Founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola, the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus) quickly spread across the known world and beyond. In the same year, Francis Xavier, one of Ignatius' first companions, was sent to Asia, and arrived in Goa in May 1542. Xavier travelled to Japan in 1549, and died on a small island off the coast of China in the year 1552. Today, there are 5,500 Jesuits across Asia, 4,000 in South Asia (see Jesuits in South Asia) and 1,800 in countries of East Asia and Oceania. This website presents the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania.