Japanese Saints And Martyrs

Bl. Miguel de Aozaraza Roman Catholic Dominican priest. and a Martyr of Japan. Feastday Sept 29

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Martyr of Japan with Michael Aozaraza, Anthony Gonzales, William Cowtet, Vincent Shiwozuka, Lazarus and others. Lawrence was born in Manila, the Philippines. He and his companions were tortured and slain on Okinawa. Sept 28

Bl. Magdalena of Nagasaki, Japan. Magdalene turned herself into the authorities and declared herself a follower of Jesus Christ. At age 23, she died on October 16, 1634 after thirteen days of torture, suffocated to death and suspended upside down in a pit of offal on a gibbet (??? tsurushi, "reverse hanging"). sept 28

Bl. Thomas Akafuji, Roman Catholic Japanese martyr. A Japanese nobleman and devoted Christian, Thomas served as catechist to Blessed Leonard Kimura until his arrest by government authorities. Condemned for being a Christian, he was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday Sept 19

Bl. Michael Fimonaya, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan and a Dominican tertiary. A native of Japan and a convert, he was beheaded at Nagasaki for refusing to abjure the faith. Feastday, September 16 Bl. Paul Fimonaya, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan The son of Blessed Michael Fimonaya. Paul was a Dominican tertiary who was arrested for being a Christian and was beheaded at Nagasaki. Feastday, September 16

Bl. Thomas Zumarraga, Dominican martyr of Japan. Born in Vitoria, Spain, he entered the Dominicans and was dispatched to the missions in Japan. There he worked to advance the Christian cause until his imprisonment at Omura. After three years of confinement, he was burned alive with several companions. Feastday Sept 12

Bl. Francis Takea, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A twelve-year-old martyr of Japan, the son of Blessed Thomas Takea and a companion of Blessed Caspar Contenda. Francis was beheaded at Nagasaki, Japan Feastday Sept 11  Bl. Peter Ikiemon, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, Peter was seven when, with his father, Blessed Bartholomew, he was beheaded at Nagasaki. Feastday Sept 11 Bl. Caspar Kotenda, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, he converted to the faith. He was arrested and martyred at Nagasaki. Feastday Sept 11

Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. Sept 10 Bl. Agnes Takea, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. She was the wife of Blessed Cosmas Takea. They were martyred with Blessed Charles Spinola by beheading at Nagasaki.  Bl. Lucy de Freitas, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A native Japanese, she was the widow of Philip de Freitas. Lucy, a Franciscan tertiary, was arrested for sheltering Blessed Richard of St. Anne, a Franciscan priest. Although advanced in age, Lucy defended the faith before the authorities and was burned to death for it at Nagasaki, Japan, on September 10  Bl. Mary Tokuan & Mary Choun, Roman Catholic Martyrs of Japan. They were slain with their husbands for refusing to give up the Christian faith.  Bl. Mary Tanaura, and companions, Roman Catholic Martyrs of Japan. with Mary Tanaka and Magdalen Sanga. Mary and her companions were beheaded at Nagasaki. Mary Tanaka was married to Blessed Paul Tanaka. Magdalen Sanga was the wife of Blessed Anthony Sanga. Feastday Sept 10 

Roman Catholic, Martyrs of Japan  _ Sept 8 "Bl. James Fayashida & Bl. John Inamura"  "Bl. Thomas Tomaki, & Bl. Thomas of St. Hyacinth"  "Bl. Matthew Alvarez, & Bl. Michael Jamada" "Bl. Michael Tomaki, & St. Paul Aybara," "Bl. Paul Tomaki & St. Romanus Aybara" "St. Louis of Omura, & Bl. Maria Eutimia," "Bl. Leo Kombiogi & Bl. Louis Nifaki," "Bl. John Tomaki & Bl. Lawrence Jamada," "Bl. Dominic of Nagasaki & Bl. Anthony of St. Bonaventure" 

Bl. John Maid, Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr of Japan, the adopted son of Blessed Louis Maki. A Christian, he refused to abjure the faith when arrested and was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday, September 7.

Bl. Louis Maki, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. He was a Japanese layman who allowed Blessed Thomas Tsughi to celebrate Mass in his home. Arrested, Louis was burned alive at Nagasaki, Japan. Feastday Sept 7

Bl. Thomas Tsughi, Roman Catholic Priest and Japanese Martyr. A native, he was educated by the Jesuits, and entered the Society of Jesus in 1589. Forced to leave Japan, he went to Macao but then returned to Japan in disguise. Giving in to temptation, he left the Jesuits for one dark day but then repented and gave himself utterly to the Christian cause in the islands. Seized by authorities, he was burned alive at Nagasaki with several companions after authorities refused to allow his family to buy his freedom. Sept 6

In 1622 took place what was called the "great martyrdom", fifty-two chosen Christians being martyred on the same day (2 Sept.) at Nagasaki, twenty seven being decapitated, and the remainder being burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday Sept 2