city of Yokoseura

Japanese town located in the western coast of Kyushu, with the coordinates 33º05'N 129º42'E. Situated in the territories belonging to Omura Sumitada, Yokoseura was the terminal port of the Nanban trade carrack ship for a few years and served as an important example for the future settlement of Nagasaki. It was in the beginning of the 1560s that Omura told Cosme de Torres of his interest in having a missionary in his territories and the trade carrack ship in one of ports, thus bringing the daimyo closer to the Portuguese merchants and missionaries. Unhappy with what was going on at Hirado - where in 1561 a riot had caused the death of several Portuguese - the proposal was accepted. Hence, in 1562 the Nanban trade carrack ship, captained by Pedro Rolim Barreto, anchored for the first time in Yokoseura. The port was located in a small bay near a hamlet. On that same year brother Luís de Almeida was sent to the locale and started the Christianisation of the setting and negotiations with Omura Sumitada. The deal established determined giving the Church half of the profits and freeing the Portuguese merchants from paying taxes for ten years. Nevertheless, the daimyo kept supremacy of the territory. When there was a final agreement, the works for the construction of the church began - it was built on top of a hill - and it was where Omura Sumitada's baptism took place in June 1563; he took the Christian name of Bartolomeu (Bartholomew). The Christianisation of the settlement was given to Luís de Almeida and to João Fernandes, aided by the Japanese Belchior and Paulo; the most important feasts of the liturgical calendar were then celebrated. Thanks to their efforts, in August 1563 Yokoseura was already a small Christian town, but the continuity of its success was interrupted by a riot that envisaged the destruction of Omura as well as of Christendom. In November, Yokoseura was attacked again by the enemies of the Christian daimyo and totally devastated. Portuguese ships never returned to its port and in following years searched for safes places where they could cast their anchors.

Bibliography:
PACHECO, Diego S.J., "Historia de una Cristandad: Yokoseura" in Missionalia Hispanica, A. 21, Madrid, 1964, pp. 137-172; El hombre que forjó a Nagasaki. Vida del Padre Cosme de la Torres S. J., Madrid, Editorial Apostolado de la Prensa, 1973.

Translated by: Maria das Mercês Pacheco