Hasekura Tsunenaga

Hasekura Tsunenaga (支倉 常長) (1571-1622) was a kirishitan Japanese samurai and retainer of Date Masamune.

Biography

In 1613, Tsunenaga was assigned by his daimyō Date Masumune to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico as a diplomat for Europe. Before leaving, Tsunenaga met with the Kakushiba ikki Master Assassin Fujibayashi Naoe, who gave him the Blood vial to safeguard from the Templars.

When Tsunenaga departed, Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno joined him as a part of his crew, but was treated nothing more of a passenger, due to his arrogance and his own personal aims. After some time at sea, many grew aware of Tsunenaga having the blood vial in his possession, including Vizcaíno.

In early 1614, upon their arrival in Acapulco, Vizcaíno found himself in a severe combative incident with his Japanese crewmates, especially Tsunenaga, over the gifts they procured for their regal donors. Ultimately, the Spanish explorer was harshly wounded. Vizcaíno was left in the city to recover while Tsunenaga and his crew left and traveled further into Mexico. With the help of a friar, Tsunenaga sought the help of one of the locals for the location of Tulum, possibly to reach the West Indies Brotherhood which used the location as their headquarters.

Appearances

• Animus Hub (mentioned in Database entry only)