| Japan history, Kirishitan history, (and Western History in parentheses for reference) | |
| 1543 | Ashikaga Yoshiharu becomes Shogun
Portuguese land on Tanegashima Island |
| 1545 | (Council of Trent begins) |
| 1546 | Ashikaga Yoshiteru becomes Shogun
(Martin Luther dies) |
| 1547 | Francis Xavier meets Yajiro in Malacca
(Edward VI becomes King of England) |
| 1548 | (500 years since Pope Leo IX enriched St. Benedict Medal with blessings) |
| 1549 | Francis Xavier, Cosme de Torres, and Juan Fernandez arrive in Kagoshima on Aug 15
Bernardo is baptized (First Book of Common Prayer published in England) |
| 1550 | Francis Xavier arrives in Hirado in Sept
Anthony Kimura, grandfather of Sebastian is baptized |
| 1551 | Francis Xavier goes to Kyoto, returns to Yamaguchi, goes to Funai,
Francis Xavier leaves Japan Cosme de Torres and Juan Fernandez remain in Japan |
| 1552 | Francis Xavier sends more missionaries to Japan:
Balthasar Gago, Br. Alcacova, Br. deSylva and an interpreter Francis Xavier dies on Shangchaun Island off of China |
| 1553 | Balthasar Gago begins work in Kutami near Funai
(Mary Todor "Bloody Mary" reigns in England) |
| 1555 | Balthasar Gago and Juan Fernandez go to Hirado |
| 1556 | Fr. Gaspar Vilela and Provincial Fr. Melchior Nunez arrive in Japan at Funai
Melchior Nunez returns to India |
| 1557 | Gaspar Vilela and Juan Fernandez visit Kirishitans in Kutami near Funai |
| 1558 | Missionaries receive land in Hakata,
Balthasar Gago and new assistant Br. Guilherme Periera go to Hakata Gaspar Vilela goes to Hirado and neighboring islands (Elizabeth is crowned Queen of England) (Marian exiles return to England) |
| 1559 | Riots in Hakata
Balthasar Gago and Guilherme Periera are robbed by a ship captain and escape to Funai Gago leaves Japan, leaving only two priests in Japan, Torres and Vilela Gaspar Vilela with Lorenzo, Damien and Diogo begin preaching in Kyoto They open a church in Shijo, Kyoto (1559 Book of Common Prayer made standard in England) |
| 1560 | Gaspar Vilela meets Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru
Yoshiteru gives Vilela permission to preach the Gospel in Kyoto (Geneva Bible published) |
| 1561 | Gaspar Vilela works in Sakai |
| 1562 | Gaspar Vilela returns to Kyoto with Mass kit, says the first Mass in Kyoto on Sept 8 |
| 1563 | Persecution forces Vilela back to Sakai
Omura Sumitada is baptized as the first Kirishitan Daimyo (Bartolomyu) (between 1563 and 1620 eighty-six Daimyo were officially baptized) Fr. Luis Frois arrives in Japan with 5-6 brothers, Torres cries with joy Takayama Dario converts, accompanies Vilela back to Kyoto The Church grows rapidly (Council of Trent ends) (Anglican 39 Articles published in England) |
| 1564 | Takayama Ukon (Justo) is baptized
Luis Frois and Juan Fernandez in Hirado Luis Frois and Br. Louis d'Almeida go to Kyoto to help Vilela (John Calvin dies) (Michelangelo dies) |
| 1565 | Gaspar Vilela takes Luis Frois to visit Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru in Kyoto
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru assasinated (committed suicide under siege) Vilela and Frois escape from Kyoto Vilela goes to visit Kirishitan in other regions Over 10,000 attend Kirishitan funeral in Kyoto Emperor bans missionaries from Kyoto |
| 1566 | Luis Frois goes to Sakai
Gaspar Vilela goes to Funai, assists Torres, Luis Frois goes to Omura |
| 1567 | Juan Fernandez dies |
