On the Day February 13 1861

God Raises Kanzo Uchimura

On the Day February 13 1861

Khen Lim

Kanzo Uchimura (Image source: Geneugen van Nederland)

One-hundred and fifty-six years ago to this day, children were born everywhere just like they would on any other day. In Japan, it was, understandably, the same. What could ever be different, right? 

It seemed God took a different view and eight years after Commodore Perry anchored in the Bay of Yedo (Tokyo Bay), in the midst of Edo (today’s Tokyo) in the compound of the daimyo (feudal lord) was born a little boy who would emerge from the elite Samurai class to spiritually impact his nation as well as the world. His name was Kanzo Uchimura.

On the Day February 5 1596

Christians Cross the Line and Pay the Price in Japan

On the Day February 5 1596

Khen Lim




A close-up view of the Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan, Nagasaki (Crisis Magazine)

The idea to introduce Christianity into the closeted culture of ancient Japan began, according to historical records, with Francis Xavier who together with fellow Jesuits Fathers Cosme de Torres and John Fernandez who arrived in Kagoshima, Japan on August 15 1549. With them were the hopes that Christianity would begin to flourish in the Far East. 

By the following month, on September 29, on his visit to Shimazo Takahisa, the daimyo* of Kagoshima, Xavier sought and was granted permission to establish the first Catholic mission in the country. The daimyo was probably thinking more along the lines of expanding trade relationships with Europe more than any curiosity about knowing Christ.

* One of the great lords who acted as vassals of the shogun (ruling commander-in-chief) in feudalistic Japan