Nossa Senhora da Graça (1787)

Nossa Senhora da Graça (1787) refers to a Portuguese nau (carrack) that exploded in Nagasaki harbor, Japan, in 1610. The ship was engaged in trade between Macau and Japan, and its captain was André Pessoa. The incident is a significant event in the history of Portuguese-Japanese relations, marking a turning point that led to increased restrictions on Portuguese activities in Japan and ultimately contributed to the country's policy of sakoku (national isolation).

The Nossa Senhora da Graça arrived in Nagasaki carrying silk and other goods. Japanese authorities suspected the ship was also transporting Catholic missionaries, who were then being persecuted in Japan. There were also unresolved disputes over trade debts and accusations of piracy involving other Portuguese ships. These accumulated tensions led the Shogunate to order the ship's seizure.

Rather than surrender, Captain Pessoa chose to set the ship ablaze, resulting in a massive explosion that killed himself, the crew, and numerous Japanese soldiers attempting to board the vessel. The event sent shockwaves through Japanese society and fueled further distrust of Europeans, particularly the Portuguese. The incident became a symbol of Portuguese defiance and the increasing difficulties faced by Europeans in Japan during the early 17th century. It also contributed to the hardening of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s attitude towards Christianity and foreign influence. The wreck site is believed to be located in Nagasaki harbor, and efforts have been made to locate and study the remains of the ship.