The Matsuura name is nearly synonymous with far-Western Japan. The region features Kita and Higashi Matsuura penninsulas, and a Matsuura river. This part of Japan is geographically closer to the Asian continent and the Korean penninsula than to Tokyo, and it was the gateway for advanced culture flowing into Japan. The oldest traces of permanent habitation in Japan are found in Saga prefecture, near the Matsuura river.
The region was also the point of attack for the Mongol invasions under Kublai Khan. In turn Toyotomi Hideyoshi used the Matsuura penninsula as the staging area for his invasion of Korea in 1591.
The Matsuura clan derives its name from the area. Watanabe Hisashi, of the Genji clan, settled in Shimomatuuragori (site of the present-day Matsuura city, a district of Nagasaki) in 1069. Over time various branches of the family were established throughout the region. In 1393 the main branch moved to the port of Sasebo and constructed a castle there, with others nearby, but the Hirado branch of the family overthrew them and consolidated the Matsuura into one strong feudal clan.
With Hirado city as its base, the clan prospered, controling the whaling trade. Apparently they also engaged in piracy, raiding the southern Korean coast. Hirado was the first area open to trade with the Europeans, first the Portuguese and Spanish, then the Dutch and later the English. Later, the English withdrew from the Japanese trade and the Spanish and Portuguese were expelled due to their interference with politics. The Dutch were compelled to move to Deshima island near Nagasaki in 1641 by the third Tokugawa shogun.
Hirado Castle, built about 1703, and renovated in the 1960s and the Matsuura Museum are tourist attractions. Nearby is the gravesite, or a memorial to Will Adams, the historical "Anjin San" who was the basis for the character in Calvell's Shogun .
Currently, Matsuura Koichiro is Director-General of UNESCO, Everaldo Matsuura is a Brazilian chess champion, and Matsuura Machinery Corporation supplies metalworking machinery worlwide, mostly to Europe and North America.