a secret Christian woman in the high class in the age of wars in Japan

Hosokawa Gratia(1563-1600) Age 21, her husband, a young king talked to her Western culture including Christianity. She was very interested in Christianity but pretended not. Age 23, she went to Societas Iesu’s meeting secretly with her maids. A monk recorded her questions and his answers. He was surprised at her sharpness. She hoped to be baptized there, but the monk hesitated because she seemed to belong to the highest class. Once she was back to her castle, there was no chance to go out anymore. Her maids went to the missionary and brought letters. The scrolls were the only way to keep the faith. The maids were baptized. Before the missionary would be deported, Priest Gregorio de Céspedes asked one of her maids to baptize her for him. Age 37, at the end of a huge battle,AD1600, her husband's enemy tried to take her as a hostage. She denied it and asked a loyal follower to kill her. As her life was filled with historical issues, from her father to the last battle, she often appears in dramas. Photo from www.metal-museum.net