Between 1549 and 1640, Christianity spread in Japan thanks to the efforts of missionaries, notably the Jesuits led by Saint Francis Xavier and Alessandro Valignano. Nagasaki, founded in 1570, became a key center for Portuguese trade and Christian missions. Valignano, arriving in 1579, reorganized the missions by emphasizing cultural adaptation and establishing educational institutions. In 1582, he sent four young Japanese Christians from Kyushu to Europe, where their delegation achieved immense success.
In 1587, an edict banning Christianity forced missionaries to operate more discreetly. In 1593, the arrival of Spanish Franciscans complicated the situation. The 1596 shipwreck of the San Felipe led to the execution of the 26 martyrs of Nagasaki on February 5, 1597, marking a turning point in the history of Christianity in Japan.
