Hasekura Tsunenaga
From 1603 onward, Japan started to participate actively in foreign trade. In 1615, an embassy and trade mission under Hasekura Tsunenaga was sent across the Pacific to Nueva España (New Spain) on the Japanese-built galleon "San Juan Bautista". Until 1635, the Shogun issued numerous permits for the so-called "red seal ships" destined for the Asian trade.