The year is 1799' the place Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor' the Japanese Empire's single port and sole window onto the world' and a de facto prison for the dozen foreigners permitted to live and work there. Here Jacob de Zoet' a devout and resourceful young clerk' has five years to earn a sufficient fortune to win the hand of his wealthy fiancee back in Holland. But Jacob's intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with the daughter of a samurai doctor.