Unknown documents reveal the secret of the Tensho Embassy

Unknown documents reveal the secret of the Tensho Embassy

In a remarkable find, unpublished documents relating to the “Tensho Embassy” from Japan to Rome were discovered, which now provide insights into an important journey 440 years ago. According to Fides, the history of the embassy dates back to 1585, when it traveled to Rome in March of that year to be received by the Pope. The name “Tensho Embassy” refers to the tenth year of the Tensho era in the Japanese calendar.

This historic mission was initiated by Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit and visitor to Japan. He selected four young dignitaries from Christian daimyō families to send on the journey to Europe. The envoys were accompanied by Diogo de Mesquita, a Portuguese Jesuit priest who acted as teacher and interpreter. The entire trip lasted from 1582 to 1590 and was aimed at expanding the church's knowledge of Japan.

The journey and important meetings

The legation was fortunate to take part in important events in Rome, including the election of Pope Sixtus V on April 24, 1585. Letters from Cardinal Bonelli assured the legations of honorable treatment. The information that the embassy recorded in its travel reports is also historically valuable. They became acquainted with the Spanish King Philip II, Francesco I de' Medici and other high-ranking personalities.

The legation, whose details included meetings in cities such as Madrid and Lisbon, also visited prominent places such as the El Escorial Monastery, the University of Alcalá, Talavera de la Reina and Toledo. They reached Rome and were awarded the title “Cavaliere di Speron d’oro”. When they returned to Japan on July 21, 1590, they went down in history not only as ambassadors, but also as cultural bearers.

Promoting intercultural dialogue

Valignano played a crucial role in promoting intercultural dialogue between East and West. This idea of ​​sending a Japanese embassy to Europe was conceived by him, and the mission was sponsored by prominent Kirishitan daimyōs such as Ōmura Sumitada, Ōtomo Sōrin and Arima Harunobu. Mancio Itō was selected as a speaker in this group.

The documents, preserved in the state and diocesan archives, also contain travelogues and descriptions of Japanese culture introduced into Western societies. The embassy's requests included, among other things, silver candlesticks for the cathedral church in Milan.

The process of discovering the original underlying documents goes hand in hand with the upcoming book launch “TENSHŌ 天正, Diario di un pellegrinaggio giapponese alla Curia romana (1585)”. Published in Rome on May 29, 2025 by Archbishop Paolo Giulietti and other historians, this work promises to further illuminate the historical significance of the Tensho Embassy.

The four dignitaries accompanied, including Mancio Itō, Miguel Chijiwa, Julião Nakaura and Martinho Hara, also experienced tragic fates during their time in Europe, documenting their influence and the challenges of Christianity in Japan. Julião Nakaura, for example, was executed as a martyr in Nagasaki in 1633, while Martinho Hara was exiled to Macau in 1614.

In conclusion, the Tensho Embassy not only represents a significant diplomatic mission, but also played a key role in the history of cultural exchange between Japan and the Western world. These new documents offer a chance to reassess this narrative and understand the influence of the Japanese delegation on relations between cultures.