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. >> reporter: after mansho came back to japan, his life was full of hardships. rulers increasingly depressed 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 birthplace 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. >> reporter: mansho died a t 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 takahashi, nhk world, saito, miyazaki. >>> now the lat

. >> she identified him as mansho ito. he was one of four japanese christian boys that travelled to europe and met pope gregory xiii in 1585.