In 1803, an odd vessel, in contrast to something seen earlier than, was discovered drifting off the coast of Japan. Contained in the boat was an enigmatic lady, her options international, her language incomprehensible, and her origins unknown.
On the time, Japan was an remoted nation, its shores hardly ever breached by outsiders. Wars raged inside, shoguns and daimyos rose and fell, and dynasties flourished, all whereas the broader world was largely oblivious. After banning almost all international interactions within the early 1600s, Japan remained largely remoted from the surface world till the 1850s. Japan’s isolation was so strict that any Japanese citizen who left the nation and tried to return may face loss of life.
But, this curious occasion, occurring a long time earlier than Japan’s doorways have been opened to the world, continues to puzzle students at this time. Was the vessel a product of some distant tradition? Might it have been one thing extra extraordinary, maybe even otherworldly—a UFO?
