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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
春日集落の案内拠点施設
2018年4月にオープンした春日集落の案内拠点施設では、歴史を受け継ぐ「語り部」たちと交流できる
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Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture
大村純忠の受洗
日本初のキリシタン大名として知られる大村純忠。戦に明け暮れる中で、キリスト教に心動かされていった!?
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天草本は当時のベストセラー!?
グーテンベルク印刷機を使って印刷された「天草本（ルビ：あまくさぼん）」。ローマ字書きの「伊曽保物語（イソップ物語）」なども出版された
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一年中見られる玄関のしめ縄
﨑津集落や今富集落を歩いていて気づくのが、玄関に飾られているしめ縄。一年中外さないのはなぜ？
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「カケ」「トウヤ」ってなに？
﨑津集落の風景や文化を語るとき、必ず登場する「カケ」と「トウヤ」って、何のこと？
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竹筒のパイプオルガン!?
1600年頃に天草の教会で使われていたのは、竹筒を使ったパイプオルガン
とても心地よい音色だったという -
Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture
西海に甦ったラテン語聖歌
今から400年以上も前に横瀬浦で歌われていたラテン語聖歌が、西海市の小学生の歌声で甦った
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
黒崎教会堂の木材は田平産!?
田平にできるだけ大きな教会堂を建てたかった中田神父と鉄川与助は、切り出した木材の長さに納得しなかった
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
今日はどんな鐘の音？
教会堂の多くが、自動機械によって鐘の音を鳴らす中、田平天主堂は今も信徒による人力で鳴らしている
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
貝殻の焼き場に関する新事実？
田平天主堂の敷地内にある貝殻の焼き場跡
しかし、よく見ると貝を焼いた跡が無いことに気づく -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
創建当時の素朴な色彩
2018年、創建から100周年を迎えた田平天主堂。それを機に、創建当時のステンドグラスを案内所に展示。
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一揆軍が放った矢文の真実
島原・天草一揆で原城に立て籠もった一揆軍が幕府側に放った矢文が現存
一揆に至った心情などが綴られている -
ヴァチカンに残る連判状
1613年、棄教を迫られた口之津の42名のキリシタンが残した連判状が、ヴァチカン図書館に保管されている
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
神父を乗せた小さな帆船
禁教制度が解除され、宣教活動が本格化すると、海に面した地域の宣教師は小さな船で教会を巡回した
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
レンガを担いで登った道
計画から4年の歳月を費やして建設された田平天主堂
資材を信徒が担いで登った道は、とても険しかった -
Goto Islands
あのタイルがここにも！
黒島天主堂の祭壇に敷かれている美しい有田焼のタイル
なんと、五島列島のとある場所でも使用されていた!? -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
おふくろ様の札はマリア様
春日集落のかくれキリシタン講で継承されていた「お札」の行事。当たり札は「おふくろ様」!?
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甦ったセビリアの聖母
16世紀末に有馬セミナリヨの画学生によって描かれたとされる銅版画「セビリアの聖母」復刻までのドラマ
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Nagasaki
外海散策の途中にド・ロさまグルメ
ド・ロさま畑で採れた野菜やお茶を味わえる「ヴォスロール」。ド・ロさま小麦で作るパンも美味しい！
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Nagasaki
殉教記念碑の裏側には・・・
多くの人が見学に訪れる日本二十六聖人殉教記念碑。実は碑の裏側にもこんな作品が！
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﨑津集落の信仰のあかし
禁教期、3つの組に分かれて信仰を守り通した﨑津集落。その時代の資料は﨑津資料館「みなと屋」で見ることができる
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Nagasaki
数々の名作を残す五島生まれの芸術家・中田秀和
信徒発見や放虎原殉教記念碑など、数々の大作を残す中田秀和氏は五島生まれのカトリック
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Nagasaki
バスチャンの日繰りとは？
外海の潜伏キリシタンが大切にしたというバスチャンの日繰り。一体、何が書かれているのか？
