Paul Miki and Companions

Biography

Paul Miki (1562-1597) was a Japanese Jesuit missionary born to a noble samurai family. Educated by Jesuits, he became a gifted preacher and missionary in Japan. When the Japanese shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi turned against Christians in 1587, Paul and his companions were arrested. They endured torture and crucifixion on February 6, 1597, in Nagasaki—26 martyrs including six Franciscans, six Jesuits, three Japanese Jesuits, and eleven Japanese laypeople. Paul remained steadfast on the cross, using his final moments to preach forgiveness and the Gospel. His martyrdom marked one of Japan's greatest persecutions and demonstrated the deep faith of early Japanese Christians. Paul Miki became the first Japanese to be canonized as a saint, representing the sacrifice of the early Japanese Church and the universal reach of Christian witness.