Japan’s first Seminary
In 1579, Priest Alessandro Valignano of Jesus from Portugal came to Japan to inspect
the situatin of missionary work in Japan.
Valignano believed that training Japanese priests and monks was the key to the success
of missionary work in Japan.
And then, he made the Japan’s first Seminary in Shimabara peninsula in 1580, where was
the Hinoe Castle town of Arima Harunobu.
Among the first students, included member of Tensho youth mission to Europe who were
Ito Mansho Ito, Chijiwa Miguel, Hara Martino and Nakaura Julian.
Note : Seminary is an educational institution established in Japan by the Society of Jesus
between 1580 and 1614 to train Jesuit priests and monks.