Laity in the Early Modern Japanese Mission: Confraternities and Missionary Rivalry

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13157
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: TRONU CARLA 京都大学, 東南アジア地域研究研究所, 連携研究員 (60852184)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Kirishitan / Popular Religion / Early Modern History / Microhistory / World History

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In academic year 2020-2021 I gathered and analyzed relevant sources on lay confraternities and missionary rivalry (Japan only and mainly online) and examined missionary sources to identify cities where lay confraternities where founded and more than one missionary order was active. I also attended study groups to discuss approach and hypotheses (mainly online due to the trael restrictions).

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The main reason for delay is the restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Due to domestic travel restrictions, I was unable to attend domestic conferences. Also, due to international travel restrictions I could not carry out archival research and gathering of bibliography in Rome (Italy). Finally, I was unable to participate in 2 international conferences I had been already accepted because the organizers had to cancel the conferences due to the pandemic, the International Symposium on Jesuit Studies in Lisbon (Portugal) and the Internatinal Association for History of Religions in Otago (New Zealand).

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The research plan for Year 2 includes gathering and analyzing sources on lay confraternities and missionary rivalry (Japan, Europe and Phillipines), elaborating maps of the various missionary orders's posts in specific cities, attending study groups to discuss problems and preliminary results and present papers at the international symposium (Mexico)

The research plan for Year 3 inclues gathering and analyzing relevant primary sources on lay confraternities and missionary rivalry (Japan, Europe and Mexico), elaborating maps of confraternities in specific cities (Kyoto, Edo, etc), attending study groups to discuss final results with research collaborators, presenting final results at domestic and international academic associations and publishing research outcomes

Causes of Carryover

Due to the covid-19 pandemic I was unable to travel abroad or within Japan. Aslo, because CSEAS asked me to work from home, I did not buy the desk computer as planned.