How was the faith handed down to the descendants? Here is the Answer!

Recommended by:
 Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki
 Social Communications, Catholic Bishop's Conference of Japan
 Society of Jesus, Japan Province
 Sophia School Corporation
 SIGNIS Japan.

Overview of the History of the Catholic Church in Japan

1549	Francisco Xavier lands in Kagoshima.
1563	Omura Sumitada baptized as the first Christian lord (daimyo).
1582	Delegation of four young envoys [Tensho Shonen Shisetsu] sets out for Europe.
1585	Pope Gregory XIII receives the young envoys in audience.
1587	Toyotomi Hideyoshi issues the edict forbidding Christianity and orders all missionaries to leave Japan. Takayama Ukon deprived of fief and status.
1597	26 Christians martyred at Nishizaka in Nagasaki.
1613	Tokugawa shogunate government implements the Ban on Christianity throughout Japan.
1614	Takayama Ukon banished to the Philippines. All churches in Kyoto and Nagasaki destroyed.
1622	55 Christians (priests and laity) martyred in Nagasaki (The Great Genna Martyrdom).
1627, 1628 or 1629	Introduction of the “Fumie” (forced trampling of Christian images).
1637	The Shimabara Uprising. (-1638)
1790	The first Urakami Persecution.
1839	The second Urakami Persecution.
1856	The third Urakami Persecution.
1856, 1857 or 1858	Nagasaki magistrate announces discontinuation of “Fumie” practice.
1862	The 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki canonized in Rome.
1865	Construction of Oura Church in Nagasaki completed. Descendants of the Hidden Catholics meet Fr. Petitjean at Oura, and confess their faith.
1867	205 Japanese Martyrs beatified in Rome. The fourth Urakami Persecution.
1868	The Meiji government takes over the ban on Christianity. 114 Urakami Christians are exiled to 3 different domains.
1870	More than 3000 Urakami Christians arrested and exiled to 21 different domains. (-1873)
1873	Abolition of signboards proscribing Christianity (tacit approval of Christian evangelization). Urakami Christians released.
1889	The Constitution of the Empire of Japan guarantees freedom of religion in Japan. Masses of thanksgiving offered in churches throughout Japan.
1945	An atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki, 3 days after Hiroshima. Urakami Church was completely destroyed.
1959	Urakami Church is rebuilt, and becomes Cathedral in 1962.
1981	Pope (John Paul II) visits Japan (Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki) for the first time.
2019	Pope Francis visits Japan (Tokyo, Nagasaki and Hiroshima).

Note: There were many other Christian persecutions throughout Japan with martyrs totaling 10,000 to 20,000 depending on scholars.

Reference: “History of the Catholic Church in Japan.” Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ), with small modifications and additions by KAROLDVD-JC.