The author explores the stale of traditional Japanese metallurgy around 1853, after Japan had been closed to western influence for over 200 years. He compares Japanese illustrative drawings of metallurgical processes with western processes in use around 1639, the time of the Japanese ban on commercial contact with the west. Some Chinese illustrations are also considered. The processes discussed are copper smelting and refining and lead smelting and silver recovery, both of which are shown to have more in common with ancient methods of metalworking than with 16th century Agricola. The use of tin in japan, and Chinese processes for casting iron are also discussed. The author concludes that there was no influence from the portuguese of the 16-17th century on Japanese metallurgy. -- AATA