Tucked along the banks of the Guadalquivir River in southern Spain lies Coria del Río, a small Andalusian town with an unexpected and fascinating connection to Japan.
While it might appear as any other Spanish town at first glance, Coria del Río is home to a community whose ancestors arrived not from nearby regions of Spain or Europe, but from Japan.
The descendants of six samurais who landed there in 1617 have left a lasting cultural mark, one that continues to draw curiosity, scholarship, and admiration today.
The Samurais’ Journey Across the World in the 17th Century
The origins of this Japanese-Spanish connection trace back to one of the most ambitious diplomatic missions of the early 17th century.
In 1613, the feudal lord Date Masamune, daimyo of Sendai in Japan’s Tōhoku region, dispatched an embassy led by a samurai named Hasekura Tsunenaga.
Their mission is quite simple: trying to establish trade and diplomatic relations with Spain and also the Vatican.
The embassy, known as the Keichō Embassy, departed from Japan aboard a Spanish-built galleon called the San Juan Bautista and made its way across the Pacific to New Spain (modern-day Mexico), and from there to Europe.
After a lengthy journey that included visits to Madrid and Rome, where Hasekura was baptized under the name Felipe Francisco Hasekura, the embassy faced shifting political tides.
Japan was entering a period of increasing isolationism under the Tokugawa shogunate, and European interest in trade with Japan began to wane. By the time the delegation returned to Spain from Rome in 1617, the political winds had changed significantly back home.
The Six Samurais Who Stayed
Faced with a Japan that was closing itself off from foreign contact and Christianity, a portion of the delegation, reportedly six samurais, chose not to return to their homeland.
Instead, they remained in Spain, settling in Coria del Río, near Seville, where they were warmly received. Over time, these men assimilated into Spanish society, marrying local women and starting families.
What makes their presence enduring is not just the historical tale, but a very visible legacy: their descendants. Many families in Coria del Río carry the surname “Japón”, a clear reference to their origins.
According to local records, there are more than 600 people with the surname Japón in the area today. These individuals are proud heirs to a singular heritage that fuses samurai roots with Spanish identity.
Cultural Fusion
The Japón families of Coria del Río are fully Spanish in language and daily life, but many maintain an awareness and pride in their Japanese ancestry.
Although the cultural practices of Japan, especially from the 1600s, have largely faded through generations, the symbolic significance remains strong.
The town has embraced its unique legacy, incorporating Japanese themes into its cultural events, festivals, and public symbols.
One striking example is the statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga erected in Coria del Río in 1992, gifted by the city of Sendai, Japan.
The statue, standing tall by the riverbank, commemorates not just a historic voyage but a bond between two distant cultures that continues to this day. It has become a site of pilgrimage for visiting Japanese dignitaries, tourists, and scholars alike.
Modern Day Connections with Japan
The ties between Coria del Río and Japan are not just historic, they are living and continually evolving. In recent decades, cultural exchange initiatives have grown.
Japanese delegations, including members of the imperial family and diplomats, have visited the town to honor the legacy of Hasekura and the samurai who stayed.
Coria del Río, in turn, participates in events celebrating Japanese-Spanish friendship, including twinning programs with Japanese cities and school exchanges.
These efforts have brought renewed attention to the town’s special status and helped deepen the understanding of shared history.
Events marking the 400th anniversary of the Keichō Embassy in 2013 drew international interest and media coverage, further cementing the symbolic importance of this cross-cultural connection.
A Living Heritage
Today, Coria del Río stands as a unique testament to the unexpected turns of history. The story of six samurais who remained behind in a foreign land has evolved into a tale of integration, identity, and lasting kinship between two cultures.
In a world often divided by differences, the town offers a quietly profound example of unity, respect, and shared human experience.
The legacy of those early Japanese travelers continues to live on, not only in surnames and statues but in the hearts and stories of the people of Coria del Río.