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Nagasaki
日本初の石版印刷はド・ロ神父が刷った教会暦
明治初期、カトリックに復帰したばかりの信徒のために暦を印刷したのは、のちに外海に赴任したド・ロ神父だった
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Nagasaki
17世紀に日本絵師が描いたマリア
17世紀に日本人絵師によって描かれた聖画「雪のサンタマリア」。映画「沈黙〜サイレンス〜」にも登場
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穴吊りの刑で殉教した中浦ジュリアン
数奇な運命をたどったジュリアンの最期は、拷問の中でも最も苦しいとされる穴吊りの刑であった
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Nagasaki
伊王島の大工棟梁・大渡伊勢吉
大浦天主堂の建設に関わった伊王島の大工・大渡伊勢吉は、伊王島のキリシタンのために2つの教会を造った
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謎に包まれた千々石ミゲルの墓！？
天正遣欧少年使節の4人のうち、ただ1人棄教した千々石ミゲルの墓が発見された!？
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
キリシタンを守った!? 三界萬霊塔
仏教の教えにならう三界萬霊塔が、潜伏キリシタンゆかりの集落にも多く立てられているのは何故？
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今富集落のかくれキリシタンの風習
天草の今富集落では明治になってからもカトリックに復帰せず、先祖から伝わる儀式を行った
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ローマに行ったもう一人の少年
天正遣欧少年使節に随行したメンバーの中にドラードという15歳の混血児がいた。彼の使命は･･･
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天正遣欧少年使節の4人、それぞれの最期
天正遣欧少年使節としてローマに渡り、大歓迎を受けて帰ってきた4人を待ち受けていたのは辛い現実であった
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Nagasaki
ド・ロ神父が開墾した土地を甦らせた「うーでーら」
一時は耕作放棄地となっていた「ド・ロさま畑」。今は息を吹き返し、賑やかな交流の場となっている
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Nagasaki
イナッショ様って誰のこと？
外海の潜伏キリシタンが、神様に見立てて拝んだ像は「イナッショ様」というユニークな名前で呼ばれた
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Goto Islands
マニラから里帰りした聖ヨハネ五島
ヨハネ五島は神父の身代わりとなって殉教
その遺骨は奇跡の再会後、五島に里帰りした -
Goto Islands
手作りの擬似ステンドグラス
旧五輪教会堂にはステンドグラスはない
ガラスとガラスの間にセロハンをはさんだ信徒たちの思い -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
潜伏キリシタンの生活を助けたサザンカ
樹齢250年以上といわれる巨大サザンカは
西彼半島からの移住者が持ち込んだもの -
Goto Islands
昔の里道を歩く
旧五輪教会堂の正面脇につながる九州自然歩道は
かつて信徒たちが利用していた里道 -
Nagasaki
戦争中も供出をまぬがれた鐘
匿名の信者から贈られた大浦天主堂の鐘は
約１m四方のフランス製 -
Goto Islands
江戸時代までさかのぼる御水帳
キリシタンの復活期をたどる古い御水帳。大曾教会の一番古い御水帳は、外海で見ることができる。
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Goto Islands
今も生き続ける初代の大曾教会堂
現在の煉瓦造りの大曾教会堂は二代目
初代の教会堂も生き続けている -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
祈りの島の墓地をたずねる
黒島は天国のほうが人口密度が高い!？
十字架が密集するカトリック共同墓地 -
Goto Islands
80年前に報道写真家が撮った堂崎
昭和初期の堂崎天主堂の公式初聖体式が
報道写真家によって写真におさめられていた -
Goto Islands
五島の誇り、中村長八神父
列福運動も起こっている五島出身の中村長八神父
ブラジルでは「生ける聖人」と呼ばれた移民者の恩人 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
大村純忠の五女メンシアの人生
キリシタンの姫が嫁いだ先は
キリスト教嫌いの松浦家。そのとき夫は・・・ -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
黒島天主堂の鐘の音
シスターが鳴らす黒島天主堂の鐘
透き通ったその音色の秘密とは・・・ -
Goto Islands
奥浦は福祉事業の先駆け
五島市奥浦地区は、貧しい子を救済した子部屋と、
その事業母体となった女部屋発祥の地でもある。 -
Goto Islands
小さなかくれキリシタンの島、椛島
椛島の潜伏キリシタンは誰一人カトリックに復帰せず、
禁教時代の信仰を守り続けた -
Goto Islands
五輪真弓さんのルーツ
歌手の五輪真弓さんのルーツは久賀島五輪地区
おじいさんは教会でオルガンを弾いていた -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
黒島の島めしとふくれまんじゅう
大きくて堅い豆腐や素朴なまんじゅうは、
カトリック集落に伝わる昔ながらの味 -
Goto Islands
五島の信徒は長崎へ避難した!?