| 1568 | Oda Nobunaga captures Kyoto,
Nobunaga installs Ashikaga Yoshiaki as Shogun in Kyoto Wada Koremasa, friend of missionaries, becomes Kyoto Governor Gaspar Vilela goes to Shiki in Amakusa Vilela goes to Nagasaki, a small fishing village |
| 1569 | Kyoto Governor Wada Koremasa arranges for Luis Frois to return to Kyoto
Wada introduces Frois to Nobunaga The mission receives permission from Nobunaga and Shogun Whole city of Nagasaki converted First church in Nagasaki opened |
| 1570 | Fr. Organtino and New Mission Superior Fr. Francisco Cabral arrive in Japan
Francisco Cabral calls meeting of all missionaries in Shiki, Amakusa Cosme de Torres dies Cabral sends Gaspar Vilela to India Organtino goes to Kyoto |
| 1571 | Oda Nobunaga destroys Enryakuji Buddhist monastery
Omura Sumitada and Cosme de Torres open Nagasaki Port First Portuguese ship arrives in Nagasaki (Battle of Lepanto on Oct 7 in Gulf of Patras east of Italy) |
| 1572 | Francisco Cabral meets Nobunaga and several years of peace follow
(John Knox dies) |
| 1573 | Oda Nobunaga drives Ashikaga Yoshiaki out of Kyoto
Oda Nobunaga assumes authority |
| 1574 | Otomo Yoshimune (Constantino) first born son of Sorin, is baptized |
| 1575 | Otomo Chikaie (Sebastin) second son of Sorin, is baptized |
| 1576 | Nobunaga builds builds Azuchi Castle (finished in 1579)
Nanbanji church built in Kyoto Luis rois is recalled to Kyushu Fr. Stephanoni (or Fr. Organtino) replaces Frois in kyoto Otomo Yoshimune succeeds his father as Daimyo of Bungo (Funai) |
| 1577 | Interpreter Joao Rodriguez arrives in Japan in his early teens |
| 1578 | Otomo Yoshishige, "King of Bungo" (Sorin, Francisco) is baptized |
| 1579 | Great Visitor Fr. Alexander Valignano arrives in Japan
Shimabara Daimyo Arima Harunobu (Protasius, John) baptized by Fr. Valignano |
| 1580 | Seminary built in Azuchi with Fr. G. Organtino as rector
Joao Rodriguez, ordained in Macau, returns to Japan Otomo Chikamori 3rd son of Sorin is baptized; later gave up faith |
| 1581 | Luis Frois introduces Alexander Valignano to Nobunaga in Kyoto |
| 1582 |
Oda Nobunaga assasinated by Akechi Mitsuhide, war follows
Toyotomi Hideyoshi assumes authority Delegation of four set out for Europe with Valignano on Feb 20 Christians protected by Takayama Ukon in Takatsuki Japan Mission made a Vice-Province Fr. Gaspar Coelho is Vice-Provincial, replacing Cabral |
| 1583 | Hideyoshi builds Osaka Castle, gives Jesuits land nearby
Gamo Ujisato (Leo) is baptized Kuroda Yoshitaka (Kanbe, Shimon) is baptized Konishi Yukinaga (Augustine) is baptized Balthasar Gago dies in Goa |
| 1585 | Envoys meet Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII dies, Sixtus V becomes pope Oda Nobuo (Nobukatsu, John) Nobunaga's second son, is baptized (Oda Nobuhide (Peter) Nobunaga's sixth son, is baptized at a later date) |
| 1586 | Hideyoshi gives Gaspar Coelho land near Osaka Castle
Frois visits all the missions in Japan Otomo Sorin visits Hideyoshi, asks for help against attacks Gaspar Coelho blunders, turns Hideyoshi against the Jesuit Missions |
| 1587 | Hideyoshi bans Christianity on July 24
Many Kirishitan and missionaries escape to Arima Harunobu's domain Omura Sumitada and Otomo Sorin die Takayama Ukon banished by Hideyoshi to Kanazawa Gamo Ujisato abandons his faith Kuroda Yoshitaka abandons his faith, takes the name Josui |
| 1588 | Pope Sixtus V establishes First diocese in Japan
Gracia Hosokawa converts |
