Christianity has been almost completely eradicated in…
January 1651 CE
Christianity has been almost completely eradicated in Japan by 1651, and external political, economic and religious influence on Japan has become quite limited.
Emperor Go-Sai ascends on January 5 to the throne of Japan.
Actual power in Japan is wielded by the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Keian Uprising, a failed coup d'etat attempt carried out against the shogunate in 1651, by a number of ronin, is historically significant as an indication of a wider problem of disgruntled ronin throughout the country at this time.
Masterminded by Yui Shōsetsu and Marubashi Chūya, the uprising is named after the Keian era in which it takes place.
According to strategist Yui's plan, Marubashi is to take Edo Castle, the headquarters of the shogunate, using barrels of gunpowder to begin a fire which would rage through Edo, the capital.
With the authorities distracted by firefighting efforts, the ronin are to storm the castle in the confusion and kill key high officials.
At the same time, Yui is to lead a second group and seize the Tokugawa stronghold in Sunpu (present Shizuoka).
Further action is planned for Osaka Castle and Kyoto.
They time their rebellion to take advantage of the death of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, as his successor, Ietsuna, is still a child.
The conspirators aim to force the shogunate to relax its policies of seizing han and dispossessing daimyo, which under Iemitsu has deprived tens of thousands of samurai of position and income, adding them to the ranks of ronin.
Ultimately, however, the uprising fails when the conspirators' plan is discovered.
Marubashi Chūya had fallen ill, and, talking through his fever dreams, had revealed secrets which made their way to the authorities by the time the rebels were ready to move.
Marubashi is arrested and executed in Edo; Yui Shōsetsu escapes that fate by committing seppuku, in Sunpu, upon finding himself surrounded by police.
Several of the rebels commit suicide alongside him.
The families of the conspirators as well are then tortured and killed by the authorities, as is usual at this time; several are crucified.