mansho is a well-known figure here. and the children learn about him from their teachers. >> translator: he went to rome and brought knowledge of technology back to japan. >> translator: he's a brilliant and famous man. >> after he came back to japan, his life was full of hardships. rulers increasingly oppressed christianity as they feared european powers would invade. but mansho refused to abandon his faith. he spent his life as a missionary helping the sick and the poor. residents of his birth place are now collecting signatures to ask that the painting be brought to japan. >> translator: he is our pride. i think it's interesting for people of japan. >> translator: we want something real about mansho. nothing real is left here. everything we have had about him so far is a replica. >> mansho died at the age of 43 after more than four centuries since his death, many local people feel that mansho has come back alive through the portrait. jun takahachi, saito, nhk. >>> strong thunderstorms erupted in parts of japan this p
