| Anjirô was a peasant from [[Satsuma province]] who became one of the first Japanese to travel to India, and later served as an interpreter for [[Francis Xavier]]. | | Anjirô was a peasant from [[Satsuma province]] who became one of the first Japanese to travel to India, and later served as an interpreter for [[Francis Xavier]]. |
− | He is said to have either fled to [[Goa]] after committing a murder, or to have been brought there after being captured by [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] in [[Malacca]] in [[1548]].<ref>Fabio Rambelli, "The Idea of India (Tenjiku) in Pre-Modern Japan: Issues of Signification and Representation in the Buddhist Translation of Cultures," (source unknown)</ref> There he met Francis Xavier, and returned to Japan with him the following year, as an interpreter. His at times inaccurate description of Japan - and in particular of Japan's native religions - was of considerable interest to the missionaries at Goa and was much studied. Unfortunately for Xavier, Anjirô’s poor skills as a interpreter proved a hindrance once they arrived in Japan itself. | + | He is said to have either fled to [[Goa]] after committing a murder, or to have been brought there after being captured by [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] in [[Malacca]] in [[1548]].<ref>Fabio Rambelli, "The Idea of India (Tenjiku) in Pre-Modern Japan: Issues of Signification and Representation in the Buddhist Translation of Cultures," (source unknown), 243.</ref> There he met Francis Xavier, and returned to Japan with him the following year, as an interpreter. His at times inaccurate description of Japan - and in particular of Japan's native religions - was of considerable interest to the missionaries at Goa and was much studied. Unfortunately for Xavier, Anjirô’s poor skills as a interpreter proved a hindrance once they arrived in Japan itself. |