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Episode 586 – The All-Seeing Eye, Part 3
This week, we explore the “Christian conspiracies” of Edo Period Japan. Working backwards from the Osaka Incident of 1827, when a group of supposed Christian spirit mediums were uncovered as a part of a fraud investigation, we’ll look at how Christianity was transformed from an actual religion into an evil spiritual threat to the foundations of Japan itself.
Sources
Leuchtenberger, Jan. Conquering Demons: The “Kirishitan”, Japan, and the World in Early Modern Japan
Miyazaki, Fumiko, Kate Wildman Nakai and Mark Teeuwen. Christian Sorcerers on Trial: Records of the 1827 Osaka Incident
Images
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-7139" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-300x241.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="241" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-300x241.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-768x617.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy.jpg 807w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />An illustration of the Tensho ambassadors from a report on the embassy. Chijiwa Seizaemon/Miguel is on the bottom right.
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9929" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/images.jpeg" alt="" width="180" height="281" />Image from Kirishitan Monogatari depicting the padres teaching their disciples.
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9930" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012-300x252.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="252" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012-300x252.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A copy of Kirishitan Shuumon Raichou Jikki, one of about 150 different manuscript copies we have surviving today.
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9931" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-300x209.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="209" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-300x209.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-768x536.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A notice board with an anti-Christian edict, preserved in a museum.
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9932" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/images-1.jpeg" alt="" width="180" height="281" />Another detail from Kirishitan Monogatari, showing “Padre Urugan” with Oda Nobunaga.
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By This week, we explore the “Christian conspiracies” of Edo Period Japan. Working backwards from the Osaka Incident of 1827, when a group of supposed Christian spirit mediums were uncovered as a part of a fraud investigation, we’ll look at how Christianity was transformed from an actual religion into an evil spiritual threat to the foundations of Japan itself.
Sources
Leuchtenberger, Jan. Conquering Demons: The “Kirishitan”, Japan, and the World in Early Modern Japan
Miyazaki, Fumiko, Kate Wildman Nakai and Mark Teeuwen. Christian Sorcerers on Trial: Records of the 1827 Osaka Incident
Images
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-7139" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-300x241.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="241" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-300x241.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy-768x617.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JapaneseEmbassy.jpg 807w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />An illustration of the Tensho ambassadors from a report on the embassy. Chijiwa Seizaemon/Miguel is on the bottom right.
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9929" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/images.jpeg" alt="" width="180" height="281" />Image from Kirishitan Monogatari depicting the padres teaching their disciples.
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9930" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012-300x252.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="252" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012-300x252.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/i-img600x504-1692530666smurtj69012.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A copy of Kirishitan Shuumon Raichou Jikki, one of about 150 different manuscript copies we have surviving today.
<img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9931" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-300x209.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="209" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-300x209.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610-768x536.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/o0800055814741463610.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A notice board with an anti-Christian edict, preserved in a museum.
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9932" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/images-1.jpeg" alt="" width="180" height="281" />Another detail from Kirishitan Monogatari, showing “Padre Urugan” with Oda Nobunaga.