Bones unearthed in Japan confirmed to belong to martyred Italian priest

The skeletal remains found buried in Japan most likely belong to a martyred Italian priest who went to the country at a time when it was closed to Christianity.

The remains, believed to belong to Giovanni Battista Sidotti, were found by workers constructing a condominium parking area in a location where a prison for Christians used to stand.

DNA testing confirmed that the bones had characteristics matching those of Sidotti, such as a height of more than 170 cm, which exceeded the average male Japanese height.

"It is the first time we've found a near match of the bones of a foreign missionary," Waseda University professor Akio Tanigawa told AFP, as reported by Japan Times. "This is an extremely important discovery for the history of Christianity in Japan."

Historical records show that Sidotti came to Japan around 300 years ago disguised as a samurai with the sole purpose of preaching the gospel. That time falls under the Edo Period (1603 to 1868), during which Japan, under the sakoku isolation policy, was isolated from other countries. Christianity was not allowed in those days.

Sidotti was immediately discovered by the authorities and was thrown into a prison for Christians called Krishitan Yashiki, which means "Christian mansion."

The prison was known for the torture of Christians, which was so brutal that some of them renounced their faith to escape it. Sidotti, however, refused to renounce his faith, and he suffered violence at the hands of his captors.

Researchers said Sidotti probably earned respect while he was incarcerated. It was also likely that he was given a Christian burial, they said.

"His body was laid flat in a casket, a luxurious one as far as I can tell by the brackets," Tanigawa said concerning the pieces of coffin found near the bones. "People did not bury human bodies like this."

Sidotti stayed in the prison until his death in 1714. He died from an illness at the age of 47.