This article explores the relationship between Japan and Europe since the 16th century, when Portuguese traders arrived in Japan. During the Edo period (1603-1868), Europeans were seen as exotic foreigners and were referred to as "Oranda-jin" (オランダ人) which literally translates as "Dutch person" or "person from Holland". This term eventually evolved over time into a more generic term for all Europeans regardless of nationality or origin. Christianity had a major impact on how European traders were perceived by Japanese people during this era, leading to many aspects of Western culture being adopted by many parts throughout modern day society. Today, “Oranda-jin” is still widely used as an umbrella term encompassing all foreigners hailing from European countries.