Christianity was introduced to Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, resulting in approximately 300,000 baptized believers by century’s end. This promising beginning faced setbacks due to rivalries among missionaries and political intrigues from the Spanish and Portuguese, as well as power struggles within the Japanese government, resulting in the suppression of Christians. The first victims were six Franciscan friars and twenty of their converts, who were executed at Nagasaki on 5 February 1597. They were tied to crosses, the crosses were raised to an upright position, and they were then quickly stabbed to death by a soldier with a javelin.
After a short interval of relative tolerance, many other Christians were arrested, imprisoned for life, or tortured and killed; and the Church was totally driven underground by 1630. However, when Japan was re-opened to Western contacts 250 years later, it was found that a community of Japanese Christians had survived underground, without clergy, without Scriptures, with only very sketchy instructions in the doctrines of the faith, but with a firm commitment to Jesus as Lord.
Pope Urban VIII beatified the first Japanese martyrs in the year 1627 and permitted the annual celebration of the feast of the Japanese martyrs. Pope Pius IX inscribed them in the catalogue of the saints as powerful intercessors against enemies of the holy cross.
List of Japanese Franciscan tertiaries
- Anthony Dainan. Altar boy. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki at age 13.
Bonaventure of Miyako Baptized as an infant, his mother died when he was a baby, and his stepmother sent him to be raised in a Buddhist monastery. When he was judged old enough, he was told about his background. To learn more, he visited the Franciscan convent at Kyoto. There he found a peace he had been looking for and stayed to become a Franciscan tertiary. Catechist. - Cosmas Takeya. Sword maker. Convert to Christianity, brought into the faith by Jesuit missionaries. Interpreter for the missionaries. Catechist for the Franciscans. Preached in Osaka.
- Francisco of Nagasaki. Physician. Adult convert to Catholicism by Franciscan missionaries. Even before his conversion he carried a set of rosary beads. Catechist and preacher. Worked with the sick, treating them for free, and bringing religious teaching to those who were interested.
- Francis of Fahelante. Missionary to Philippines and Japan. Arrested in Osaka with Saint Peter Baptist in 1596.
- Gabriel de Duisco. Convert, brought to the faith by Saint Gundisalvus Garcia. Catechist.
- Joachim Sakakibara. Physician who treated the poor for free. Sometime cook for the Franciscans at Osaka. Catechist.
- John Kisaka Silk-weaver. Convert.
- Leo Karasumaru. Younger brother of Saint Paul Ibaraki. Uncle of Saint Louis Ibaraki. A bonze (pagan priest) in his youth. Convert to Christianity, baptized by Japanese Jesuits in 1589. First Korean Franciscan tertiary. Chief catechist for the Franciscan friars and threw himself into any task they gave him. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki.
- Louis Ibaraki. Nephew of Saint Paul Ibaraki and Saint Leo Karasumaru. Altar boy for the Franciscan missionaries. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki. Noted for maintaining his high spirits and encouraging all around him during the torture and forced march to Nagasaki.
- Matthias of Miyako. When the soldiers arrived to arrest Christians, they were looking for another Matthias who was not there. Saint Matthias offered himself as a Christian, and to save the other Matthias. The soldiers were happy to take him.
- Michael Kozaki. Father of Saint Thomas Kozaki. Bow maker and carpenter. Already a Christian with the Franciscans started their missionary work in his area. Worked with them as a catechist, and as a nurse in their hospital. Helped to build convents and churches in Kyoto and Osaka.
- Paul Ibaraki. Member of a noble samuri family. Brother of Saint Leo Karasumaru. Ran a small sake brewery to support his family. Convert, brought to the faith by Jesuit missionaries. Worked with the missionaries in Kyoto as an interpreter, catechist and lay preacher near the Franciscan convent of Our Lady of the Angels. Always charitable to those even poorer than himself.
- Paul Suzuki Convert, baptized by the Jesuits in 1584. Franciscan tertiary. Catechist. In charge of Saint Joseph’s hospital in Kyoto. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki. Preached from the cross in his last minutes.
- Peter Sukejirō. Franciscan tertiary. Catechist. House servant and sacristan to the Franciscan missionaries. Arrested for his faith in Kyoto while ministering to imprisoned fellow Christians.
- Thomas Kozaki. Son of Saint Michael Kozaki. Altar boy. Raised Christian. Helped his father with his carpentry for the Franciscan missionaries and then stayed at the convent they had built. His farewell letter to his mother, written from prison, has survived.
- Thomas Xicoaka Thomas Dank. Japanese pharmacist with a violent disposition. Prayer and faith eventually mellowed him, and he became a kind-hearted Franciscan tertiary. When the Franciscans opened the convent of Our Lady of the Angels, Thomas moved his drug store next door to it. Catechist. Interpreter for the Franciscan missionaries.
Sources:
https://stevenwood.com/reflections/franciscan/0206-468.htm
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/32.html