Frederik Cryns, historian and author

Discover the history behind Shogun

Dive deep into the untold story of William Adams with this gripping non-fiction tale.

About the book

Frederik Cryns, a historian, author and Shogun TV series consultant based in Kyoto, Japan, is dedicated to bringing history to life through his non-fiction book, 'In the Service of the Shogun: The Real Story of William Adams' (Reaktion, 2024).

With a passion for research and storytelling, Frederik meticulously uncovers the fascinating tale of William Adams, providing readers with a captivating and authentic account of this historical figure's journey to and within feudal Japan. Through his work, Frederik aims to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of the history behind the TV series Shogun, for which he was the historical supervisor and to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the past.

Available in hardcover

Reaktion Books

The University of Chicago Press

Amazon

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William Adams, an English seafarer, found himself in Japan amidst monumental shifts. Frederik Cryns masterfully brings Adams's narrative to life, drawing from an unparalleled depth of primary sources and meticulous research. His laudable book sheds light not only on the life of this extraordinary individual but on its wider historical context. Through Adams’s remarkable experience, the reader uncovers the dawning global age and Japan's transformative journey into modernity, making this book an indispensable read for enthusiasts of history and cultural exchange

- Rotem Kowner, University of Haifa, author of From White to Yellow: The Japanese in European Racial Thought, 1300–1735

Frederik Cryns is a master of detail. What separates this well-researched history from so much else is his unyielding pursuit of a truth far beneath the surface of mere facts. Reading Cryns’s work is as close as we might ever come not just to living in feudal Japan, but to feeling the human heartbeat at its centre.

- Justin Marks, creator and showrunner of the miniseries Shogun (2024)

William Adams, the real-life figure who inspired James Clavell’s novel Shōgun, was a fascinating man, and Frederik Cryns’s new book explores his life in vivid terms, using untapped sources in English, Dutch, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. This book is destined to become a classic, combining vivid prose with exemplary research, but it’s not just for people interested in imperial Japan. Anyone who wishes to understand the birth of our interconnected, global world will find much to enjoy and ponder.

- Tonio Andrade, Professor of Chinese and Global History, Emory University

Anticipated releases to brighten your 2024 'In the Service of the Shogun, a biography by Frederik Cryns subtitled as The Real Story of William Adams. Most readers know Adams as the inspiration for James Clavell’s novel Shogun. Adams’s experiences are such that one wonders why Clavell even bothered fictionalizing them: Five ships set off from Holland in 1598, but after 19 months at sea, only one ship remained and only nine men survived to set foot on Japanese soil. Arrested as pirates and sentenced to death, Adams somehow rose to be a trusted advisor of military leader Tokugawa Ieyasu. '

The Japan Times

Professor Cryns treatment of William Adams' life in 'In the Service of the Shogun' is the most thorough and focused that I have had the opportunity to read. It delves into not only the sources, but uses them to create a sensitive and thoughtful interpretation of the wider world in which Adams lived. The pace and density of content are just right, drawing both veteran and novice visitors to Adams' life and times in with ease and pleasure. Unlike many other works on Adams, it eschews speculation and hyperbole, particularly of a nationalist bent, and focuses on 'The Real Story'. A heartily recommended read.

Thomas Lockley, Associate Professor at Nihon University and author of 'A Gentleman from Japan: The Untold Story of an Incredible Journey from Asia to Queen Elizabeth’s Court'

William Adams, an English seafarer, found himself in Japan amidst monumental shifts. Frederik Cryns masterfully brings Adams's narrative to life, drawing from an unparalleled depth of primary sources and meticulous research. His laudable book sheds light not only on the life of this extraordinary individual but on its wider historical context. Through Adams’s remarkable experience, the reader uncovers the dawning global age and Japan's transformative journey into modernity, making this book an indispensable read for enthusiasts of history and cultural exchange

- Rotem Kowner, University of Haifa, author of From White to Yellow: The Japanese in European Racial Thought, 1300–1735

Frederik Cryns is a master of detail. What separates this well-researched history from so much else is his unyielding pursuit of a truth far beneath the surface of mere facts. Reading Cryns’s work is as close as we might ever come not just to living in feudal Japan, but to feeling the human heartbeat at its centre.

- Justin Marks, creator and showrunner of the miniseries Shogun (2024)

William Adams, the real-life figure who inspired James Clavell’s novel Shōgun, was a fascinating man, and Frederik Cryns’s new book explores his life in vivid terms, using untapped sources in English, Dutch, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. This book is destined to become a classic, combining vivid prose with exemplary research, but it’s not just for people interested in imperial Japan. Anyone who wishes to understand the birth of our interconnected, global world will find much to enjoy and ponder.

