Mission to Satsuma
The Madrid-born Francis de Morales entered the Dominican order as a young man and was sent to Japan. He served first in the town of Satsuma for 20 years and then went to Nagasaki in 1614 to continue his missionary work.
Initially, the shogunate supported the Catholic mission. Officials believed that the missionaries would reduce the influence of Buddhist monks and boost trade with Catholic Spain and Portugal.
Christians crucified
But as time wore on the regime became nervous that the Spanish would take power and convert the population. The authorities began to see Christianity as a threat and prepared for a deadly persecution.
