Background
Shirō Amakusa was born in 1621 in modern-day Kami-Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan. He was the son of Catholic parents, Masuda Jinbei (益田 甚兵衛), a former Konishi clan retainer, and his wife. As a child Tokisada was so talented and beautiful that he was nicknamed Tendo (Angel).
Career
Shiro was among Japanese Catholics who took over Hara Castle in a rebellion against the Shogunate. They mounted a coordinated defense that held off attackers, but the rebel force had no logistical support and their resolve was weakened. Shiro was said to display posters in the castle to raise morale and said, "Now, those who accompany me in being besieged in this castle, will be my friends unto the next world."
One of the rebel soldiers, Yamada Uemonsaku, betrayed Shirō. He got a message to the Shogunate that rebel food supplies were becoming strained. The Shogunate forces made a final assault, taking Hara Castle in the process. The Shogunate forces massacred almost 40,000 rebels, including women and children. Yamada, who betrayed his fellow rebels, was the only recorded survivor.