Yokozawa Shogen

Yokozawa Shogen ( Japanese横 沢 将 監) was born into a samurai family on the Sendai fief in Japan in the mid-16th century . He served the daimyo of Sendai, Date Masamune .

In September 1616 , on the orders of Date Masamune, he went to Mexico on the Japanese warship San Juan Bautista to bring back his compatriot Hasekura Rokuemon , who was returning from an embassy from Europe.

The voyage proved difficult and about 100 men on the ship died during the voyage. They arrived in Acapulco in May 1617 . There he sent a letter and some goods from Date Masamune, was baptized and given the name Don Alonzo Hacaldo .

The ship crossed the Pacific for the fourth time in April 1618 and arrived in the Philippines, where it was bought by the local Spanish authorities to strengthen the defense against Holland. While Luis Sotelo stayed in the Philippines because of the increasingly anti-Christian mood in Japan, Yokozawa Shogen traveled back to Japan with Hasekura Rokuemon on a merchant ship in August 1620.

After his return, Yokozawa is said to have renounced the Christian faith and burned all Christian possessions. Neither the later life nor the grave of Yokozawa are known.