This book makes an essential contribution to the history of Catholic martyrs in Japan and to the history of their representation. This study is the result of a doctoral thesis directed by O. Christin (Paris-EPHE) and M. Turchetti (Freiburg). The author patiently builds up her object in successive layers. It was first necessary to clarify the meaning of martyrdom in modern Catholicism, not only in a chronological sequence that goes from the execution (1597) to the different forms of public celebration (1750), through their beatification (1627), but also by taking into account the location. Why was it possible for Christian martyrdom to take place in Japan? Because, in short, Europe wanted it that way. Not only did the missionaries come from Europe, but it was also Europe that developed the political representation of Japan. Thus, the death of the missionaries can be described as a martyrdom, making Japan a cultured country ruled by tyrants for a long time to come.

The merit of this book, which is a bit burdened with repetitions, is that it combines a deconstruction of the European image of Japan, using the country's political archives to trace these murders, with a rich attention to the way in which early modern Europe put the crucifixion of its martyrs into images, particularly in Jesuit schools and their theatres, finally outlining the critique of martyrdom in European society.