In the middle of the 16th century, while Portugal created footholds in the Goa State, Malacca, Macao and other places, the Society of Jesus actively promulgated their mission in Asia under state protection, and in the same period, Japanese people coming and going among cities in the East and Southeast Asia had the opportunities to meet Spanish missionaries engaged in missionary work of the Society of Jesus.
16世紀半ばにゴア州、マラッカ、マカオ等にポルトガルが拠点を築き、同国の保護下にイエズス会のアジア布教が本格化する中で、同時期に東アジア・東南アジアの各地を行き来していた日本人と、イエズス会の布教活動に参加していたスペイン人宣教師が接触する機会が生じたのである。