Nicola Keian Fukunaga

Who they were

Nicola Keian Fukunaga was born about 1570 into an illustrious samurai family long known for arms and public office, was baptised in 1580 and made his religious profession as a brother in the Society of Jesus. Imprisoned in the region of Ōmura in 1633, he was tortured to death in the pit from 28 to 31 July of that year, and was beatified among the 188 martyrs of Japan on 24 November 2008 by Benedict XVI.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

A Jesuit brother of samurai family who was tortured to death in the pit in 1633.