16th century
Feast: July 25
A Japanese Jesuit brother who was martyred during the persecution of Christians in Japan.
James Kisai (1533-1597) was a Japanese Jesuit brother and catechist who served the Christian community during the early persecution of Christianity in Japan. He worked alongside the Jesuit missionaries, helping to translate Christian texts into Japanese and teaching the faith to converts. He was arrested during the persecution under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and crucified at Nagasaki along with 25 other Christians, becoming part of the first group of martyrs in Japan. His martyrdom helped establish the Japanese Christian community that survived centuries of persecution.