| 1590 | Gaspar Coelho dies
Valignano and four envoys arrive in Nagasaki (Valignano's second visit) Fr. Gomez is made Superior of Bungo and Vice Provincial of Japan Luis Frois goes to Nagasaki |
| 1591 | Valignano (as ambassador of India), four envoys & Rodriguez meet Hideyoshi
Hideyoshi insists that Rodriguez stay in Kyoto Christian printing press begins |
| 1592 | First invasion of Korea
Kirishitan Daimyo Konishi Yukinaga takes part in first Korean invasion Visitor Valignano leaves Japan Frois accompanies Valignano to Macao and returns to Nagasaki |
| 1593 | Franciscan Fr. Peter Baptist arrives in Japan, meets Hideyoshi |
| 1594 | Organtino baptizes over 500 in Kyoto and surrounding areas
Rodriguez visits Hideyosh as representative of Kyoto Church Rodriguez is ordained in Macao by Bishop Martinez |
| 1595 | Sebastian Kimura in Macao for studies
Council of Five Elders is formed by Hideyoshi |
| 1596 | Japan's first bishop, Pedro Martinez, arrives in Nagasaki
Bishop Martinez with Rodriguez visits Hideyoshi San Felipe shipwrecks in Shizuoka, pilot's lies cause trouble Hideyoshi orders execution of missionaries on Dec 8 |
| 1597 | Second invasion of Korea
Konishi Yukinaga takes part in second Korean invasion Twenty-six crucified on Feb 5 at Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Nishizaka martyrdom witnessed by Luis Frois Luis Frois dies 5 months later on July 8 in Nagasaki |
| 1598 | Hideyoshi dies
Bishop Martinez dies Valignano visits Japan again, brings Bishop of Japan Luis de Cerqueira |
| 1599 | Fr. Geronimo de Jesus Castro builds the first church in Edo:
ROZARIO NO GENKOU SEI MARIA SEIDO |
| 1600 | Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu assumes authority
Konishi Yukinaga beheaded in Kyoto Sebastian Kimura returns to Japan |
| 1601 | 1st Japanese priests Sebastian Kimura (36) & Luis Niabara ordained in Sept
Fr. Geronimo de Jesus Castro visits Tokugawa Ieyasu, gives many gifts |
| 1602 | Jesuits Jerome de Angelis and Charles Spinola arrive in Japan at Nagasaki |
| 1603 | Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes Shogun
Six martyred in Dec. in Yatsuhiro (Kumamoto) (James I becomes King of England) |
| 1605 | Tokugawa Hidetada becomes Shogun
Two martyred in Aug. in Hagi & Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi) |
| 1606 | Bishop Cerqueira meets Ieyasu in Fushimi Castle
One martyred on Aug 16 in Yatsushiro (Kumamoto) |
| 1607 | Vice-Provincial Fr. Pasio S.J. as Mission Superior visits Ieyasu in Sumpu
Fr. Pasio visits Shogun Hidetada in Edo Hideyoshi's ban on missionaries effectively ends |
| 1608 | Leo Saisho Shichiemon martyred on Nov 17 in Satsuma (Kagoshima) |
| 1609 | Shogun allows Dutch ships to enter port of Hirado
Organtino dies in Nagasaki, Diego Carvalho arrives in Japan Four martyred on Feb 4 in Yatsushiro (Kumamoto) Three martyred on Nov 14 in Ikitsuki (Nagasaki) |
| 1610 | Kirishitan Daimyo Arima Harunobu obliged to commit suicide
(Brother Lawrence is born) |
| 1611 | Franciscan Louis Sotelo establishes Tohoku mission
(King James Bible published) |
| 1612 | Christianity banned in Edo
Rodgriguez is banned from Japan, exiled to China Fr. Diego de San Francisco arrives in Japan Charles Spinola goes to Nagasaki, is Procurator for entire Japan mission |
| 1613 | Hidetada destroys Edo Church
