Tanaka Shosuke

Tanaka Shōsuke, called by the Spanish Don Francisco de Velasco, was metal trader and the first recorded Japanese to visit North America.

A Kyoto merchant, Tanaka crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1610 carrying gifts from Tokugawa Ieyasu to the viceroy of Mexico. The aim of this mission was to open direct trade between Mexico and Japan without the goods having to pass through Manila. The mission ended unsuccessfully, although he used this trip to study techniques of silver mining.