アルメイダの布教によりキリスト教が栄えた五島
しかし、その後は厳しい弾圧が行われた -
Nagasaki
あのバラ窓はどこへ？
創建当時、大浦天主堂正面にあったバラ窓を
意外なところで発見！ -
Goto Islands
青砂ヶ浦天主堂の苦労話あれこれ
煉瓦造りのりっぱな青砂ヶ浦天主堂
その建設に伴った信徒たちの苦労とは!？ -
Nagasaki
ド・ロ神父の２つの墓
外海赴任から35年、外海のためにすべてを捧げたド・ロ神父は、自らが造成した野道共同墓地に眠っている。
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Nagasaki
祈りの岩
山林に囲まれた大きな岩。それは、年に一度だけ、見張りを立てて、オラショを声に出して唱えた場所だった。
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Nagasaki
長崎の鐘
終戦から4ヶ月後のクリスマス、戦後初めての鐘が浦上一帯に鳴り響き、信徒たちを勇気づけた。
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Nagasaki
再建した聖堂のお色直し
受難に耐えた浦上信徒の歴史を物語る場所に再建された新聖堂は、ローマ教皇の来日を前に今の姿になった。
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Nagasaki
絵踏みをした土地に建つ教会
浦上のキリシタンたちは、絵踏みを行った罪を償うために、あえて庄屋屋敷跡に教会を建てた。
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Nagasaki
マリア像の数奇な運命
旧天主堂に飾られていた高さ2ｍのマリア像は原爆により破壊され、焼け跡から頭の部分だけが見つかった。
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Nagasaki
ここに教会があった証
小学校の建替え工事で発見された教会の地下遺構。
ライトアップされた遺構の中に地下室や排水溝、石畳など教会の跡が確認できる。 -
Nagasaki
本名は聖ミカエル天主堂
伊王島にある馬込教会の中央祭壇上には、三大天使の一人、聖ミカエルの像が掲げられている。
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Nagasaki
ド・ロ神父が伝えた最先端農業
教会や救助院をつくったド・ロ神父は、農業にも力を注ぎ、女性たちに土づくりから指導した。
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Nagasaki
キリシタン神社の神秘
キリシタンを祀る神社は日本でも珍しい。
枯松神社では年に一度、キリスト教と仏教、かくれキリシタンが、共に祈りを捧げる。 -
Nagasaki
聖なる木、バスチャンの椿
椿が長崎や五島のキリシタンゆかりの木として大切にされる所以は、バスチャンの伝説にあった。
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Nagasaki
キリシタンを支えたバスチャン伝説
キリシタンたちはバスチャンが残した４つの予言を信じて、250年もの間、親から子へと信仰を継承していった。
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Nagasaki
忍者のような神父
禁教期に外海地方で伝道した金鍔次兵衛神父は、あるときは武士に変装し、金鍔の刀を差していた。
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Nagasaki
出島のクリスマス、阿蘭陀冬至
出島に収容されたオランダ人が催した年に一度の大宴会「阿蘭陀冬至」は、実はクリスマスのお祝だった。
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Nagasaki
破壊されたキリシタンの墓
墓石の取調べは厳しく、疑わしいものはすべて破壊された。
以降、自然石を置いただけの文字も模様もない墓に葬った。 -
Nagasaki
３つの教会遺構
トードス・オス・サントス教会は、長崎で初めて建った教会である。
当時使われた井戸には、今も水が湧き出ている。 -
陣中旗は鍋島藩が奪った！
天草四郎が率いた一揆軍の象徴ともいえる陣中旗。
血痕や刀、槍の跡に戦いの歴史が垣間見える。 -
「五足の靴」がめざした天草
「五足の靴」の旅の目的は、キリシタンゆかりの地・天草で親しまれているガルニエ神父をたずねることだった。
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天草弁で説教したガルニエ神父
天草の信徒のためにすべてを捧げたガルニエ神父は、天草弁で気さくに話しかける人間味あふれる神父だった。
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祭壇の絵はガルニエ神父の姪の作品
大江教会の装飾品には作った人のぬくもりが感じられる。祭壇に飾られた聖画もそのひとつだ。
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
旧家に展示されたキリシタン資料
江戸時代、壱岐から移住した小田家は鯨組を組織し、大いに栄えた。
その屋敷は現在資料館となっている。 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
根獅子を一緒に歩いてみよう！
今もなお大切に残る根獅子のかくれキリシタンスポットをガイドが解説。
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
20年前に途絶えた儀式
多くの儀式、多くの習わし。
家族の協力なくしては続けられない信仰。 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
「おろくにん様」が眠る森
信頼していたのにだまされた…。
潜伏時代に起こった悲しい物語。 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
かくれキリシタンとは？
変わっていった信仰ではなく、
布教当時のあり方をそのまま継承したのが本当の姿。 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
長崎のキリスト教伝来は平戸から
貿易と布教がセットに。
それがキリスト教信徒が増えた理由 -
Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
元信徒が信徒を弾圧する悲運
信徒として洗礼を受けていた平戸の当主が、
領土の信徒を徹底的に弾圧した。 -
Preserving Imatomi's culture
"I want to untie the knots of this buried history..."
