Japan: the forbidden country

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Part of The Cross

Title: Japan: the forbidden country
Language: English
Year: 1981
Rights
Fulltext: Japan I I I I ■ THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY In 1 597, during the regime of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Supreme Military Cojnmander of Japan, 26 Christians, in cluding 6 Franciscans, three Jesuits, and 17 laymen, were crucified because of their Christian faith in the city of Nagasaki. In 1627 they were beatified by Pope UrbanVlIl, ! and in 1862 were canonized by Pope Pius IX. i Seventeen years later, another ruler of Japan, Tokugawa Yeyasu, issued in 1614 the Decree on general persecution against Christianity which was enforced for the next two and a half centuries with increasing vigor. Thou sands and thousands of Christians were executed for the faith between 1614 and 1640, among whom 205 who died between 1617 and 1632 were beatified by Pope Pius DC in 1867. Between the years 1633 and 1640, more priests, reli gious and laymen shed their blood generously for God and tlie religious cause during the heightened persecution, and among them were 16 Servants of God who were not includ ed in the beatification of 205 martyrs. These were Domingo Ibanez de Erquicia and his companions, executed in the years 1633, 1634 and 1637, because of their Christian faith, and who were not beatified during the century of their death. What made Japan a forbidden country to the missionaries? j On August 15, 1549, St. Francis Xavier arrived in i Japan. His arrival marked the birth of the Catholic mission of Japan, and when he left three years later, the founda tions of a flourishing mission had been laid down. Since 1555, the Portuguese had started a lucrative trade with Japan and with them came missionaries. In 1582, the then ruling Shogun was Toyotami Hideyoshi who was at first friendly with Christianity but suddenly he be came its persecutor. Tokugawa Yeyasu who succeded him on his death in 1598 was thoroughly Buddhist and all n ssionaries were ordered to leave Japan or face the conse quences. His Decree of general persecution against Chris tianity said the Christian religion was wicked, its followers had insulted Buddhism and destroyed the good in Japan, and should be eliminated. All Christians were to renounce their religion and have their names incribed in the Buddhist sects. Anyone contravening the order would be punished with the penalty of death. Churches were then demolished after the departure of the missionaries and their catechists, cemeteries were destroyed, and images and crosses and other Christian symbols broken. In 1600, a new European power, the Dutch, appeared I on the scene to gain some control of the Japanese comi merce. They were enemies of Spain and Portugal and were decidedlyProtestants. From their factory in Kyushu, they never ceased to intrigue against the presence of the “papis tical” Catholic missionaries. And among the Buddhist coun sellors of Shogun Yeyasu were some who listened to their Dutch friends who said that the missionaries were the advance guard of Spain and Portugal for the ultimate con quest of Japan. Thus year after year, scores of Japanese Christians suffered the supreme penalty and in 1617, the first four European missionaries met martyrdom, signi ficantly one from each of the four religious orders. The Japanese authorities thought that the dramatic executions would intimidate the faithful. The mass execution continued and the years 1627-1634 were the most terrible since the outbreak of the persecution, not only on account of the number of victims but with regard to the atrocity of the torture inflictpd on them. The authorities had recourse to a variety of inhuman tortures: branding, burning, sawing of limbs with a bamboo saw, parading the victims through the villages, forced to expose their naked mutilated bodies, while some were thrown in icy waters to be frozen to death, or thrown in the boiling sulphur spring of Mount Unzen, in the Nagasaki region. Three kinds of torments were commonly applied since 1632. The first was the water torture, whereby huge quanti ties of water were forced into the victim’s stomach by means of a funnel until it was extremely swollen. Then the sufferer was made to lie on the ground, and two ministers would step on both ends of a board placed over the stomach, forcing the water out most violently through all bodily exits. The torture