Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, Episode 39, Japan's Christian Century, Part 2.

Last week we left off with the arrival of Francis Xavier, who would later have a saint added

to the front of his name, and his mission to Japan in 1549. St. Francis and his companions had arrived in a new and foreign land, with an eye towards

winning converts for Roman Catholicism.

They had had some fairly substantial successes early on with the lower classes, and were able to baptize

several hundred new converts in cities throughout Kyushu.

Xavier himself was much impressed with the Japanese.

He also has the dubious distinction of probably being the only foreigner in history to describe the Japanese language as, quote, not very difficult to learn.

He described the Japanese people as such in a letter back home.

Quote,

The Japanese are very ambitious of honors and distinctions, and think themselves superior

to all nations in military glory and valor.

They prize and honor all that has to do with war, and in such things there is nothing of which they are so proud

as of weapons adorned with gold and silver. They always wear swords and daggers both in and out

of the house, and when they go to sleep, they hang them at the bed's head. In short, they value arms

more than any people I have ever seen.

They are excellent archers, and usually fight on foot, though there is no lack of horses in the country.

They are very polite to each other, but not to foreigners, whom they utterly despise.

They spend their means on arms, bodily adornment, and on a number of attendants, and

do not in the least care to save money.

They are, in short, a very warlike people, and engaged in continual wars amongst themselves,

the most powerful in arms bearing the most extensive sway.

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