17th-century 17th-century-japan acceptance adaptation ambiguity ambition ancient-literature ancient-philosophy ancient-rome ancient-texts ancient-wisdom anxiety apostasy belief betrayal catholicism christian-fiction christian-literature christian-missionaries christian-persecution christianity christianity-in-japan classical-literature colonialism colonization comparison conflict conscience consumerism contemplation conversion cross-cultural cultural-assimilation cultural-clash cultural-clashes cultural-conflict cultural-criticism cultural-identity cultural-imperialism culture culture-clash doubt east-asia east-meets-west eastern-spirituality emperor endurance ethical-living ethical-philosophy ethical-teachings ethics existentialism exploration faith faith-and-doubt faith-crisis faithfulness fiction foreigner forgiveness fulfillment god gratitude guilt happiness hidden-christians historical historical-fiction human-nature human-suffering identity identity-crisis inner-conflict inner-peace inner-strength inner-struggle inner-turmoil internal-conflict introspection isolation japan japanese-culture japanese-literature japans-hidden-christians jesuit jesuit-missionaries jesuit-priest jesuit-priests jesuits journey leadership life-lessons life-philosophy literature loyalty marcus-aurelius martyrdom materialism meditation mental-clarity mental-discipline mental-health mental-well-being mindfulness mindfulness-meditation mindfulness-practice mindfulness-practices mission missionaries missionary missionary-work moral-ambiguity moral-dilemma moral-dilemmas moral-philosophy moral-values morality nagasaki novel oppression persecution personal-development personal-growth personal-struggle philosophy philosophy-classics philosophy-of-life portuguese-missionaries practical-philosophy priests psychological psychology redemption reflection religion religion-and-spirituality religious-beliefs religious-conflict religious-conversion religious-exploration religious-faith religious-fanaticism religious-identity religious-intolerance religious-oppression religious-persecution religious-tolerance resilience roman-emperor roman-empire roman-history roman-literature roman-philosophy roman-stoicism sacrifice samurai self-awareness self-control self-discipline self-discovery self-help self-improvement self-reflection self-sacrifice self-worth shusaku-endo silence silence-of-god sin social-commentary social-comparison social-hierarchy social-status societal-pressure societal-pressures society spiritual spiritual-crisis spiritual-growth spiritual-journey spiritual-struggle spirituality status status-anxiety stoic-philosophy stoic-principles stoic-teachings stoicism struggle success suffering survival tradition tranquility virtue wealth western-influence wisdom wisdom-literature