Historical Basis
As with Clavell's other novels, the setting and many characters are based on actual events, which set the stage for the novel.
Struan and Company (the "Noble House" trading company of the novel) is based on Jardine Matheson Holdings, a massive Scottish trading company that continues to this day as an Asia-based trading company. Malcolm Struan was loosely based on the real-life Jardine taipan William Keswick. Jamie McFay is based on Thomas Blake Glover. Edward Gornt was loosely based on John Samuel Swire, founder of John Swire & Sons Limited and Swire Pacific. Angelique Richaud is also based on Amelia Dubeux, who was married to William Keswick.
The interpreter Phillip Tyrer may be loosely based upon Ernest Mason Satow.
Gai-Jin has many Japanese characters based on historical figures. Lord Toranaga Yoshi is based on Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Misamoto, his interpreter, is loosely based on John Manjiro. Lady Yazu represents Princess Chikako, the Princess Kazu. Lord Anjo is Andō Nobumasa (1820–1871). Nobusada Toranaga is Tokugawa Iemochi. Anachronistically, Lord Sanjiro is based on Shimazu Nariakira, although the Satsuma daimyo of the period was Shimazu Tadayoshi the second, as Nariakira died in 1858. Hiraga is Itō Hirobumi, and his traveling companion to England is Inoue Kaoru. Katsumata, anachronistically, is based on Yoshida Shoin, though the real-life Yoshida had been executed in 1859, three years prior to the depicted events in this book.
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