HASEKURA:Bonds Beyond the Seas and Time

Noriko Kishi-Japan's celebrated Latin Diva-returns with her long-awaited new single.
This passionate Latin love ballad-her first studio release in 12 years-pays tribute to the life and legacy of the samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga, who undertook a diplomatic journey to Europe over 400 years ago.

A Romance Carried by History and Melody
Inspired by Hasekura's historic voyage across oceans and cultures, this new single revives a romantic and heroic tale in song. Kishi, recipient of the Japan Jazz Award in 2020, brings deep emotion and storytelling power to this track, accompanied by the accomplished Latin jazz trio
El Resto and rising Latin vocalist Nana Cantarina.

"This song was born under the starry sky of Havana in 1990,"
says Kishi.
"As I looked up, I wondered:
Who was the first Japanese person to walk this land?
That thought eventually led me to Hasekura-and to this song."

A Samurai's Dream, Reimagined in Music
In the early 17th century, Hasekura Tsunenaga, under the orders of Date Masamune of the Sendai Domain, led the Keichō Embassy to Europe-a seven-year voyage through Mexico, Cuba, Spain, and Rome. Though his achievements were significant, they were overshadowed by Japan's shift toward national isolation upon his return.
Kishi seeks to give voice to this overlooked hero through her music.

The song was first performed in 2013 as
"HASEKURA: A Dream 400 Years in the Making",
and was later developed into a full suite, performed in Tokyo in 2021-2022.
This latest version, "HASEKURA: Bonds Beyond the Seas and Time,"captures both the historical scale and the emotional intimacy of Hasekura's journey-connecting Japan, the lands he visited, and listeners around the world.