Resumen

VERGARA LAGUNA, José. El descubrimiento de México por los japoneses: una mirada a través de sus textos geográficos. Trace (Méx. DF) [online]. 2013, n.63, pp.35-49. ISSN 2007-2392.

The discovery of America by the Europeans is a landmark in world history. Nevertheless it is less known how this event did happen from the perspective of Asians. This research examines different ways how the Japanese "discovered" Mexico and Central America in the 19th century, when their period of world isolation finished in 1853 and before formalizing diplomatic relations in 1888 with Mexico. Thanks to an extensive study of relevant literature and with the exploration of two study cases, two geographical documents of that period. This research produced a number of key findings: to know the importance of the Jesuit mission in China and Japan and its scientific influence on what is called the Christian century in Japan (1549-1650); the historiographical reconsideration of Sakoku Japan, not necessarily as a period of complete closeness but through the lenses of geographical contacts and developments; the re-acknowledgment of two geographical works of importance between Japan and Mexico with the Kaigai Ibun and Sekai Kunitsukushi by Fukuzawa Yukichi between Japan and Mexico-Central America. The main conclusion drawn from this research was to appreciate a fairly unknown episode between the two countries.

Palabras llave : Geography; Japan; Mexico; Central America; Japanese Christian Century; 19th century.

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