Ana Fernandes Pinto
Centre for the Humanities  NOVA FCSH—UAc. Researcher

Japan in the Historical and Diplomatic Archives at Portuguese Foreign Affairs

The Historical and Diplomatic Archives of Portuguese Foreign Affairs in Portugal (AHD) gathered documentation regarding the relations between Portugal with Japan from 1869, when a Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce was signed. The archive is mostly consisting of copy of correspondence and reports sent by diplomats’ resident in Japan.

This paper brings to light the most representative documents and images of the relations between Portugal and Japan from 1854 to 1952 at the AHD, the most of them never studied neither published. In particular, it will be highlighted how the sources testimonies the Japanese approach to the historical relations with Portugal, for the construction of an identity discourse.