Cristóvão Ferreira

c. 1580–1650
The Vice-Provincial who apostatized, 1633
Also written: Cristóvão Ferreira · クリストヴァン・フェレイラ

The Portuguese Vice-Provincial of the Japan mission who renounced the faith after five hours in the pit at Nagasaki — the most shocking apostasy of the persecution era. He lived out his life as Sawano Chūan, interpreter and informant to the magistrates who had broken him.