The Dejima Journals: A Forbidden Love in 18th Century Japan

In the shadowed halls of a Dutch merchant’s home in Holland, a forgotten journal is discovered—its pages telling a love story lost to time.

In 1780 Nagasaki, Aiko, a samurai’s daughter trained in calligraphy and poetry, lives within the strict confines of her station. But when she stumbles upon a Dutch scholar’s handwritten translations of Japanese poetry, she cannot resist correcting his errors. What begins as an intellectual duel across ink and parchment soon turns into a bond neither of them can escape. Matthias, a foreign scholar forbidden from venturing beyond the walls of Dejima, is captivated by the unseen woman challenging his words—and, soon, his heart.

But their worlds are bound by rigid rules, and Aiko’s future is already spoken for. As duty and desire collide, she must decide whether to embrace a love that defies centuries of tradition—or let history bury their story forever.

Told through the deeply personal journal of Aiko, with notes from Matthias woven through its pages, The Dejima Journals is a breathtaking six-part Journal series of longing, defiance, and the power of words to bridge even the most impossible divides.

Each month, a new Journal arrives, unravelling a love story that was never meant to be told. Will you uncover the truth hidden within its pages?

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