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Questions about Slavery in Japan

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What were the legal definitions of slaves in 8th century Japan?

Japanese legal codes known as Ritsuryō defined enslaved individuals as seikō and nuhi who tended farms and worked within households. Historians estimate that these slaves comprised approximately 5% of the total population during this era.

When did Toyotomi Hideyoshi issue the Bateren Edict banning Christian missionaries?

Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the Bateren Edict on the 19th of June 1587 ordering the expulsion of Christian missionaries from Japan. A memorandum preceding this decree alleged that Christian missionaries were engaged in trafficking Japanese individuals to China Korea and various European territories.

How many Asian slaves were recorded in Mexico City in 1595 compared to African slaves?

An 1595 inquisition survey recorded only 88 Asian slaves compared to 10,000 African slaves in Mexico City. This data highlights the relative rarity of the specific trade route involving Asian slaves despite several hundred Japanese people ending up in Europe.

Why did Portuguese merchants ban ships carrying fewer than 300 tons or more than 450 tons from human trafficking in 1571?

King Sebastian I of Portugal banned ships carrying fewer than 300 tons or more than 450 tons from engaging in human trafficking in 1571. The Catholic Church had previously issued papal decrees like Sublimis Deus in 1537 declaring the full humanity of all peoples worldwide.

When did Japan invade Joseon Korea leading to mass abduction of Koreans into slavery?

Japan invaded Joseon Korea in 1592 when huge numbers of Koreans were abducted and sold into slavery transforming it into a major industry during the second invasion starting the 14th of March 1597. The Imperial Japanese military operated large-scale forced labor projects including construction of the Burma Railway during World War II.