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A statue of Amaterasu which vaguely resembles the Virgin Mary
Inside a small shrine deep in the mountains, there is a stone statue…
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A gift from God called paaterazeri
The watercress which grows by Imatomi river is good for making both goma-ae and tempura
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An offering hidden inside a wooden mortar
“Sawagi” is an old, end-of-year Shinto decoration, but in Imatomi village it is given a unique twist…
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A faith inherited from one’s parents
Sakitsu church is the pride and joy of the village’s Christians
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The remains of an orphanage that were discovered deep in the mountains
A place where people tilled the land so that children could live, and where people prayed
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A Japanese fishing village with a European atmosphere
Sakitsu village is an unusual mix of East and West
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Shells and natural stones which were used as devotional objects
An unusual museum which tells of the history of the Christian faith in Sakitsu
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A symbol of the Christian faith's resurrection in Amakusa
Father Halbout had a special vision for Sakitsu church, the construction of which he himself oversaw
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Goto Islands
The Church as a Motive for Living
Oso church welcomes the centennial from its consecration in the summer of 2014. This occasion lends a special air to relooking at its history.
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Goto Islands
Understanding Changes in Church Architecture
Tetsukawa Yosuke, a key figure in many instances of religious architecture, took on the challenges of building new kinds of churches while overcoming various obstacles involved in the process.
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Goto Islands
Bells of Prayer Still Ring Today
Even today this church’s bell tells the time and signals prayer sessions.
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Goto Islands
The Wonders of Stained Glass
The magic of light filtered through stained glass comes from the composition of elements that either refract or absorb the colours of the glass.
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Nagasaki
A Church on a Cliff
Carved into the rock face of the mountainside and secured on its other side with a landfill, this beautiful brick structure stands on a site overlooking the harbour.
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Goto Islands
Every Day’s Prayers and Life’s Milestones
From Buddhist believer to follower of Christ. A family who sticks to love and offers prayers together.
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Goto Islands
The Radiance of Stained Glass Colours the Church Interior
The stained glass here is arranged in a way that takes the movement of the sun into consideration. A moving play of light!
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Goto Islands
A Place of Prayer That Became a Model for Later Brick-Laid Churches
Aosagaura church was built using Goto stones from nearby Kashiragashima, and with bricks and wood supplies brought from across the sea.
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Goto Islands
The pioneer behind Kashiragashima’s growth and development
A man named Maeda Gidayu was responsible for the migration of Tainoura’s Christians to Kashiragashima, as well as for the founding Kashiragashima village
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Goto Islands
Live flowers raised by the local parishioners
In the joy of presenting one’s lovingly grown flowers to God, one can see the important regard in which Kashiragashima church is held.
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Goto Islands
A pastel interior full of floral decorations
Kashiragashima church has a surprising “gap” between its exterior and interior; a place of prayer full of flowers.
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Goto Islands
The reason behind Kashiragashima’s stone church.
A lengthy process of quarrying and construction, carried out not only by masons but by local Christians themselves, too.
