The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of 26 Christian missionaries who were brutally executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki. Their deaths marked a turning point in Japan’s relationship with Christianity, signaling the beginning of intense persecution that would last for centuries. Christianity arrived in Japan in 1549, thanks to Jesuit missionaries like Francis Xavier. At first, it gained traction, with tens of thousands of people converting to Christianity, including daimyos-the feudal lords of Japan. However, Japan's rulers started seeing Christianity as a potential threat, especially as European influence grew.

By the 1590s, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the powerful ruler of Japan, had become suspicious. He feared that Christianity was a prelude to European conquest and saw missionaries as a political problem rather than just a religious movement. So in late 1596, 26 Christians—six European Franciscan missionaries, three Jesuits, and 17 Japanese believers—were arrested in Kyoto. They were publicly humiliated, had their ears cut off, and paraded through towns before being forced to march over 600 miles in the winter to Nagasaki. On February 5, 1597, they were crucified on a hill overlooking Nagasaki. They were either tied or nailed to crosses and then killed by spears.

Instead of tarnishing Christianity, their sacrifice inspired underground believers to keep the faith alive. Christianity was eventually banned in Japan for over 250 years, with secret Christians, known as Kakure Kirishitans, practicing in hiding. In 1862, Pope Pius IX canonized them as saints, making them an enduring symbol of faith and resistance.

Their legacy still remains today, with a monument in Nagasaki honoring their courage. It’s a reminder that, in history, faith and power often collide—with dramatic and tragic consequences.

Apollo 14 was NASA’s third successful moon landing, launched on January 31, 1971, and it came with a little extra flair. This mission was all about proving that the space program had recovered from Apollo 13’s disaster the year before. Commander Alan Shepard, famous for being the first American in space, led the mission alongside Edgar Mitchell (Lunar Module Pilot) and Stuart Roosa (Command Module Pilot).

The crew landed on February 5, 1971. Shepard and his crew were tasked with landing on the Moon and conducting scientific experiments. The mission's key goals were to test new equipment and collect lunar samples that would help scientists learn more about the Moon's surface. Apollo 14 was set to land at the Fra Mauro region on the moon, which had been targeted after the Apollo 13 mishap caused that mission to be rerouted. Shepard and Mitchell spent a total of 33 hours on the Moon and total of 9 hours actually walking on the surface where they collected nearly 100 pounds of moon rock, including one nicknamed “Big Bertha.”

But of course, you can’t just go to the moon, grab a couple of rocks, and call it a day. During the mission, Shepard became the only person to hit a golf ball on the Moon. He famously smuggled a modified six-iron and hit two golf balls, proving that even in space, golf is frustrating. The astronauts conducted the first major geological survey of the moon, including dragging around a wheeled cart like some kids at Walmart! But the unexpected wasn’t over, because when returning from the moon there was a docking failure, but after several tries, they finally got it right.

They splashed down safely on February 9, 1971, cementing Apollo 14 as a comeback story for NASA. It was the last mission for Shepard, who had overcome an ear disorder to return to space, and the second-to-last moon landing before Apollo 17 wrapped things up in 1972.

Royal Penguin 🐧
Since 1972, the Norwegian King’s Guard has had an honorary member: a king penguin named Nils Olav from the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. It all started when a Norwegian lieutenant adopted a penguin as the unit’s mascot. Over the years, Nils Olav climbed the ranks—from corporal to brigadier—before receiving a full knighthood in 2008. His duties? Looking adorable while inspecting troops.

Medicinal Whiskey 🥃
During Prohibition (1920–1933), alcohol was banned in the U.S.—unless, of course, you had a doctor’s note. Physicians could legally prescribe whiskey for “medicinal purposes.” Patients could pick up their “medicine” at the pharmacy, just like any other prescription. Walgreens, for example, boomed during Prohibition, growing from 20 stores to over 500—thanks to all that medical whiskey.

Secret Fart Joke 💨
Ben Franklin wasn’t just a statesman, inventor, and writer—he was also a connoisseur of toilet humor. In 1781, under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders," he wrote an essay titled "Fart Proudly," urging scientists to find a way to make farts smell pleasant instead of foul. Written as a joke, Franklin playfully argued that since people will fart anyway, why not make it enjoyable?

Nero’s Fiddling In Rome 🎻
In 64 AD, a massive fire consumed two-thirds of Rome, and legend has it that Emperor Nero played the lyre and sang while the city went up in flames. Did it actually happen? Probably not—Nero wasn’t even in Rome when the fire started. But rumors spread that he didn’t care and worse, that he started the fire himself to build a fancy new palace. The whole fiasco tanked his reputation, and the phrase "fiddling while Rome burns" became known for leaders ignoring major problems.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️