− | Xavier left Portugal for Asia in [[1541]]. In December of [[1547]], while he was living in Malacca, he became acquainted with [[Anjiro|Anjirō]], a Japanese living abroad who converted to Christianity. | + | Originally from the Basque region of Spain, Xavier left Portugal for Asia in [[1541]]. In December of [[1547]], while he was living in Malacca, he became acquainted with [[Anjiro|Anjirō]], a Japanese living abroad who converted to Christianity. |
| He then journeyed to Japan in [[1549]], along with two other Jesuits, [[Cosme de Torres]] and [[Juan Fernandez|Juan Fernández]], arriving in [[Kagoshima]], where he received permission from [[Shimazu Takahisa]] to proselytize. After forming a friendship with [[Ninshitsu]], head of the [[Shimazu clan]] [[bodaiji|temple]] of [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]], he helped found the first Catholic mission in Japan, and converted roughly one hundred local people. Roughly a year after arriving in Kagoshima, he relocated to [[Hirado]] in the spring of [[1550]]. He then moved on to [[Choshu|Chôshû]], where he assisted his fellow Jesuits preaching in the streets. | | He then journeyed to Japan in [[1549]], along with two other Jesuits, [[Cosme de Torres]] and [[Juan Fernandez|Juan Fernández]], arriving in [[Kagoshima]], where he received permission from [[Shimazu Takahisa]] to proselytize. After forming a friendship with [[Ninshitsu]], head of the [[Shimazu clan]] [[bodaiji|temple]] of [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]], he helped found the first Catholic mission in Japan, and converted roughly one hundred local people. Roughly a year after arriving in Kagoshima, he relocated to [[Hirado]] in the spring of [[1550]]. He then moved on to [[Choshu|Chôshû]], where he assisted his fellow Jesuits preaching in the streets. |