Christian missionaries, such as Francis Xavier, were among the first to travel to Japan to teach Catholicism. For a time, they were encouraged to enlighten the Japanese people, and Oda Nobunaga, during his reign as military leader of Japan in the 1570s and 1580s, encouraged the conversion of the Japanese to Catholicism.
Christian missionaries, such as Francis Xavier, played a significant role in introducing Christianity to Japan. For a time, they were permitted to spread their faith among the Japanese population, and Oda Nobunaga, during his rule as military leader of Japan in the 1570s and 1580s, supported the conversion of the Japanese people to Catholicism.