Fr. Luis Sotelo illegally builds new church in Asakusa 27 Kirishitans and Sotelo arrested in Edo, put into Kodenmacho prison Date Masamne intercedes for Sotelo's release, brings him to Sendai 27 martyred in Asakusa-Torigoe Eight martyred on Oct 7 in Arima (Nagasaki) First baptisms in Hokkaido (by a Japanese layman) |
| 1614 | Christianity banned in whole country
All churches in Kyoto and Nagasaki destroyed Many Kirishitan move to Hirosaki (Aomori) for protection by Kirishitan Daimyo Tsugaru Nobuhira 72 Jesuits including Diego Carvalho deported to Macao Carvalho returns to Japan secretly Takayama Ukon and 300 Kirishitans expelled on Nov 8 Takayama arrives in Manila Dec 21 Charles Spinola stays in Japan secretly Adam Arakawa martyred on June 5 in Amakusa (Kumamoto) |
| 1615 | Hasekura delegation received in audience by Pope Paul V in Rome
More Kirishitans martyred at Asakusa-Torigoe Jerome de Angelis and Simon Enpo sent to north Japan to aid Kirishitans Diego de San Francisco imprisoned in Kodenmacho Takayama Ukon dies in Manila |
| 1616 | Tokugawa Ieyasu dies
Diego de San Francisco deported to Mexico |
| 1617 | Two martyred on May 22 in Kori, Omura (Nagasaki)
Two martyred on June 1 in Kori, Omura (Nagasaki) Two martyred on Oct 1 in Nagasaki |
| 1618 | Government offers reward money for turning in hiding missionaries
Juan Santamarta martyred on Aug 16 in Kyoyo Juan of Saint Dominic martyred on March 19 in Suzuta, Omura (Nagasaki) Luis Sotelo leaves Japan Diego de San Francisco returns to Japan Franciscan Francis Galvez sent to Sendai Diego Carvalho goes to north Japan Jerome de Angelis goes to Hokkaido for 10 days Charles Spinola arrested and imprisoned in Nagasaki Cristovao Ferreira takes over Spinola's work as Provincial Treasurer |
| 1619 | Fifty-two martyred on Oct 6 in Kyoto
Kagayama Hayato martyred on Oct 15 in Kokura (Fukuoka) Two martyred on Oct 15 in Hiji (Oita) Five martyred on Nov 18 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Eleven martyred on Nov 27 in Nagasaki |
| 1620 | Ambrosio Fernandes martyred on Jan 7 in Suzuta, Omura (Nagasaki)
Matthias martyred on May 27 in Nagasaki Pope Paul V sends letters addressed to Kirishitans in Japan Diego Carvalho goes to Hokkaido, first Mass in Hokkaido on Aug 5 Five martyred between Aug 17 & 18 in Kokura (Fukuoka) (Pilgrims land in America) |
| 1621 | Jerome de Angelis' 2nd visit to Hokkaido, then to Edo |
| 1622 | Augustinus Ota martyred on Aug 10 in Ikinoshima (Nagasaki)
Fifteen martyred on Aug 19 in Nagasaki Fifty-two martyred on Sept 10 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) - including Charles Spinola and Sebastian Kimura Three martyred on Sept 11 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Six martyred on Sept 12 in Omura (Nagasaki) Giovanni Battista Costanzo martyred on Sept 15 in Tabira (Nagasaki) Four martyred on Nov 1 in Shimabara (Nagasaki) Luis Sotelo returns to Japan Canonization of Francis Xavier |
| 1623 | Tokugawa Iemitsu becomes Shogun, 19 years old
Francis Galvez goes to Edo Fifty burned at the stake at Fuda No Tsuji in Edo on Dec 4 - including Jerome de Angelis, Francis Galvez, Simon Enpo and John Hara Mondo 37 more executed at Fuda no Tsuji in late Dec |
| 1624 | Luis Sotelo burned at the stake in Omura Hokobaru (Nagasaki)
Two martyred in Feb in Hiroshima Diego Carvalho and 41 others martyred on Feb 22 in Sendai and Akita Joachim Kuroemon martyred on March 8 in Hiroshima Five martyred on Aug 24 in Omura (Nagasaki) Caius martyred on Nov 15 in Nagasaki |
| 1625 | (Charles I becomes King of England) |
