Abstract

The Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano conceived the first ever Japanese embassy to Europe, which consisted of four young Catholics. To ensure that they would gain a favorable impression of Europe and Christianity, Valignano gave specific instructions to his fellow Jesuits who were to accompany them. This study proposes that these instructions shaped the embassy’s hurried journey through Italy, influencing in particular which cities they visited, what they saw, where they stayed, and how they communicated with the locals. Although the Japanese understood some European languages to a degree, their Jesuit tutor Diego de Mesquita served as an interpreter to prevent direct conversations and association with inhabitants. Meanwhile, Italian authorities flaunted the power and material wealth of their cities to the Japanese dignitaries by following local diplomatic traditions, as we may observe in the example of Venice. The authorities also employed banquets to display riches and hospitality though the serving of sumptuous foods and spices from Europe and beyond. However, the Japanese could not adapt totally to the consumption of quadruped animal meat and dairy due to their traditional diet.