Takami Senseki was a high-ranking samurai at the end of Edo period and he collected information from abroad under the isolation policy. He tried to open and enlighten Japan on geography, cartography and natural science through the exchange between leading figures of the Shougunate, Dutch scholars and men of culture.
One of his achievements is the publication of “Sinyaku Orandakoku-zenzu” (New Translated Map of the Netherlands). It was a wood-block print done in 1850. On the map, more than 1,000 place names were written in kana (Japanese scripts). The map is also known as Japan's first detailed map in western region.
Of course it was thought that there must be an original of “Sinyaku Orandakoku － zenzu”. However, after investigation of more than 1,000 maps collected by Senseki, an original map was not found.
I have succeeded in finding the original map of “Sinyaku Orandakoku-zenzu.” It is “Nieuwe kaart van het Koningrijk der Nederlanden en het Groot-Hertogdom Luxemburg : met aanwijzing der nieuwe postwegen”. F.J.Weygand.1816. in the Netherlands.
This report is intended to introduce the history of the modern cartography in Japan and the process of finding the original map. It also explains the grounds of the identification of the original map and wood-block printing technology in Japan.
I appreciate Mr. Marguerite Silvestre (Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België) who taught me the modern history of government- made maps in Belgium.