| 1626 | Thirteen martyred on June 20 in Nagasaki
- including Francisco Pacheco, Jesuit Provincial, Balthasar Torres Mancius Araki Kyuzaburo martyred on July 8 in Shimabara (Nagasaki) Nine martyred on July 12 in Nagasaki One priest martyred on July 29 in Nagasaki |
| 1627 | Twelve branded and burned on Feb 8 in Nagasaki
Three Uchibori brothers martyred on Feb 21 in Ariake Sea (Nagasaki) Sixteen martyred on Feb 28 on Mt. Unzen (Nagasaki) Ten martyred on May 17 on Mt. Unzen (Nagasaki) Three martyred on July 29 in Omura (Nagasaki) Martinez Gomez Tozaemon martyred on Aug 1 in Nagasaki Fourteen martyred on Aug 16 in Nagasaki Twenty-three martyred on Aug 17 in Nagasaki Three martyred on Sept 7 in Nagasaki Three high ranking Kirishitan deported on Oct 26 to Macao |
| 1628 | Fumie introduced, continues until 1858
Twenty-one martyred on Sept 8 in Nagasaki Jacob Hayashida martyred on Sept 10 in Nagasaki Three martyred on Sept 16 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Michael Nakashima Saburoemon martyred on Dec 25 in Unzen (Nagasaki) (Puritan John Bunyan born) |
| 1629 | Fifty-three martyred on Jan 12 in Yonezawa (Yamagata)
None of the 40,000 self-acknowledged Nagasaki Kirishitans from 1626 are left |
| 1630 | Six martyred on Oct 28 in Omura (Nagasaki) |
| 1632 | Six martyred on Sept 3 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki)
Melchior Sanchez Perez martyred on Dec 11 in Nagasaki Rodriguez dies in Macao |
| 1633 | Christavao Ferreira apostasizes in the pit, becomes Suwano Chuan
Michael the Chemist martyred on July 28 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Nicolao Keian martyred on July 31 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Two martyred on Aug 14 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Two martyred on Aug 15 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Two martyred on Aug 17 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Matthaeus of the Rosary martyred on Oct 19 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Lucas of the Holy Spirit martyred on Oct 20 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Julian Nakaura martyred on Oct 21 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) |
| 1634 | Magdalena martyred on Oct 15 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki)
Marina martyred on Nov 11 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Two martyred on Nov 17 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Dejima built in Nagasaki, finished in 1636 |
| 1635 | Tokugawa Iemitsu issues Sakoku Edict
Sakoku Edict locks down nation and strictly forbids Catholicism Tera-uke system introduced; all citizens must register at temples |
| 1636 | Fifteen martyred on Jan 30 in Hanaokayama (Kumamoto)
Fr. Diogo Yuki Ryousetsu martyred in Osaka 287 Japanese and mixed race Christians expelled to Mexico |
| 1637 | Shimabara rebellion (ends in 1638, about 35,000 Kirishitans die)
Antonio Gonzalez martytred on Sept 24 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Five martyred on Sept 29 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) Fr. Thomas Kintsuba Jihyoe martyred on Nov 6 on Nishizaka (Nagasaki) |
| 1638 | More executions at Fuda No Tsuji on Dec 3 |
| 1639 | Portuguese ships banned from Japanese ports
Giovanni Battista Porro & Martinho Shikimi apostasize in July in Edo Fr. Peter Kasui Kibe martyred in July in Edo Two Franciscans burned at the stake in Shinagawa (Edo, Tokyo) |
