Footprints of the Martyrs of the Hosokawa Domain@No.14A
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Genya Ogasawara and Miya Kagayama 5
In 1622, on the Nishizaka hill in Nagasaki, 55 people were martyred in
what became known as the Great Martyrdom of Genna. Then, the following
year, when the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iyemitsu, was installed, 50 people
were burned to death in Edo. Along with the crucifixion of 52 people in
Rokujo-gawara in Kyoto in 1629, these executions are known as the three
great martyrdoms. A period of even worse persecution of Christians followed.
Persecution was particularly severe in western Japan where many people
renounced their Christian faith while others escaped to the east.
Having such a background, Genya and Miya remained steadfast in their faith
with their nine children, and were always grateful for people's kindness
shown to them even though they lived in dire poverty.
The names of the nine children, six boys and three girls, were Genhachi,
Mari, Kuri, Sazaemon, Sannemon, Shiro, Goro, Tuchi, and Gonnosuke.
Ever since Francis Xavier had started his missionary work in Japan and
Hayato Kagayamafs father and mother had been converted, faith in Jesus
Christ had flowed continuously through the Kagayama family and was now
passed on to these nine children via Genya and Miya.
(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is responsible for the wording of this article.)