was repeated as often as the victim refused to recant. The second torture was the torment of the steel need les which were thrust in every finger to both hands between Page 16 CROSS the flesh and the nails until the middle of the finger. Some minister would then touch the needles with a stick as if playing a guitar. The third torture was the ana-tsurushi or hanging in the pit, where the victim was hung from a crossbeam of a gallows, head downward into a pit. The body was tightly bound tc slow down the circulation of the blood. Then the mouth of the pit was closed with boards cut to adjust to the waist, and in this way the torture was. endured for several days until the victim succumbed. Among those who suffered these three methods of torture with exemplary fortitude were Fr. Domingo Ibafiez de Erquicia and his 15 companions who are included in the same beatification Cause, as follows with dates of their martyrdom: 1. Fr. Domingo Ibafiez de Erquicia, O.P. 2. Bro. Francisco Shoyemon, 0,P. 3. Fr. Jacobo Kyushei de Santa Maria, O.P. 4. Fr. Miguel Kurobioye, 0,P., catechist, 5. Fr. Lucas del Espiritu Santo, O.P., 6. Bro. Mateo Kohioye del Rosario, O.P. 7. Sister Magdalena, O.P. 8. Sister Marina of Omura,O.P., 9. Fr. Jordan de San Esteban, O JP., Spanish, Aug. 14,1633. Japanese, Aug. 14,1633. Japanese, Aug. 17,1633. Japanese, Aug. 17,1633. Spanish, Oct. 19,1633. Japanese, Oct. 19,1633. Japanese, Oct. 15,1634. Japanese, Nov. 11,1634. Italian, Nov. 17,1634. Japanese, Nov. 17,1634. Spanish, Sept. 24,1637. French, Sept. 29,1637. Spanish, Sept. 29,1637. Japanese, Sept. 29,1637. Filipino, Sept. 29,1637. Japanese, Sept. 29,1737. 10. Fr. Tontas Hioji de San Jacinto, O.P., 11. Fr. Antonio Gonzales, O.P., 13. Fr. Guillermo Courtet, O J., 13. Fr. Miguel de Aozaraza, O.P., 14. Fr. Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, O.P. 15. Lorenzo Ruiz, layman, 16. Lazaro of Kyoto, layman, Grief biographies 1. DOMINGO IBANEZ DE ERQUICIA, O J». (Dominican priest). He was bom in Regil, (Guipuzcoa, diocese of San Sebastian, Spain) in the early part of February, 1589. In 1605 he joined the Dominican Order, and in 1611 arrived in the Philippines, where he he worked zealously in the various apostolate missions in Luzon and at one time was professor at the Colegio de Santo Tomas (Now University of Santo Tomas) In Manila. He left for Japan in 1623. where the persecution of Christians was at its height. For ten years, as Vicar of the Dominican mis sion, he showed heroic dedication in comforting, and administering the Sacraments to the Christians, reconcil ing the apostates and generally exercising his priestly functions under the most painful arid (fifficult circum stances. Continually hunted by the Japanese authorities and ardently desiring martyrdom, he was captured on July 1633 and imprisoned in Nagoya (Omura, Kyushu). When he was brought to Nagasaki, and after refusing to renounce his faith, he was subjected to the torture of ana-tsurushi, and under this torment he expired the fol lowing day. His body was reduced to ashes. 2. FRANCISCO SHOYEMON, OJ>. (Dominican laybrother) He was bom in Japan, but the date and place is not known. He was a catechist and constant apostolate com panion of Fr Domingo de Erquicia. In July 1633 he was imprisoned with Fr. Domingo, and in prison joined the Dominican Order. On August 13 of the same year he suffered the torment of ana-tsurushi, and expired the following day. His body was quartered with the katana, and thrown into the fire. 3. FR. JACOBO KYUSHIE GOROBIOYE TOMANAGA DE SANTA MARIA, 0 JP. (Dominican Priest). He was born in 1582 in Kydetsu (Kyushu, Japan) of Christian parents. In his youth he worked in the apostol ate of catechism. In 1614 he went to Manila, aspiring for more perfection, and was admitted to the Domi nican Order, and ordained priest in 1626. In 1632 he returned to his native country, risking his life in the service of God. After a year erf apostolate work under the most difficult conditions, danger, suffering and pri vations, he was apprehended through informatian under torture of his own catechist Miguel Kurobioye, and placed in prison on July 1633. He was subjected to the torture of ana-tsurushi, where he expired after two days of agony on August 17,1633. His body was burned and the ashes thrown into the sea. 4. MIGUEL KUROBIOYE, layman He was a Japanese, helper and catechist of Fr. Jacobo de Santa Maria. In this evangelical work, he accompanied Fr. Jacobo for three months until he was imprisoned in June 1633. Under torture, he disclosed the hiding-place of Fr. Jacobo. But because he refused to renounce his faith, he was sentenced to die under the torture of the gallows and the pit (ana-tsurushi) on August 15,1633. 