Wakou - The Japanese pirates

When we hear the name “pirate,” we immediately think of a bearded man with a ship, an eye patch, a wooden leg, and a sword, right?! But did you know that there are also Japanese pirates?

Wakou (倭寇) is the Japanese term for pirates who could also be known as a rõnin (masterless samurai). The literal meaning of the term is “bandits from the country of Wa” (Wa is the oldest recorded name for Japan).

These pirates or outlaws attacked the coasts of China and Korea during the thirteenth century. They were generally involved in smuggling.

How did Japanese pirates emerge?

After losing their lord, some rõnins became itinerant. Knowing how to fight, they caused many problems, especially in China and Korea.

During the period known as Japanese feudalism, these pirates terrorized parts of Asia with thefts and smuggling.

It is not possible to know exactly when they emerged, but they gained strength around the fourteenth century, as this was when China and Korea began to report more invasions by this group.

In the year 1405, the third shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, captured some of these pirates and sent them to China, where they were severely punished. They were thrown alive into huge cauldrons of boiling water.

History of Japanese pirates

The pirates were the terror of the seven seas, stealing ships from empires, plundering many cities, and were feared. They took advantage of opportunities to engage in high-value smuggling. This was common during the Ming Dynasty in China.

During this period, the main concern was to strengthen the country, so they suspended trade with foreign countries. Thus, legal trade was prohibited, especially on the west coast.

After these trade divisions in China, Chinese and Japanese pirates began to mix.

They also became popular because some people, even government leaders, paid these groups to obtain certain goods illegally.

The pirates did not stay in specific regions; they moved from one country to another as it was more advantageous. As the wakou were being pursued, they went to the Philippines and settled in the city of Parri.

But around 1852, their activities came to an end when the Spanish invaded the area.

Pirates portrayed in animes

Certainly, animes could not be left out when representing pirates! The most popular one is even One Piece.

In the story, the protagonist Luffy sails with his crew with the goal of finding a treasure called One Piece that can make him the new king of the pirates.

Luffy started his journey alone but ended up looking for diverse people to be part of the Straw Hat Pirates.

It is interesting to note that most of the characters in the anime are inspired by real-life pirates and even celebrities.

One Piece characters based on pirates

– Marshal D. Teach, known as Blackbeard, is the admiral of the Blackbeard Pirates and a member of the Yonkou.

His inspiration was the English pirate Edward Teach. He sailed the waters of the Caribbean and the east coast of the American colonies.

He has this nickname because of his dark and thick beard.

– Jewelry Bonney is inspired by an Irish pirate from the same era as Blackbeard, Anne Bonny.

Later, Bonny became involved with John Rackham, a famous pirate known for his black flag with a skull and two swords. Anne fought dressed as a man, wielding a pistol and a sword, and was considered very dangerous.

– Bartholomew Kuma was inspired by the Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts. This pirate sailed the coasts of the Americas and West Africa.

Kuma was considered the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, which is why the death of Bartolomew was marked as the end of the golden age of piracy in the Americas.

– Eustass “Captain” Kid was inspired by William Kidd, known as Captain Kidd. He was a Scottish ship commander who received orders from England to control French piracy in the Madagascar region.

In the end, Kidd became a pirate and was elected captain by his crew.

– Apoo is a pirate who commands the On Air Pirates crew. His inspiration comes from the real-life pirate, Chui A-poo.

Chui A-poo was a Chinese pirate from the nineteenth century who commanded a fleet in the South China Sea. He became one of the most famous pirates of the time. In 1849, his fleet was destroyed by British and Chinese warships.

– Basil Hawkins, also known as “The Wizard,” is the captain of the Hawkins Pirates. His name was inspired by two figures: Basil Ringrose and John Hawkins.

Basil Ringrose was an English pirate from the Caribbean port.

John Hawkins was an English slave trader, naval officer, and administrator. He was the general of his own fleet of ships and those of the British Royal Navy.

Space pirates

Space pirates are also a craze in Japan, and they have a special place in this category, don’t they?! I will mention only two; here on the site, you can find other suggestions for animes with pirates to binge-watch!

Gokaiger Pirate Squadron: this anime is from 2011 to 2012, and their style reminds me a lot of Power Rangers! This group of space pirates arrives on Earth in search of the greatest treasure in the Universe.

This series commemorates 35 years of Super Sentai in Japan. Each year they release a new season with different characters. They use weapons inspired by classic pirates, such as the flintlock (old pistol) and a scimitar (curved sword).

– Captain Harlock: This series is somewhat futuristic and depicts a time when Earth is in conflict with several other planets. Captain Harlock and his crew are determined to fight against the oppressors of planet Earth.

Captain Harlock also has a 3D movie version released in 2013 in Japan, and this series had a significant influence on pop culture.