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Goto Islands
Goto stone as a way of life
Nagasaki is an area with a strong culture of quarrying as a means of livelihood. The high-quality Goto stone that was used to build Kashiragashima church is used elsewhere for paving slabs and walls.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
An island of settlers
During the Edo period, many Christians migrated to Nozaki island in search of a new life. Today, many of those who live on Ojika island have also arrived there from elsewhere, and these settlers have brought fresh energy to the island.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
The beauty of Ojika
The cultural landscape of the Ojika island group has been designated as an Important Cultural Landscape by the Japanese national government. Much of the landscape remains as it has done for centuries, and so does the warmth and the kindness of the people who live there.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Memories of Funamori
The last remaining residents in Funamori left the island as a group 5 years earlier than those living in Nokubi village did. These are the reflections of the only person living on Ojika island who is originally from Funamori.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A trail which connected two Hidden Christian villages
The remains of Nokubi and Funamori villages are linked by a rugged trail, which the island’s Christians walked for over 100 years.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A helping hand
It is said that one of the ancestors of Taguchi Tomisaburou (a minshuku owner on Ojika island) assisted the first family who settled in Funamori village.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Tears at the final Mass
In 1971, following a period of depopulation, the last people left living on Nozaki island migrated together as a group. Nokubi church, built at such cost to the Christian families who had willingly embraced hardship in order to pay for it, was closed.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Migration from Sotome
Searching for the roots of Nokubi and Funamori
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A church like a castle, facing out to sea
A church which sits on high ground on a deserted island. It was the first brick church to be made by the carpenter Tetsukawa Yosuke, and it contains some beautiful donated ornaments which have very fine detail.
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Christian burial methods
Christian burial methods sometimes help to manifest beliefs which lie at the very heart of the Christian faith
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A tombstone in which two cultures meet
An early Japanese Christian tombstone which looks like a semi-cylindrical column that has been laid down. An epitaph has been engraved using the Roman alphabet, with the Christian era date and the name of the Japanese era written alongside one another.
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Preserving Minami-Shimabara’s history
After the Amakusa-Shimabara rebellion, there was group migration into Arima, with many people coming and settling there.
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Hara’s revival
Although Hara castle was completely destroyed by the army of the shogunate, the area subsequently underwent a revival.
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The martyrs of Unzen
Many Christians were tortured and killed at Unzen, a place of numerous burning hot springs
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Hara castle, completely destroyed
Hara was destroyed out of fear that the dead might rise. People from a different religion later came here to mourn the dead.
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The cause of the rebellion
A great number of Christian artefacts have been uncovered during archaeological excavations at Hara castle.
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Abandoned castles
The Arima clan, which had governed the Shimabara peninsular for generations, left and moved to another domain.
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The Amakusa-Shimabara rebellion
Many Christians fought in the Amakusa-Shimabara rebellion. At Hara castle, an estimated 27,000 men, women and children lost their lives.
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Stone-walled castles
Through the ruins of Hara castle, we can witness the early days of the stone wall fortification technique which was in fashion around the time of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Castle construction was in a period of transition between medieval and early modern times.
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Tensions with Buddhism
If you wish for peaceful coexistence, many barriers must first be overcome.
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Arima’s flourishing Christian culture
The Jesuits put a lot of effort into training young men who could engage in missionary work. One after another, young boys were educated in subjects such as fine arts, music, Japanese and Latin.
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The Tenshō embassy to Europe
Towards the end of the 16th century, four Japanese boys (who had been equipped with a good education) began a trip to Europe. They were deeply moved by their experiences.
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Gold-leaf roof tiles
The gold-leaf roof tiles which have been discovered in the ruins of Hinoe castle suggest that the Arima clan was deeply connected with the centre of political power
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"Love your neighbour as yourself"
Love is central in Christianity. Within the Arima domain, the missionaries’ emphasis on this core aspect of the Christian Gospel made a profound impression on people
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The wealth of the Arima clan
Ceramics from places like China and Southeast Asia have been excavated from the remains of Hinoe castle. These items help to show how much the Arima clan prospered from trade.
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A Christian feudal lord
During the Warring States period, feudal lords in Japan were competing against one another and were therefore eager to attract Portuguese trade. This provided an opportunity for Christianity to be spread within their domains.
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Goto Islands
A child welfare institution on Goto
Children whose parents could not afford to raise them were cared for and brought up by women living on Goto. Today, the institution which was formed continues to retain its original ideals.
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Goto Islands
A redbrick church situated on a cape
Dozaki church is beautifully situated on a cape, and in former times a conch shell was blown to announce that Mass was starting.
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Goto Islands
The first Christmas Mass
During the Edo period, many Hidden Christians from Sotome crossed the ocean and settled in the Okuura district of Fukue. This was the beginning of the resurrection of the Christian faith in Goto.
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Goto Islands
The faith of local fishermen
Many fishermen on Naru keep holy objects within their boats
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Goto Islands
A pastel-coloured church
In 2001, Egami church was painted a distinctive white and pastel-coloured light blue. Local Christians themselves got involved with the repair work which was needed.
