Tr. from the Japanese by F. Mathy. The events described in this play take place in 1633, 100 years after Christianity was introduced to Japan, by which time Japanese Christians were being cruelly persecuted by the government. The central character is a Portuguese Jesuit missionary. Given shelter by a Christian farming community, Father Ferreira is besieged by everyone for help, even by one of his chief persecutors. Eventually Ferreira leaves his faith. A moving problem play that explores the disparity between Eastern and Western attitudes and the inner struggle that this must lead to in active Christians such as himself""-Far Eastern Economic Review.