| From 1550-1560 Christian missionaries began | | | | crosses they were then pierced with spears. |
| arriving in Japan. At first they were welcomed as | | | | These twenty-six Christians are now known as |
| the ruling Shogunate hoped it would build better | | | | the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan (Nihon Nijuroku |
| trade relations with the west, particularly Spain | | | | Seijin). The Sakoku Edict of 1635, issued by |
| and Portugal. The shogunate also hoped that | | | | Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, included strict |
| Christianity would help reduce the influence of | | | | regulations forbidding Christianity. Anyone found |
| Buddhist sects which had been gaining power. | | | | practicing the faith, or engaging in missionary |
| However, the Shogunate was suspicious of | | | | activities, would face execution or exile. |
| colonialism and were aware the Spanish had taken | | | | It was not until 1873, under Emperor Meiji, that |
| over the Philippines after converting the population. | | | | freedom of religion was promulgated. Emperor |
| Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary, had success | | | | Meiji sought to do away with the closed-door |
| converting large numbers of the population and | | | | policies of the past and westernize Japan. |
| even many Daimyo, regional warlords. In 1587 | | | | However, in the years preceding World War II |
| Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Shogun, banned Christian | | | | State Shinto was enforced. The goal of State |
| missionaries to gain more control over Christian | | | | Shinto was to promote the uniqueness of Japan |
| Daimyo. Ten years later, in 1597, Toyotomi | | | | and the divinity of the Emperor. Christians, and |
| Hideyoshi ordered the crucifixion of nine Catholic | | | | Buddhists as well, were persecuted under State |
| missionaries and seventeen Japanese converts, | | | | Shinto. |
| including three young boys. After being raised on | | | | |