400th anniv. of Japan mission's visit to Mexico City

400th anniv. of Japan mission's visit to Mexico City

LOS ANGELES, United States - Tsunetaka Hasekura (L), a descendant of Tsunenaga Hasekura who headed the 17th century Keicho Mission sent by feudal lord Date Masamune in modern day Miyagi Prefecture area to Europe, shakes hands with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera at a ceremony to mark the 400th anniversary of the Japanese mission's visit to the city on March 24, 2014.

400th anniv. of Japan mission's visit to Mexico City

400th anniv. of Japan mission's visit to Mexico City

LOS ANGELES, United States - Tunetaka Hasekura (L), a descendant of Tsunenaga Hasekura who headed the 17th century Keicho Mission sent by feudal lord Date Masamune in modern day Miyagi Prefecture area of Japan to Europe, shakes hands with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera in front of the national flags of Japan and Mexico at the city hall of Mexico City on March 24, 2014, to mark the 400th anniversary of the mission's visit to the city.

Bronze statue of Havana's 1st Japanese envoy unveiled

Bronze statue of Havana's 1st Japanese envoy unveiled

HAVANA, Cuba - A bronze statue of Japan's first official envoy to visit what is now Cuba in 1614, while on his way to Europe on a mission with a Japanese delegation, is unveiled at a park in Havana on April 26. The 1.6-meter statue was erected in memory of Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571-1622), a retainer of Date Masamune, a ''daimyo'' or feudal lord of Sendai in northeastern Japan. Standing in samurai attire (3rd from R) is Norimasa Hasekura, 60, Tsunenaga's descendant.

Bronze statue of Havana's 1st Japanese envoy unveiled

Bronze statue of Havana's 1st Japanese envoy unveiled

HAVANA, Cuba - A bronze statue of Japan's first official envoy to visit what is now Cuba in 1614, while on his way to Europe on a mission with a Japanese delegation, is unveiled at a park in Havana on April 26. The 1.6-meter statue was erected in memory of Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571-1622), a retainer of Date Masamune, a ''daimyo'' or feudal lord of Sendai in northeastern Japan. Standing in samurai attire (3rd from R) is Norimasa Hasekura, 60, Tsunenaga's descendant.

Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana

Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana

A statue of Japanese samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana is seen in this photo taken on April 29, 2015. Hasekura visited Cuba in 1614 as head of the Keicho Mission to Europe dispatched by Date Masamune, feudal lord of Sendai Domain. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Citizens gather around statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana

Citizens gather around statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana

Citizens gather around a statue of Japanese samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga in Havana in October 2014. Hasekura visited Cuba in 1614 as head of the Keicho Mission to Europe dispatched by Date Masamune, feudal lord of Sendai Domain. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo