What Nagasaki and Portugal have in common?

Nagasaki is still an important port in Japan and a major shipyard facility in the world, with a huge economic impact in the region.

After being devastated in the World War II, by the second and last atomic bomb dropped in the war, mainly because this city also hosted a major naval base of Japan, Nagasaki became prosper again and also became a strong example of perseverance and peace in the world.

So, what Nagasaki and Portugal have in common?

Nagasaki was founded by Portuguese sailors in the second half of the 16th century and Portuguese influence was strong until the 19th century.


Examples of Portuguese influence in Japanese culture:

Japanese Rōmaji	Japanese Script	Portuguese	Meaning in English
bīdoro	ビードロ	vidro	glass
bōro	ボーロ / ぼうろ	bolo	cake
botan	ボタン / 釦 / 鈕	botão	button
furasuko	フラスコ	frasco	flask
iesu or iezusu	イエス, イエズス	Jesus	Jesus
jōro	じょうろ / 如雨露	jarro	watering can
kandeya	カンデヤ	candeia	oil lamp
kapitan	甲比丹 / 甲必丹	capitão	captain
kappa	合羽	capa	raincoat
kirishitan	キリシタン / 切支丹 / 吉利支丹	cristão	Christian people
kirisuto	キリスト / 基督	Cristo	Christ
koppu	コップ	copo	cup
kurusu	クルス	cruz	cross
kyarameru	キャラメル / カラメル	caramelo	caramel
manto	マント	manto	cloak
pan	パン	pão	bread
rozario	ロザリオ	rosário	rosary
sabato	サバト	sábado	Saturday
shabon	シャボン	sabão	soap
tabako	タバコ / 煙草	tabaco	tobacco, cigarette
tempura	天麩羅 / 天婦羅	têmporas	deep-fried seafood/vegetables. "Têmporas"meant fasting in religious days which catholic portuguese didn't eat meat and instead, ate fried vegetables and fish.

More info regarding Portuguese words vs. Japanese pronunciation origin in this link