5. FR. LUCAS DEL ESPIRITU SANTO, O.P. (Dominican priest) He was born in Canacedo (Zamora, diooese of Astorga, Spain) on October 18, 1594. He was professed in the Dominican Order on July 2, 1611. Volunteering JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1981 Page 17 Japan - •• continuation for service in the Orient, he came to the Philippines in 1618 and worked with exemplary zeal in the missions in Luzon, and later as Lector at the Colegio de Santo Tomas (now U.S.T.) in the Arts. He left for Japan in 1632 with Fr. Domingo de Erquicia. With high spirits and singular apostolic zeal he travelled through several provinces of the Japanese Empire assisting the persecut ed Christians, helping the feeble and sick, reconciling the apostates, bringing to all the consoling comfort of the Sacraments. He worked secretly, desired ardently to give his life in the avowal of his faith. He was taken prisoner on September 8,1634 in Osaka, and brought to Nagasaki, where after repeated efforts of the tyrants to make him renounce his faith to no avail, he was placed in the gallows and pit (ana-tsurushi) on October 18, 1634, where he died the following day. His body was then reduced to ashes. 6. BRO. MATEO KOHIOYE DEL ROSARIO, OF. (Dominican laybrother) A native of Arima (Kyushu, Japan), he was bom in 1615. Since 1632, he was closely associated with Fr. Lucas del Espiritu Santo as his catechist. In 1633 he was taken prisoner in Osaka together with Fr. Jacobo “choosing to die for Cluist to living in a world full of miseries”. He was brought to Nagasaki, and on refusing to renounce his faith, he was placed in the gallows and pit, where he died the following day. 7. MAGDALENA DE NAGASAKI, (Dominican Tertiary) She was born in Nagasaki around 1610. Her parents were martyred for the Christian faith. Thus orphaned, and imbued with deep Christian faith, she made a vow of perpetual virginity, and busied herself with prayers and alms. When Fr. Jordan de San Esteban, her Spiritual Father, was imprisoned, she presented herself to the Japanese authorities in Nagasaki and offered herself to martyrdom. She was subjected to terrible tortures to make her renounce the Christian faith, which she en dured with great fortitude, even the torment of the gal lows and the pit where she died on October 15,1634 Her body was burned to ashes. 8. FR. JORDAN DE SAN ESTEBAN, OF. (Dominican priest). He was bom in San Stefano, Quisquina (Sicily), diocese of Agrigento, (Italy) on November 1, 1589. Around 1615, he entered the Dominican Order. De sirous of going to Japan to give his life for Christ, he went to Spain, and then to the Philippines where he arrived in 1626. After six years of charitable work among the sick Chinese in Manila, he left for Japan in 1632 with Fr. Jacobe de Santa Maria. Zealous in his work of saving souls, suffering ill health and sickness, and hunted by tire authorities, he was taken prisoner on August 4, 1634, and taken to Nagasaki. He was subjected to terrible tortures to make him apostatize, but showed marvelous fortitude and firmness in his avowal of faith. On Nov. 11, he was placed in the gallows and pit where he died after six days on November 17,1634. His body was reduced to ashes. 9. TOMAS HIOHI ROKUZAYEMON DE SAN JACINTO, O.P. (Dominican priest). He was bom in 1590 in the city of Hirado (Japan) of Christian parents. He was educated in Nagasaki, a chaste youth, sober and temperate, dedicating himself to the catechetical apostolate. He went to Manila in 1614, join ed the Dominican Order and was ordained priest in 1626. Exemplary in a life of prayer and religious observ ances, he went back to his native land in 1629 to offer his life in the service of Christians and infidels. He was hunted with singular interest by the tyrants until he was made a prisoner together with Fr. Jordan de San Esteban on July 4, 1634. He was brought to Nagasaki where he was subjected to tenible tortures, but he per severed in being witness to the faith until November 11 when he was given the final torture of the gallows and the pit where he expired after five or six days of agony. His body was burned to ashes. 