Sebastian Viscaino

Spanish envoy to Japan. At a young age, he participated in the Portuguese War of Suppression, and later traveled to Mexico in 1583. Between 1595 and 1603, he made numerous voyages of exploration along the west coast of America, and in 1608, he was ordered to search for the Island of Gold and Silver near the Japanese coast, which was believed by navigators at the time. At the same time, he also served as a return envoy for the rescue and return of Vivero and his party, who had been shipwrecked the previous year. He arrived in Uraga in 1611 (Keicho 16), and met with Tokugawa Hidetada and Ieyasu in Edo and Sunpu. He began searching for the Island of Gold and Silver in September of the following year, but was unsuccessful. His ship was damaged in a storm, and he asked for the shogunate's help to return home, and in October 1613, he hitched a ride back on a ship sent by Date Masamune and his vassal Hasekura Tsunenaga. He later died in Acapulco. He is known for his work "Report on the Exploration of the Island of Gold and Silver in Vizcaino" (included in "Foreign Books Series 8").

[Numata Satoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イスパニアの対日使節。若くしてポルトガル鎮定戦争に参加し、のち1583年メキシコに渡る。1595～1603年の間、たびたびアメリカ西海岸各地の探検航海を行い、1608年、当時航海者に信じられていた日本近海の金銀島の探査の命を受け、同時に、先年難破したビベロ一行の救助・送還の答礼使を兼ねて、1611年（慶長16）浦賀に着き、江戸、駿府(すんぷ)で徳川秀忠(ひでただ)・家康に謁した。翌年9月より金銀島を探索したが成功せず、暴風雨で船を破損し、帰国のため幕府の援助を求め、1613年10月、伊達政宗(だてまさむね)が家臣支倉常長(はせくらつねなが)を派遣した船に便乗して帰航。のちアカプルコで没した。『ビスカイノ金銀島探検報告』（『異国叢書(そうしょ)　8』所収）がある。

［沼田　哲］

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