Talented and Guided by Reason
Fr. Yosuke Sakai, S.J.
Director of the Catholic Jesuit Center
Professor, Department of Theology, Faculty of Theology
Sophia’s Living Light
St. Francis Xavier came to Japan as a missionary and saw great potential in the intellectual curiosity of its people. The spirit of learning reflected in that perspective continues to resonate today, nearly 470 years later, as a core value of Sophia University.
In 1552, St. Francis Xavier wrote from Cochin, India, to his fellow Jesuits in Europe. He praised the Japanese as talented and guided by reason. He noticed that many people, regardless of belief, listened with interest to the teachings of Christ.
Although history tells us what happened to his mission, what remains most striking is the curiosity and attention the Japanese gave to new ideas almost 470 years ago. Seeing this desire to learn, Xavier was probably inspired to try to found a university in Japan’s capital.
This story shows what university learning is all about: being open to new subjects and questions, listening carefully, joining in discussions, and enjoying the process of exploring ideas.
The way those Japanese people welcomed new ideas long ago still inspires and shapes Sophia University’s lively learning community today.
Published in Sophialogue Vol. 1 (Autumn/Winter 2026), p. 1
※Please note that the information in this article is current as of November 2026.
