Like a lot of Americans I get my history from pop culture (I know, I know)...

I like your frankness ;-) I am not a great reader but could not put down Clavell's book, 'Shogun'. Here's your 'penance' for the pop culture history.

THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN

(5 FEBRUARY 1597)

The 26 Martyrs of Japan The Christian faith was first introduced into Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and later by Franciscan missionaries. By the end of that century, there were probably about 300,000 baptized believers in Japan.
Unfortunately, this promising beginning met reverses, brought about by rivalries between different groups of missionaries and political intrigues by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, along with power politics among factions in the Japanese government itself. The result was a suppression of Christians.
The first victims were six Franciscan friars and twenty of their converts, who were executed at Nagasaki on 5 February 1597. (They were tied to crosses, the crosses were raised to an upright position, and they were then quickly stabbed to death by a soldier with a javelin.) After a short interval of relative tolerance, many other Christians were arrested, imprisoned for life, or tortured and killed; and the Church was totally driven underground by 1630. However, when Japan was re-opened to Western contacts 250 years later, it was found that a community of Japanese Christians had survived underground, without clergy, without Scriptures, with only very sketchy instructions in the doctrines of the faith, but with a firm commitment to Jesus as Lord. (I remind you that 250 years is a long time -- 250 years ago Americans were loyal subjects of King George II. The preceding statement is valid only until 2010.)

The Marytrs are:

Thanks from a flu-ridden Freeper...

However, when Japan was re-opened to Western contacts 250 years later, it was found that a community of Japanese Christians had survived underground, without clergy, without Scriptures, with only very sketchy instructions in the doctrines of the faith, but with a firm commitment to Jesus as Lord.

I heard a priest give a talk once about the Eucharist, and he mentioned the Church Underground in Japan, saying that without a priest, they could celebrate only the Liturgy of the Word, and when it came time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, they would weep.