James Kisai
James Kisai, also known as Diego Kisai or Jacobo Kisai, was a Japanese Jesuit lay brother and one of the 26 Martyrs of Japan. He is remembered for his martyrdom in Nagasaki, where he was crucified and lanced to death on February 5, 1597, alongside Paul Miki and John Soan de Goto.
- Feast Day
- February 5
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- Japan
Key Facts
- ›James Kisai was born Ichikawa Kisaemon.
- ›He was a Japanese Jesuit lay brother and saint.
- ›Kisai was one of the 26 Martyrs of Japan.
- ›He was executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki.
- ›Kisai and two other Jesuits, Paul Miki and John Soan de Goto, were the only Jesuits among the 26 martyrs.
- ›He gave his vows to enter the Jesuit order while imprisoned.
Diego Kisai, Jacobo Kisai, Ichikawa Kisaemon
About James Kisai
James Kisai, also known by the Japanese name Diego Kisai or Jacobo Kisai, was a Japanese Jesuit lay brother and a recognized saint. He is famously numbered among the 26 Martyrs of Japan, a group of Catholics executed for their faith.
Life and Martyrdom
Born Ichikawa Kisaemon, James Kisai was a lay catechist who intended to join the Society of Jesus. In December 1596, he was imprisoned along with 23 other Catholics following the pivotal San Felipe incident. While in prison, Kisai and a fellow lay catechist, John Soan de Goto, took vows to enter the Jesuit order before Jesuit fathers John Rodriguez and Francis Pasia. Subsequently, Kisai and the other imprisoned Catholics were forced to undertake a winter journey from Sakai to Nagasaki. Their arduous journey concluded on Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki, where they met their end on February 5, 1597. Kisai, along with Paul Miki and John Soan de Goto, were the only Jesuits among the 26 martyrs executed that day. They were crucified and lanced to death.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was James Kisai?
James Kisai, also known as Diego Kisai or Jacobo Kisai, was a Japanese Jesuit lay brother and a saint. He is recognized as one of the 26 Martyrs of Japan.
When and where was James Kisai martyred?
James Kisai was martyred in Nagasaki, Japan, on February 5, 1597. He was crucified and lanced to death on Nishizaka Hill.
What was James Kisai's birth name?
James Kisai was born with the name Ichikawa Kisaemon.
Was James Kisai the only Jesuit among the 26 Martyrs of Japan?
No, James Kisai was one of three Jesuits executed among the 26 Martyrs of Japan. The other two were Paul Miki and John Soan de Goto.
What led to James Kisai's imprisonment and execution?
James Kisai was imprisoned in December 1596 in the aftermath of the San Felipe incident. He and other Catholics were later forced to journey to Nagasaki, where they were martyred.
Related Saints
Paul Miki
Paul Miki was a Japanese Catholic evangelist and Jesuit known for his martyrdom during a 16th-century anti-Catholic uprising. He is recognized as one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan and was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862. Miki is remembered for his unwavering faith and forgiveness of his executioners.
Philip of Jesus
Philip of Jesus, OFM, was a Spanish Franciscan missionary and one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan. He holds the distinction of being the first Mexican Catholic saint and is the patron saint of Mexico City. His martyrdom occurred in 1597 after a shipwreck led to his arrest and execution in Japan.
Abraham of Arbela
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