10. MARINA OF OMURA, Dominican Tertiary_______ She was bom in the city of Omura (Kyushu, Japan) in the first decade of the 17th century. Exemplary in Page 18 CROSS her virtuous Christian life and the hospitality she extend ed to persecuted missionaries, she received the Domini can habit of the Third Order, in 1625. She was impri soned for professing the faith, and to test her fidelity to her vows and her virtue, she was made to undergo the humiliating ordeal of walking naked in the streets of the villages of Omura. But as she persisted firmly in her faith, she was sentenced to die by the stake over a slow fire (hoguers) on November 11, 1634. Her ashes were thrown into the sea. The Christians considered her as “the most valiant woman in Japan.” 11. FR. ANTONIO GONZALES, OJ*. (Dominican priest) He was bom in the city and diocese of Leon (Spain) and entered the Dominican Order in the place. Assi duous in prayer and in study, he distinguished himself with his apostolic life and preached in many towns in Spain. Desirous of giving his life for God, he volunteered to go on missions to the Philippines and Japan. He ar rived in the Philippines in 1632 and was Professor of Theology in the College of Santo Tomas where he be came Rector. In 1636, he left for Japan with five companions and was arrested on debarking in Okinawa. He was taken to Nagasaki where he was subjected to various tortures after he refused to trample on the images of the Blessed Virgin and some Saints, and to renounce his faith. As a result of the terrible tortures, he died in his cell in the prison in Nagasaki at dawn of September 24,1637. His body was thrown into the fire and the ashes cast into the sea. 12. FR. GUILLERMO COURTET (TOMAS DE SANTO DOMINGO) O.P. He was bom in 1690 in Serignan (Herault, diocese of Montpelier, France). He entered the Dominican Order in 1608. A man of high intellectual and virtuous qualities, he introduced monastic reforms in the Con vent of Agjanon, as Prior. In 1629, he went to Spain with the object of going on missions to the Orient. In 1635 he arrived in Manila where he became Professor of Theology in the College of Santo Tomas. He became a model of contemplative life, ascetic and pastoral, and lived a life of intense love for God and wished for martyrdom. In 1636 he left for Japan with Fr. Antonio Gonzales and other companions, where they were made prisoners shortly after landing in Okinawa, When brought to Nagasaki, he courageously proclaimed his faith before the Tribunal of tyrants and endured with fortitude various terrible tortures because he refused to renounce his faith. On September 27, 1637 he was placed in the gallows and pit pulled out after two days, and beheaded on the 29th. His body was reduced to ashes and thrown into the sea. 13. FR. MIGUEL DE AOZORAGA, OJ>, (Dominican priest) He was bom-in Onate (Guipuzcoa, diocese of San Sebastian, Spain). He entered the Dominican Order in. Victoria (Alava, Spain) in 1620, and lived for some years in the Convent of Santo Tomas in Madrid. Desirous of preaching the Gospel in the land of infidels, he arrived in the Philippines in 1635 and exercised the pastoral ministry in the missions in Luzon. In 1637 he left for Japan with Fr. Antonio Gonzales and some companions, and after some time landed in Okinawa where it was not long before they were arrested and brought before the Tribunal in Nagasaki. He avowed his faith with great valor and was subjected to various tortures to test his firmness. Condemned to die on the gallows and the pit, he was hanged head downward in the pit on September 27, 1637, where after two days of extreme agony, he was taken out and beheaded on September 29; his body was consigned to the fire and his ashes thrown into the sea. ______ 14. FR. VICENTE DE LA CRUZ, OP., (Dominican priest). He was born in Japan of unknown date. Educated in the College of Jesuit Fathers, he devoted his youth to catechetical apostolate. He was expelled from Japan by virtue of the Edict of general persecution and wnt to the Philippines where he embraced priesthood and be came a member of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1620. After many years of pastoral ministry in the Philippines, he decided to go back to Japan to help the persecuted Christians. Before sailing to Japan in 1636 he was admitted into the Third Order of St. Dominic, and together with Fr. Antonio and some companions was arrested in Okinawa shortly after landing there. Ter rified by the terrible tortures, he renounced the Chris tian faith but was taken to prison just the same along with them, encouraged