Giovanni Battista

Background

Giovanni Battista was born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1668.

Career

While working as a priest, he heard stories of missionary martyrdom in Japan, and he decided to go there, which, under Japanese law, was illegal at the time. After gaining permission from Pope Clement XI to go to Japan, he made his way as far as Manila, but he couldn't find a ship willing to deliver a missionary to Japan, which had closed itself off from the world under the sakoku policy. Finally, he managed to find a ship willing to take him on board, and in September or October 1708, he landed on Yakushima. He was disguised as a samurai, but immediately stood out as a Westerner. He was captured and taken to Nagasaki soon thereafter.

The following year he was brought to Edo and confined at the Kirishitan-yashiki (Christian Home) in Koishikawa Ward. His examiner Hakuseki Arai struck by his prisoner's deep faith and sincerity began sympathizing with him and his works titled Sairan-igen and Seiyo-lcibun which were based on his talks with Sidotti. He was later released on the condition that he do not preach and would not convert people to Christianity. His servant Nagasuke and his wife, however, came under his spell and became Christians. When this came to the ears of the government Nagasuke and his wif e were imprisoned, where they died, while Sidotti was confiiied separately where he is said to have starved to death.

Works

• book

  • Sairan-igen

  • Seiyo-lcibun

References

• The Invention of Religion in Japan In this book, Jason Ānanda Josephson reveals how Japanese officials invented religion in Japan and traces the sweeping intellectual, legal, and cultural changes that followed.
  2012