Coria del Río is a small town near Seville, on the shores of the Guadalquivir river.

Coria del Río
Municipality
Flag of Coria del Río
Coat of arms of Coria del Río
Coria del Río is located in Spain
Coria del Río
Coria del Río
Location of Coria del Río in Spain
Coordinates: 37°17′N 6°03′W / 37.283°N 6.050°W / 37.283; -6.050
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityAndalusia
ProvinceSeville
Government
 • MayorModesto González (Andalusist Party)
Area
 • Total
61.99 km2 (23.93 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total
30,657
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)coriano (m), coriana (f)

History

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Early in the 17th century, daimyō Date Masamune of Sendai sent a delegation led by Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571–1622) to Europe.[2] In 1613, Hasekura and the delegates visited the Spanish court of King Philip III and the Vatican.[2] An embassy was established and six samurai stayed in Spain.[3][2] Approximately 650 of Coria's 24,000 residents, as reported in 2003, use the surname Japón (originally Hasekura de Japón), identifying them as the descendants of the first Japanese official envoy to Spain.[3][2] The name first appeared on an official document in 1646. Some babies born within the town are known to display the mongolian spot which is common in Asians.[3]

A statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga was donated to the city by Japan in 1992 and stands watch over the river.

 
The torii gate and the Hasekura Tsunenaga statue in Coria del Rio
 
Historic letter from the first Japanese delegation to Spain

The football club Coria CF hails from Coria del Río.

References

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  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ a b c d Hosoda Haruko (December 6, 2011). "Samurai Spirit Still Animates Japan". Nippon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Awamura, Ryoichi (December 11, 2003). "Spain's Japon clan has reunion to trace its 17th century roots". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
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