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Goto Islands
A Buddhist architect with a good understanding of Christianity
You can see the influence of Tetsukawa Yosuke everywhere in Egami church, including in the way he designed the altar
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Goto Islands
A church with some interesting design features
Egami church has some interesting design features. In 2018, it will celebrate its 100th year anniversary
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Goto Islands
Faith amid changing circumstances
Although Naru island is gradually becoming depopulated, Christians who live there are still managing to keep the flame of faith alive
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Goto Islands
A simple wooden church
Former Gorin church’s architectural style is, in certain ways, very distinctly Japanese
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Goto Islands
Persecution of Christians on Goto
In the Meiji period, Christians on Goto were persecuted for their faith. Hisaka island is where these persecutions began. After the Japanese government was strongly criticised for this by foreign countries, it opted to formally lift its long ban on Christianity.
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Goto Islands
An island of wild camellias
Camellia flowers have, in the past, been used by Japanese Christians to represent the Virgin Mary. They grow wild on Goto, which has a long history of producing camellia oil
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Goto Islands
A silent cemetery overlooking the sea
A cemetery which tells of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body
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Goto Islands
A church dedicated to St. Joseph
It seems that St. Joseph’s earnest and sincere life resonated with local Christians
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Goto Islands
Memories of island life
In 1985, a new church was constructed in Gorin, and Former Gorin church became disused.
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Goto Islands
A church which arrived by sea
Former Gorin church was originally located in a different part of Hisaka island
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A new home for Houki’s Christians
The Christians who lived in Houki during the Meiji era were very devout, and they played their part in the church’s construction.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A unique design feature
On either side of the church, stained glass windows open out onto a colonial veranda
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A church on a hill looking out to sea
An award awaits those who make the climb
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Memories of church life
Tabira church was at the very heart of peoples’ lives. Some would walk for hours in order to attend Mass.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord…
Next to the church is a graveyard, where earlier generations of Tabira’s Christians are buried
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Two beautiful sets of stained glass
Stained glass from Germany and Italy helps to illuminate the church’s interior
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A church built with the help of local Christians
A red-coloured adhesive, made with shells from the surrounding area, was used in the church’s construction
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Christians in search of a new life
As the Sotome region’s Catholics increased in number, some chose, under the guidance of foreign missionaries, to leave the villages where they had been living and go in search of a new life.
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Nagasaki
The shrine and monument commemorating the 26 martyrs
On the 100th anniversary of the canonization of the 26 martyrs, a church and a monument were built to commemorate them
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Nagasaki
An event which inspired Christians everywhere
Today, churches dedicated to the 26 martyrs can be found in several different countries. An event which faded from Japanese history became famous throughout the world.
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Nagasaki
The 26 martyrs of Japan
In 1597, twenty six men and boys, including foreign missionaries, were crucified together on Nishizaka hill in Nagasaki. The youngest was only 12.
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Nagasaki
A unique church
Ono church’s structure resembles that of an ordinary house. Other notable architectural features include its "de Rotz walls" and its brick window frames, as well as the windbreak in front of the entrance.
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Nagasaki
Mass only once a year
Ono church is a peripatetic church of Shitsu church. Both churches were built by Father de Rotz. Nowadays there is only one mass a year at Ono church, which is held in commemoration
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Nagasaki
A church hidden within the mountains
In contrast to the nearby Shitsu church, Ono church was built in a quiet and secluded location
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Nagasaki
Stained glass which tells a story
Oura Cathedral has a mixture of three sets of stained glass. These each help to tell of the history of the cathedral.
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Nagasaki
Gifts sent to Oura Cathedral from France
Oura Cathedral was called a "Furansu dera" (a “French temple”). Inside are a great number of gifts with some connection to France.
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Nagasaki
Father Petitjean is buried within Oura Cathedral
The man who spent his life working to bring about the resurrection of the Christian faith in Japan is buried at Oura
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Nagasaki
A miracle which fulfilled the prophecies of Bastian
The Hidden Christians handed down with staunch fidelity prophecies which they had received from their ancestors. When priests returned to Japan, these prophecies were fulfilled.
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Nagasaki
“Where is the statue of Santa Maria”?
