Hasekura Tsunenaga’s Amazing Mission
Date Masamune, the powerful tozama daimyo based in Sendai, also sought to strengthen his domain by establishing direct diplomatic and trade relations with Europe.
In 1613, he dispatched a small galleon named the San Juan Baptista with a small party of samurai on board to visit the Pope in Rome and attempt to visit King Philip III in Spain.
This was done with the permission of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Leading the expedition was Hasekura Tsunenaga, who carried a letter from Masamune to Pope Paul V asking for more missionary help in spreading Christianity in Japan. It is unclear whether Masamune was more interested in Christianity or in establishing direct trade relationships with the Europeans.
The mission passed through California, Acapulco, and Havana and reached the south coast of Spain near Cadiz. Hasekura managed to present Masamune’s letter to the Pope in St. Peter’s in 1615.
Having accomplished this part of his mission, Hasekura and his entourage began the return trip through Spain, Mexico, Manila, and Nagasaki, arriving in Sendai on August 26, 1620. Unfortunately, during his seven-year journey, the government has banned Christianity and was actively persecuting so-called Kirishitan, those who had been converted to Christianity by European missionaries.
The Tokugawa regime was afraid that Spanish and Portuguese missionaries would convert Japanese to a religion that would endanger the Tokugawa regime by influencing certain local daimyo, especially in Kyushu.
All of Hasekura’s hard work came to nothing, but what he attempted was amazing for its time.
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One of the best gifts from Sendai to give to friends is Hasekura-yaki, named after the famous first Japanese official envoy to reach not only America but also Europe. Highly recommended!
