediary between the two nations. In 1550, the Portuguese Crown created an official trade route linking Goa, capital of its holdings in Asia, and Japan, and every year one or a number of large tradeships would sail to Japan and back, commanded by a captain-major. The Portuguese found enthusiastic commercial and diplomatical partners among Japanese lords and some, like Ōtomo Sōrin and Ōmura Sumitada converted to Christianity. Instability in Japan, or other reasons, meant that the Portuguese would occasionally be drawn into internal Japanese conflicts.

16th–17th centuries

Siege of Moji, 1561

In 1561, 15 Portuguese were killed in a brawl with the Japanese in Hirado while a captain was also killed in Akune, the earliest recorded clashes between Europeans and the Japanese. That same year, Ōtomo Sōrin requested Portuguese aid to recapture the castle of Moji, then held by forces of the Mori clan. The Portuguese provided three ships between 500 and 600, each with a crew of about 300 men and 17 to 18 cannon. In what was the first naval bombardment on Japan, the Portuguese ships opened fire on the castle of Moji, allowing Otomo forces to establish themselves around it. After expending their ammunition the Portuguese withdrew.

Battle of Fukuda Bay, 1565

Early in 18 October 1565, the lord of Hirado Matsura Takanobu attacked two Portuguese ships anchored at Fukuda, with a flottilla of eight to ten large junks, up to sixty smaller boats and several hundred samurai, when most Portuguese were ashore. The Japanese were repulsed however, having lost 3 ships and 70 men. The Portuguese suffered only 8 lives lost, and set sail for Macao at the end of November.

Nossa Senhora da Graça Incident, 1610

After the death of about 50 Japanese of the Arima clan in a brawl in Macau, a Portuguese great carrack was attacked in near Nagasaki by a fleet of over 33 vessels carrying around 3000 samurai belonging to the Arima clan in a four-day naval battle. The richly laden "great ship of commerce", famed as the "black ship" by the Japanese, sank after its captain André Pessoa set the gunpowder storage on fire as the vessel was overrun by samurai. This desperate and fatal resistance impressed the Japanese at the time, and memories of the event persisted into the 19th century.

20th century

Japanese occupation of Portuguese Timor

During World War Two, Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies, which shared the island of Timor with Portugal, who governed its eastern half, where no more than 150 Portuguese soldiers were stationed at. Despite being neutral in the conflict, or precisely because it refused to support allied actions that might hostilize Japan and trigger a German response in Europe, Australia and the Netherlands occupied Portuguese Timor with a force of 400 soldiers to secure their flank in West Timor. As a result, on the night of 19/20 February 1942 Japan invaded Portuguese Timor. Some Portuguese and Timorese voluntarily aided the allies with supplies or in combat but by 10 February 1943 all allied forces on Timor had been evacuated, along with some Portuguese.

Although the island remained occupied by the Japanese, Portuguese governor Manuel Ferreira de Carvalho was left in charge of some internal administration. On April 28, 1942, the governor wrote to Lisbon:

 
Most civilian deaths were caused by Japanese reprisals. The civilian death toll is estimated at 40,000 to 70,000.

Ultimately, Japanese forces remained in control of Timor until their surrender in September 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. On 5 September 1945, the Japanese commanding officer met Portuguese Governor Manuel Ferreira de Carvalho, effectively returning power to him and placing the Japanese forces under Portuguese authority.

Aftermath
After the Japanese surrender, diplomatic relations between Portugal and Japan remained cut until after the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco. Bilateral relations were reestablished on October 22, 1953.

See also
 Military history of Portugal
 Portuguese Empire

References

Bibliography
 
 
 

Japan–Portugal relations
Military history of Portugal