Can you imagine how familiar the Japanese feel with a European country, Portugal, though it is geographically far?https://www.facebook.com/motokojapaneseculture/posts/3174989899430058
Learning Japanese history, you will know we adopted much from Chinese culture. Portugal is the first Western country to Japan, which all Japanese learn in history class at elementary school. I like studying history, and I enjoy looking at images and reading episodes in a textbook and reference books. Fortunately, I have been realizing and experiencing the history of Japan-Portugal.
Starting in Lisbon, I met a folding screen called Nanban Byobu, meaning folding screed of Portuguese missionary in Japan, which I liked to observe and wanted to see for a long time.
Then drove to Coimbra, I learned the first Japanese, Bernard Kagoshima, whose real Japanese name was unknown. he was baptized by Francisco Xavier and came to Coimbra to study and died here. He was very faithful. I have never heard of him in my history class. I also went to the university where Francisco Xavier learned and the famous library. I was so impressed because his appearance and name were very distinctive to Japanese kids, and his name is always in history examinations. Portuguese also brought Christianity and fire armed to Japan. The influence of the civilization was immense.
The final destination is Evora, where, in 1584, four young ambassadors from Japan stopped at Evora and prayed pipe organ! I had not visited the cathedral yet, and I was so excited to stand where they stepped on the ground and see the pipe organ. How did Europe look to the young Christian boys of age becoming 15-16, who were only 13-14 years when leaving Japan. I am excited to go there today.
Though many Portuguese may not know those, I understand, and many Japanese know and have learned in history class over centuries. I want to do something in return and bridge and grow friendships. The following year 2023, will be the 480th anniversary of the first Portuguese reaching the island of Tanegashima,