- Tonio Andrade, Professor of Chinese and Global History, Emory University

Anticipated releases to brighten your 2024 'In the Service of the Shogun, a biography by Frederik Cryns subtitled as The Real Story of William Adams. Most readers know Adams as the inspiration for James Clavell’s novel Shogun. Adams’s experiences are such that one wonders why Clavell even bothered fictionalizing them: Five ships set off from Holland in 1598, but after 19 months at sea, only one ship remained and only nine men survived to set foot on Japanese soil. Arrested as pirates and sentenced to death, Adams somehow rose to be a trusted advisor of military leader Tokugawa Ieyasu. '

The Japan Times

Professor Cryns treatment of William Adams' life in 'In the Service of the Shogun' is the most thorough and focused that I have had the opportunity to read. It delves into not only the sources, but uses them to create a sensitive and thoughtful interpretation of the wider world in which Adams lived. The pace and density of content are just right, drawing both veteran and novice visitors to Adams' life and times in with ease and pleasure. Unlike many other works on Adams, it eschews speculation and hyperbole, particularly of a nationalist bent, and focuses on 'The Real Story'. A heartily recommended read.

Thomas Lockley, Associate Professor at Nihon University and author of 'A Gentleman from Japan: The Untold Story of an Incredible Journey from Asia to Queen Elizabeth’s Court'

William Adams, an English seafarer, found himself in Japan amidst monumental shifts. Frederik Cryns masterfully brings Adams's narrative to life, drawing from an unparalleled depth of primary sources and meticulous research. His laudable book sheds light not only on the life of this extraordinary individual but on its wider historical context. Through Adams’s remarkable experience, the reader uncovers the dawning global age and Japan's transformative journey into modernity, making this book an indispensable read for enthusiasts of history and cultural exchange

- Rotem Kowner, University of Haifa, author of From White to Yellow: The Japanese in European Racial Thought, 1300–1735

Frederik Cryns is a master of detail. What separates this well-researched history from so much else is his unyielding pursuit of a truth far beneath the surface of mere facts. Reading Cryns’s work is as close as we might ever come not just to living in feudal Japan, but to feeling the human heartbeat at its centre.

- Justin Marks, creator and showrunner of the miniseries Shogun (2024)

William Adams, the real-life figure who inspired James Clavell’s novel Shōgun, was a fascinating man, and Frederik Cryns’s new book explores his life in vivid terms, using untapped sources in English, Dutch, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. This book is destined to become a classic, combining vivid prose with exemplary research, but it’s not just for people interested in imperial Japan. Anyone who wishes to understand the birth of our interconnected, global world will find much to enjoy and ponder.

- Tonio Andrade, Professor of Chinese and Global History, Emory University

Anticipated releases to brighten your 2024 'In the Service of the Shogun, a biography by Frederik Cryns subtitled as The Real Story of William Adams. Most readers know Adams as the inspiration for James Clavell’s novel Shogun. Adams’s experiences are such that one wonders why Clavell even bothered fictionalizing them: Five ships set off from Holland in 1598, but after 19 months at sea, only one ship remained and only nine men survived to set foot on Japanese soil. Arrested as pirates and sentenced to death, Adams somehow rose to be a trusted advisor of military leader Tokugawa Ieyasu. '

The Japan Times

Professor Cryns treatment of William Adams' life in 'In the Service of the Shogun' is the most thorough and focused that I have had the opportunity to read. It delves into not only the sources, but uses them to create a sensitive and thoughtful interpretation of the wider world in which Adams lived. The pace and density of content are just right, drawing both veteran and novice visitors to Adams' life and times in with ease and pleasure. Unlike many other works on Adams, it eschews speculation and hyperbole, particularly of a nationalist bent, and focuses on 'The Real Story'. A heartily recommended read.

Thomas Lockley, Associate Professor at Nihon University and author of 'A Gentleman from Japan: The Untold Story of an Incredible Journey from Asia to Queen Elizabeth’s Court'

About Frederik Cryns

Frederik Cryns is Professor of Japanese History at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Kyoto, Japan. He is the author of several bestselling books in Japanese on the history of the Sengoku period (the period in Japanese history in which the members of the samurai class fought each other continuously) and the early interaction of the Western world with Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. In addition to his academic work, Frederik appears regularly on Japanese television history programmes and supervised all the historical aspects of the television series Shōgun (2024).

Frederik in the media

Interviews and articles

Read what the media has to say about In the Service of the Shogun and Frederik's role in the TV series Shogun.

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Videos and podcasts

Explore videos and podcasts about 'Shogun', the Sengoku period, and William Adams.

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Get in touch

I appreciate hearing from readers. Due to the high volume of messages, I can't reply to all comments. I read and value each one. Thank you and best wishes!

For all publicity and review copy enquiries please contact Helen McCusker at Reaktion Books. https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/contact-information

For all other requests for interviews, writing, or historical consultancy, please send an email to my office at common*nichibun.ac.jp (replace * with @) in the International Research Center for Japanese Studies.