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In July 1549, St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary, leading 6 disciples arrived at Kagoshima. The guide of the missionary was Anjiro, who committed a murder and defected from Satsuma to Malacca Malaysia. The Satsuma government, being sympathetic to Portuguese culture and institutions, allowed his missionary activities in the city. So Xavier stayed on this land for 10 months to propagate Christianity, as a result, more than 150 people are said to have been baptized.
This was the first Christian missionary in Japanese history.
After they were confronted by the Buddhists in Satsuma, they went to Hirado, then continued propagating for 2 years and 2 months around the Kyushu and Shikoku area. Xavier Landing Memorial and Xavier Church were built to praise his contribution to the city.
