Summary of the Joint Japan-Spain Nomination Please Refer to the Attachment
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1. Summary of the joint Japan-Spain nomination Please refer to the attachment. 2. Background History During the October 2011 visit of Spain’s Minister of Culture Ángeles González-Sinde, the Minister proposed the possibility of a joint nomination to Japan’s Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Seiichi Kondo. Through diplomatic channels, Japan requested Spain to submit the documents to be considered for nomination. The proposal submitted by Spain at the end of January was evaluated at the third meeting of the Selection Committee for Memory of the World of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO on its contents and the desirability of a joint nomination. The committee decided that Japan will proceed with the joint nomination. 3. Main reasons for Japan’s decision These materials are precious testimony of the east-west exchange in the early 17th century in the fields of diplomacy, trade, religion and fine arts before Japan enters a period of sakoku isolation, which is the foreign relations policy of Japan under which no foreigner could enter. The entire collection has survived 400 years to this day, particularly the objects in Japan. Submission of documents together by both countries will further increase their world significance. The year 2013, furthermore, marks the 400th year anniversary since the Keicho Mission set sail from the Tsuki-no-urako port of Ishinomaki city located in Miyagi Prefecture. It is anticipated that such collaboration will further deepen the relations between the two countries. In addition, a joint nomination also contributes to the preservation of documents through international cooperation which is in line with UNESCO’s objectives. 4. Future schedules 1. The Selection Committee for Memory of the World of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO will submit the nomination to the UNESCO headquarters by the end of next month. 2. Assessment by the UNESCO Memory of the World Register International Advisory Committee and final decision by the UNESCO Director-General. (around May, 2013) Details of nomination documents Materials Related to the Keicho-era Mission to Europe which are outstanding both in quality and quantity are the only authentic examples of materials to shed light on the history of the east-west exchange during the Age of Discovery and are of historic significance. 47 documents proposed by Japan including national treasures, historical items from the Edo Period owned by Sendai city in Miyagi Prefecture Date Masamune who ruled the Sendai domain at the time, sent a delegation headed by one of his retainers, Hasekura Tsunenaga to Spain and Rome. The documents proposed by Japan include articles brought back by Hasekura from his trip to Europe including; a citizen certificate of Rome earned by Hasekura which is made of goat skin, portrait oil paintings including a portrait of the Pope, and Christian ritual utensils which all contribute to illustrating the circumstances of Japan-European negotiations during the early Edo Period. After Hasekura’s death, these documents were stored away in Sendai City Museum after the possession of the Date family and museums until today. They are treasures which portray the Japan-European relations just Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga before Japan entered a period of sakoku isolation. (from Materials Related to the Keicho-era Mission to Europe) 94 documents proposed by Spain Out of the historical documents owned by the National Archivo General de Indias and Simancas National Archives Library, the items related to the Keicho European Delegation complement the collection of documents submitted by Japan. These include letters written by Hasekura Tsunenaga addressed to King Phillip Ⅲof Spain, letters written by Luis Sotelo who accompanied the Japanese delegation, addressed to King Phillip Ⅲ and the city of Seville describing the background of the delegation’s dispatch, sealed letters written by Tokugawa Ieyasu and his son Hidetada addressed to the Duke of Lerma, along with records from meetings held within Spain on how to correspond with the Japanese delegation. .