| 1640 | Inoue Masashige Chikugo No Kami becomes main Kirishitan enquirer |
| 1642 | Fr. Rubino S.J. and other ambassadors executed |
| 1643 | Giuseppe Chiara, Pedro Marquez, Alfonso Arroyo & Francisco Cassola arrested, tortured |
| 1644 | Fr. Mancio Konishi, last remaining priest in Japan martyred |
| 1646 | Kirishitan Yashiki built |
| 1647 | (1415 Benedictine manuscript found at Abbey of Metten in Bavaria) |
| 1650 | Cristovao Ferreira martyred in the pit Nov 4, over 80 yrs old |
| 1651 | Tokugawa Ietsuna becomes Shogun |
| 1680 | Tokugawa Tsunayoshi becomes Shogun
Kanji for Kirishitan is changed due to similarity to Shogun's name |
| 1708 | Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti caught in Yakushima (Kagoshima) on Oct 11
Sidotti is placed in Kirishitan Yashiki in Edo |
| 1709 | Tokugawa Ienobu becomes Shogun |
| 1713 | Tokugawa Ietsugu becomes Shogun |
| 1714 | Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti dies in Kirishitan Yashiki, age 46 |
| 1716 | Tokugawa Yoshimune becomes Shogun |
| 1742 | (Pope Benedict XIV approves and recommends St Benedict medal) |
| 1745 | Tokugawa Ieshige becomes Shogun |
| 1758 | (Clement XIII becomes pope) |
| 1760 | Tokugawa Ieharu becomes Shogun |
| 1787 | Tokugawa Ienari becomes Shogun |
| 1837 | Tokugawa Ieyoshi becomes Shogun |
| 1830 | (Marian Apparition to Catherine Laboure) |
| 1832 | (First Miraculous Medals are struck) |
| 1849 | (Hokusai dies)
(Zachary Taylor is U.S. President) |
| 1850 | (Millard Fillmore becomes U.S. President) |
| 1853 | Matthew Perry arrives July 8 at Uraga Port with four Black Ships
Tokugawa Ieyoshi dies on Aug 25 Tokugawa Iesada becomes Shogun (Franklin Pierce becomes U.S. President) |
| 1854 | Shogunal Grand Councilor Abe seeks opinions of daimyo
Comodore Perry arrives second time with ten ships on Feb 13 Kanagawa treaty signed on March 31 Kanagawa treaty ratified on Feb 21 Shimoda and Hakodate Ports open to U.S. trade Safety of shipwrecked US sailors guaranteed Treaty signed with Great Britain on Oct 15 |
| 1855 | Treaty signed with Russia on Feb 7 |
| 1856 | Treaty signed with Netherlands on Jan 30
US emissary Townsend Harris arrives in Japan (Hokusai Manga discovered by French artists) |
| 1857 | (James Buchanan becomes U.S. President) |
| 1858 | Tokugawa Iemochi becomes Shogun
Ii Naosuke appointed Shogunal Grand Councilor |
| 1860 | Ii Naosuke assassinated at Sakuradamon |
| 1861 | (Abraham Lincoln becomes U.S. President)
(American Civil War begins) |
| 1862 | Twenty-six Martyrs of Nagasaki canonized by Pius IX |
| 1865 | Fr. Bernard Petitjean finds Kirishitans at Oura Church in Nagasaki
(Lincoln assassinated) (Johnson becomes president) (Civil War ends) |
| 1866 | Sakamoto Ryoma, Okubo Toshimichi & Saigo Takamori create Satsuma Choshu alliance
Tokugawa Yoshinobu becomes last Tokugawa Shogun |
| 1867 | Emperor Meiji succeeds to the throne, age 12
Yoshinobu resigns Power restored to the Emperor Sebastian Kimura and 204 martyrs beatified by Pius IX on July 7 |
| 1868 | Boshin War starts
Meiji Era starts Emperor moves to Tokyo |
| 1869 | Boshin War ends
(Ulysses S. Grant becomes U.S. President) |
| 1873 | Signboards removed on February 18, Christianity tolerated |
| 1877 | Satsuma Rebellion
Saigo Takamori dies |
| 1912 | Meiji Emperor dies, Taisho Era begins |
| 1926 | Taisho Emperor dies, Showa Era begins |
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