おらしょ こころ旅

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Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture

Statue of the Tensho embassy to Europe

・The statues of the four young ambassadors of the Tensho embassy to Europe were erected in 1982 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of their dispatch to Rome in 1582.

・The plan to send an embassy to Rome was developed mainly by Father Valignano, who was responsible for missionary work in Japan, and four boys were selected to be dispatched on behalf of the three Christian feudal lords of Omura Sumitada, Arima Harunobu, and Otomo Sorin.

・The heads of the embassy were Ito Mancio (a 15-year-old envoy of Otomo Sorin) and Chijiwa Miguel (a 14-year-old envoy of Arima Harunobu), and the deputy heads were Hara Martinho (a 13-year-old envoy, from Hasami, of Omura Sumitada) and Nakaura Jurião (a 15-year-old envoy from Nakaura, Saikai City).

・These boys arrived in Lisbon, Portugal via Macau, across the Indian Ocean, two-and-a-half years after leaving Nagasaki. It is said that they received the greatest-ever welcome in Rome.
・They were allowed to meet with the Pope and handed him a letter on behalf of the three Christian feudal lords.
・They returned to Nagasaki in 1590 after receiving a welcome in various places in Northern Italy and learning about European knowledge.
・When they returned to Japan, they found that Christianity was now prohibited in the nation. Although they were forced to undergo various hardships and oppression, the knowledge and articles they brought back from Europe had significant influences on Japanese culture.

Related persons and terms（By hovering your mouse pointer over an item, explanation of the item are displayed.）

Arima Harunobu

［Arima Harunobu］ Arima Harunobu, the feudal lord of the Hizen Arima clan, succeeded to head of the family in 1571 and resided at Hinoe Castle. In 1580, he was baptized by Valignano and became a Kirishitan Daimyo (Christian feudal lord.) In 1582, he sent his cousin Chijiwa Miguel as a member of the first Japanese embassy to Europe, known as the Tensho embassy. In 1587, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi proclaimed the expulsion of Christian priests, Harunobu protected missionaries in his territory.

Alessandro Valignano

［Alessandro Valignano］ Alessandro Valignano, as the Visitator General for all the Eastern missions of the Society of Jesus, led the early Christian community in Japan. He visited Japan three times from 1579. On his second visit to Japan in 1590 as an official Ambassador of the Viceroy of India, he had an audience with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, accompanied by the Tensho Embassy (the first Japanese embassy to Europe) which returned to Japan. In his mission to Japan, he showed innovative policies including adapting to Japanese customs and establishing educational institutions such as seminaries.

Otomo Sorin

［Otomo Sorin］ Otomo Sorin, the feudal lord of the Bungo province, protected Kirishitans (Christians), after having met with Francis Xavier during his visit to Japan in 1551. In 1559, Sorin was appointed as Kyushu Tandai, the local commissioner having jurisdiction and command authority ofover the Kyushu region. In 1578, he was baptized and became a Kirishitan Daimyo (Christian feudal lord.)

Omura Sumitada

［Omura Sumitada］ Omura Sumitada, the feudal lord of the Omura clan in the Hizen province, was adopted from the Arima family and succeeded to head of the Omura family in 1550. In 1561, he opened Yokoseura port in his territory to Portuguese ships. He was baptized and became the first Kirishitan Daimyo (Christian feudal lord) in Japan.

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