A sports and cultural experience for understanding between peoples.
Japan and Spain, linking Cultures
Tohoku Crossing is a sports and cultural experience consisting of running through different areas of Japan. The expedition leaves Coria del Río (Seville-Spain) for Tokyo, Mount Fuji and from there to Tohoku, the region that gave rise to bilateral relations between Spain and Japan.
The Origin: Keicho Embassy and Hasekura’s Legacy
400 years ago, in October 1614, a group of Japanese under the com- mand of Hasekura Tsunenaga and accompanied by Fray Luis Sotelo, a Franciscan born in Seville, went up the Guadalquivir and arrived at Coria del Río.
A year earlier they had left Sendai, sent by daimyo (feudal lord) of Mutsu, Date Masamune, with the purpose of establishing trade and diplomatic relations with king Philip III in Spain and also the strong desire to continue to spread Catholicism throught Japan with the help and support of Pope Paul V in Rome.
After visiting Seville, Madrid and Rome, Hasekura Tsunenaga and Fray Luis Sotelo, along with some Japanese people left for Japan in 1617, leaving in Coria del Río an inheritance that after four centuries is more alive than ever. This is the Japanese blood running through the veins of the “corianas” and “corianos” surnamed Japón, descendants of Japa- nese who stayed in Coria del Río after Hasekura returned home.
OBJECTIVES
Connected areas for a comprehensive cultural approach
Sport as a transmitter of fundamental values
In 2015 the first edition of Tohoku Crossing took place, an experience consisting of traveling 300 km between Tokyo and Sendai. Five years later we repeat the adventure, this time in Tohoku territory, the cradle of cultural relations between Spain and Japan.
Mutual knowledge for the acquisition of values such as understanding and tolerance
This experience seeks to unite Japan and Coria del Río culturally, as well as the cultures of Seville, Andalusia and Spain. Knowledge of the culture allows us to lay the foundations for mutual understanding and the joint search for opportunities.
Establishment of relations between Japanese and Spanish administrations
Within the framework of a cultural and sports experience, Tohoku Crossing aims to be a bridge for collaboration between Spanish and Japanese institutions. Institutional collaboration is essential in relations between different countries and cultures.
A bridge for business relationships
Commercial relations are an instrument of understanding between peoples and of direct generation of wealth. Therefore, we consider of vital importance the establishment of business promotion channels between Corian, Spanish and Japanese companies.
ITINERARY
8 stages and 8 cities
Prologue stages
Tokyo and Fujinomiya
Tohoku stages
Yonezawa, Kawasaki-Machi, Sendai, Osato-Cho, Ishinomaki and Onagawa
ORGANIZER
COLLABORATORS
