Arima Harunobu

Arima Harunobu
Arima family head
In office 1571–1612
Preceded by	Arima Yoshizumi[]
Succeeded by	Arima Naozumi
Lord of Shimabara
In office 1600–1612
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	Arima Naozumi
Personal details
Born	1567 Hinoe Castle, Japan
Died	June 5, 1612
Nationality	Japanese
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Arima Harunobu (有馬 晴信^?, 1567 – June 5, 1612) was the second son and successor of Japanese daimyo Arima Yoshisada^[].

Harunobu was born in Hinoe Castle, the Arima clan castle that controlled the Shimabara area of Hizen province. After Harunobu's father's death, he began the persecution of Christians in his region. With Ryūzōji Takanobu expanding into his domain, Harunobu turned to the help of the Jesuits.

Harunobu was baptized by Alessandro Valignano in 1579. He took the baptismal name Protasius, and later took the name John when he received Confirmation. As a result of his conversion to Christianity, Harunobu started to receive weapons from the Portuguese, which strengthened the Arima clan. He also founded a seminary and training center for novices in his domain where, apart from the ordinary curriculum, students were also taught European music, painting and sculpture and the manufacture of organs and pocketwatch. In 1582 Harunobu teamed up with the Kyūshū Christian daimiyos Ōtomo Sōrin and Ōmura Sumitada to send a Japanese embassy to the Pope in Rome, led by Valignano and represented by Mancio Ito.

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