by his companions who had undergone tortures and aided by divine grace, he repent ed his apostasy and endured the tortures meted out to him. On September 27 he was placed in the gallows and pit, and persevering in his faith, he was taken out two days later, and was beheaded on September 29. His body was thrown into the fire and his ashes cast into the Turn to page 40 JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1981 Rage 19 CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGAtllZATIOIt HOUSE ROSARY CRUSADE Nuestra Senora de Guia CYO Unit I No. 172 in Barangay Rizal, Banga, j South Cotabato undertook recently | several activities designed to promote ’ its services to the parish and its mem* bership. During the first General Assembly of CYO units in Banga, South Cota bato, the Unit participated and won in several competitions, among them, 1st prize in folk dancing and 2nd prize in flag raising. The Unit’s officers and members likewise started a house to house rosa ry crusade in the barangay. The organi zation is planning to cover all houses in the barangay and propagate the Ma rian devotion. During the fiesta celebration of Barangay Rizal, the Unit sponsored a benefit dance where the candidates for the “Mutya ng Barangay Rizal” were presented. The coronation night prov ed to be a big boost to the Unit when a member was proclaimed Mutya. The Unit likewise actively joined in the procession, the parade of organizations in the plaza, and in the ball games that were held during the fiesta. HOME OF THE AGED VISITED Officers and members of the Catholic Youth Organization units in Metro Manila visited the Golden Acres Home for the Aged in Quezon City as part of its Christmas celebration. The CYO rendered songs and skits which provided joy and laughter to the elder ly residence of the Home. To the tune of Christmas carols, the aging men and women danced and sang. As one of the residents said, “It is not often that we have these celebrations. We are happy that you came to see us.” The residents were given native delicacies prepared by St. Anthony CYO Unit No. 84 in San Antonio Valley, Parafiaque. The affair was coordinated by Bro. Raymundo Caindoy, Bobet de Lara, Joel Magalona, Emani Cuenco. Japan... Continuation 15. LORENZO RUIZ, Layman He was born in Binondo, (Manila, Philippines) sometime in 1600. His father was a Chinese and his mother, a Filipina. Educated by the Dominican fathers, he served in the convent and church of Binondo. In early manhood he became a member of the Con fraternity of the Virgin of the Rosary. He entered into matrimony and had two sons and a daughter. Accused of being involved in a criminal case where the facts were not clear, and fearing to be a victim of injustice, he decided to leave the Philippines together with Fr. Antonio Gonzales and some companions. With them he was arrested sometime after landing in Okinawa and brought to Nagasaki, to be indicted for his Christian faith. Before the Tribunal in Nagasaki, he proclaimed his faith and willingness to give a thousand lives if he had them for God, before renouncing his faith. He was there fore subjected to various tortures and finally condemned to die in the gallows and pit, on September 27, 1637, where he died two days later on September 29. His body was thrown into the fire and his ashes cast into the sea. 16. LAZARO OF KYOTO, Layman He was born in Kyoto (Honsu, Japan), where he later countracted leprosy. In 1632 he was expelled from Japan for being a Christian and together with hundreds of lepers taken on board a ship that sailed to the Philip pines. In 1636, he volunteered to join Fr. Antonio Gonzales and his companions in their mission to Japan, to serve as interpreter and guide. Arrested in Okinawa some time after their landing, they were taken to Naga saki, where he in a moment of weakness at the inhuman tortures inflicted on them, apostatized. Be he soon repented of his sin, and became reconciled with God while in prison. He was sentenced to the gallows and the pit on September 27, where he died after two days of torment. His body was consigned to the fire and his ashes thrown into the sea. Summary These sixteen victims of anti-Christian persecution be long to five nationalities: four Spaniards, nine Japanese, 1 Frenchman, 1 Italian and 1 Filipino. By profession, nine were Dominican priests, two brothers, two Dominican Tertiaries, and three laymen. Only one layman, Lorenzo Ruiz was married and father of a family. Page 40 CROSS