Louis Ibaraki

There were three boys among the twenty-six martyrs of Japan. Louis Ibaraki was one of them and the youngest, at 12 years old. He worked in the hospital to support Father Pedro Bautista.

Louis Ibaraki was always smiling during the severe torture and long journey from Kyoto to Nagasaki and even the crucifixion. When the proxy of the authority forced him to renounce his faith, he rejected it conclusively and said ‘I need eternal life rather than this present shorter life. I will not convert from Christianity to any other faith.’ As Louis Ibaraki was crucified with other two boys, and he exclaimed “Paradise! Paradise!…Jesus, Mary”. All those who witnessed this were astounded at his strong but calm behavior.