It is no surprise to meet Japanese people in Venice. Indeed, given the world-class tourism appeal of this place, it is almost impossible to imagine a day spent there without a visitor from the Land of the Rising Sun. But in 1873, just five years after the end of the war, things were different. national isolation A policy that has kept Japan largely isolated from the rest of the world for two and a half centuries. A Japanese delegation, tasked with studying modern methods of the newly accessible outside world, arrived in Venice and discovered in the state archives two letters written in Latin by one of their countrymen, dated 1615 and 1616. The author appears to have been a messenger from Venice. Otomo Sourin A feudal lord who converted to Christianity and once sent a delegation of four teenagers to have an audience with the Pope in Rome, but this mission took place earlier, in 1586.
So who was this 15-something illegal Japanese tourist? That question is at the heart of the story told by Evan “Nerdwriter” Pushak. His new video above. The signature on the letter is Hasekura Pokemon It was supposed to be a big clue, but at the time, no one seemed to be interested in the name.
“In 1873, probably no one on earth knew why Hasekura Rokemon was in Venice in 1615,” Pushak says. The reason has to do with the arrival of Christianity in Japan in 1549, at least the arrival of the first major Jesuit missionaries. Not all rulers viewed their work favorably, especially not. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, In 1587, he ordered them to be exiled and then had 26 Catholics crucified in Nagasaki.
Hideyoshi was succeeded by a more tolerant man. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), a Japanese-speaking Franciscan friar during his reign Luis Sotelo We have arrived in Japan. For the next ten years, he not only spread his faith but also built hospitals, one of which successfully treated the European concubines of feudal lords. Date Masamune. The two hit it off and realized the mutual benefits of their relationship. Perhaps Sotelo could find a new parish in Date’s northern territories, and perhaps Date could establish connections with the Spanish Empire. To accomplish the latter, he had a ship built and a team assembled for a mission to Europe, including Sotelo himself. He sent his loyal retainers, the samurai, with them. Hasekura Pokemon — or Rokuemon Tsunenaga, to use his full name, was previously featured here on Open Culture about his meeting with the Pope and his adoption of Roman citizenship. He may have been Japanese, but he was never just a tourist.
Related content:
A 17th century Japanese samurai who sailed to Europe, had an audience with the Pope, and became a Roman citizen.
21 Rules for Life from Japanese Samurai Philosopher Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645)
A mischievous samurai tells the story of his turbulent life in 19th century Japan.
How to Become a Samurai: 17th Century Codes of Life and War
Hand-colored photographs from the 1860s reveal the last days of Samurai Japan
Introducing Yasuke, Japan’s first black samurai
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages ​​and cultures. His projects include the Substack newsletter books about cities and a book Stateless City: A Stroll Through Los Angeles in the 21st Century. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
