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410th Anniversary of Hasekura Tsunenaga’s Audience with the Pope
International Symposium Announcement
This year marks the 410th anniversary of Hasekura Tsunenaga’s audience with the Pope, as envoy of Lord Date Masamune’s Keichō Mission to Europe. It also coincides with the Catholic Jubilee Year.
To commemorate this milestone, we are hosting an international symposium to reflect on the historic encounter between Hasekura and the Pope and to explore its lasting significance. The event will also serve to promote the forthcoming “Hasekura City Alliance” among cities connected to the mission. A reception will follow the symposium, and we invite your participation.
Theme
Hasekura Tsunenaga’s Audience with the Pope and the Keichō Embassy to Europe
Date
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Program
01
Key Report
The Historical Significance of the Keichō Mission and the Hasekura City Alliance
Arata Hirakawa
Director, Keichō Mission Ship Museum, Miyagi Prefecture
02
Lecture
Five Centuries of Friendship: Japan–Vatican Relations in World History
Akira Chiba
Former Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See
03
Lecture
Hasekura Tsunenaga’s Audience with the Pope
Mayu Fujikawa
Associate Professor (Special Appointment), Meiji University
04
Lecture
Japan and the Keichō Mission as Depicted in Europe in the 16th–17th Centuries
Angelo Cattaneo
Director, Institute of Mediterranean Europe History, Italian National Research Council (CNR)
05
Lecture
The Christian Samurai and Matsuo Daigen Who Accompanied Hasekura Tsunenaga to Rome
Mitsuaki Takami
Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Nagasaki
We are pleased to present the symposium lectures.
Access
Venue: Room 62 (6th Floor), Sendai Station East Campus, Tohoku Fukushi University
2-5-26 Tsutsujigaoka, Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 983-0852
Reception: Bar Restaurant SK7, Daiwa Roynet Hotel 1F, 1-2-37 Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Time: 17：00～19：00
Reception
Reception Invitation
Following the symposium, we invite you to a reception in a relaxed atmosphere, accompanied by live music and an original composition inspired by Tsunenaga.
We look forward to sharing this special evening with you.
—
Please respond by October 31st
RSVP: Mihoko Terada – mihoko.terada@gmail.com
Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga(1615). Rijksmuseum, Item No. RP-P-OB-7617. Public Domain.
Flyer
Photos
In front of the Sendai City Museum
Masataka Shikura (14th generation), Director of Hirakawa
At the Vatican Symposium Reception with the Archbishop
In front of the Sendai City Museum
Media Coverage
The event was reported by Higashi Nippon Broadcasting (khb), a local news and information program in Miyagi Prefecture.
An article appeared in the November 23 issue of the Kahoku Shimpo.
An article appeared in the November 28 issue of (Travel Yomiuri) Yahoo! News. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8cf18d6d7a4ca44dcab098df35b07634e1cd3d6c
Hasekura City Alliance Pre-Event
Contact Info
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