The Spanish Empire and its people that advanced to the Pacific Ocean via an east-to-west route, developed Manila Galleon and made a colonial period in the history of the Philippines, as well as Portugal and its people that advanced to the history of Macao via a west-to-east route, were the first European country and people Japanese people met in the middle of the 16th century (the Sengoku period [period of warring states]).
東回りでマカオの歴史にまで進出したポルトガルおよびポルトガル人とならんで、西回りで太平洋に進出マニラ・ガレオンを開拓しフィリピンの歴史を植民地としたスペイン帝国およびスペイン人は、16世紀半ば（戦国時代）に日本人が初めて接触したヨーロッパの国・ヨーロッパ人であった。