Kirishitan (No America)

The earliest Christian missionary efforts in Japan were those of the Franciscan order, which sent a mission under Mateo Da Rascaña. This mission landed in Nagoya in 1522 and marked the beginning of Christian proselytisation in Japan. The Spanish and Portuguese traders in the region had spread Christian ideas, but this marked the first attempt at conversion. They made some progress, managing to convert the daimyo Oda Nobuhiro, lord of Anjo, and brother of Oda Nobunga.

The Jesuit order, founded in 1540, conducted wide reaching and zealous missionary campaigns across India, the Indies and Japan, wherever European trade had recently been established. In Japan they first came to Kyushu, where they were received at Kagoshima. They were granted permission to found a churches and missions at Saiki, Dan no Ura (modern Kitakyushu) and at Nagasaki, by the few daimyos, such as Omura Sumitada, Arima Harunobu and Otomo Sorin, who saw the profit in conversion, by currying favour with the European merchants.