He left Anjirō to lead the small congregation that they had managed to gather in Kagoshima. After Xavier returned from his unsuccessful endeavour in Kyoto, during which he realized both the Emperor of Japan and the Ashikaga shogun were powerless during the chaotic Sengoku period and their conversion would achieve nothing, he was recalled to Goa in 1552 and set his sights on China, dying on Shangchuan Island off its coast in the same year.
He entrusted Anjirō with leading the small congregation they had assembled in Kagoshima. After Xavier's unsuccessful trip to Kyoto, where he found both the Emperor of Japan and the Ashikaga shogun were ineffectual during the chaotic Sengoku period and conversion efforts would be pointless, he was recalled to Goa in 1552 and set his sights on China, dying on Shangchuan Island off its coast that same year.