The French priests who came to Japan spent their days wondering whether all the Japanese Christians of the 17th century really had died out (as was assumed). Soon, a miracle occurred…
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Nagasaki
A church built while Christianity was still banned
Even though Japan had been opened, Christianity still hadn't been officially recognised. The construction of Oura took place in the midst of this.
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Nagasaki
A dedication ceremony without Japanese people
Although foreigners were delighted that Oura Cathedral had been constructed, because the ban on Christianity was still in place few Japanese dared to go near there
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Nagasaki
A church which tells of the dawn of western-style architecture in Japan
At the time of its foundation, Oura Cathedral was a small church with three aisles. It was later expanded.
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Nagasaki
Financial difficulties during the church’s construction
Father Petitjean made great efforts to raise the funds needed for the church’s construction. You can sense the troubles he experienced from his letters.
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Nagasaki
A church dedicated to the 26 martyrs of Japan
When Oura Cathedral was constructed, it sent the Hidden Christians a secret message…
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Nagasaki
A 130-year-old organ
The old organ on the 2nd floor of Former Shitsu Aid centre was sent away for from France by Father de Rotz. Nowadays, Shitsu's nuns sometimes play the organ for visitors.
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Nagasaki
A variety of local produce
Father de Rotz, together with the local people, grew wheat which was used to make a variety of produce
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Nagasaki
Shitsu church, the symbol of Sotome
After arriving in Sotome, Father de Rotz worked particularly hard to help women lead self-sufficient lives
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Nagasaki
Father de Rotz's numerous activities
When Father de Rotz was appointed to Sotome, he was shocked by how poor its inhabitants were. He gave the whole of the fortune which he acquired through inheriting his parent's house to Sotome.
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Nagasaki
Sotome's Kakure Kirishitan
n Sotome today, there still remain "Hidden Christians" (known in Japanese as Kakure Kirishitan) whose ancestors chose not to rejoin the Catholic Church once the ban on Christianity had been lifted.
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Nagasaki
A priest warmly loved by his flock
Father de Rotz, who gave himself wholeheartedly to relief work in Sotome, is still referred to affectionately by the local people as "Doro-sama".
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Nagasaki
Walls which have the air of southern Europe
After arriving in Sotome, Father de Rotz came up with a new way of building walls. These walls have become known as “doro kabe” (“de Rotz walls”) and were made using stones from the local area. They have the air of southern Europe.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Nakae no shima
Nakae no shima is a tiny, uninhabited island where Christians were once martyred. It came to acquire profound significance for local Hidden Christians, who crossed raging waves in order to collect the water which seeps out from its rocks.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Preserving Kakure Kirishitan history for posterity
A rosary hidden within a “kamidana”, an old man’s mysterious way of praying…
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
An early Japanese Christian graveyard
“Maruoyama” is a hill where an early Japanese Christian graveyard was excavated. It sits amid terraced rice fields.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A village unchanged by time
Kasuga village remains in much the same state as it was in the sixteenth century. Its natural environment has hardly changed since the Sengoku period, and the livelihoods of the village’s inhabitants also remain the same as they have been for centuries
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Mountain of faith
Following the ban on Christianity in Japan, Mt. Yasumandake came to acquire deep significance for Hidden Christians in the surrounding area; one can see its form from far out on the ocean.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A hand-painted wooden ceiling
One striking feature of Kuroshima church is its magnificent rib vault ceiling. Interestingly, its wood grain was painted on by hand.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Financial obstacles during the church’s construction
Father Marmand gave his all to construct Kuroshima church. However, spiralling financial costs meant that construction had to be halted for a while.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
Island of prayer
On Kuroshima, there is a special adjective meaning “pious” or “devout”. All of the islands Christians possess a picture of the Virgin Mary, a crucifix, a rosary and such like.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A church containing porcelain tiles from Arita
Local materials were used in Kuroshima church’s construction
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A romance which blossomed in the shade of Kuroshima Church
Kuroshima Church took two years to complete. Among the carpenters who took part in the church’s construction was a young shipwright from the Goto islands…
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
First Mass
When the first mass was celebrated on Kuroshima, Christianity was still officially banned within Japan. The priest who went there to say Mass crossed the ocean in disguise so as to avoid detection.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A meeting of East and West
Kuroshima church is built in a beautiful Romanesque style. Many of the items within the church are of French origin, having been sent away for by Father Marmand.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A “Crossroad” for the Hidden Christians
Those Hidden Christians who migrated to Kuroshima during the Edo period came in search of new land.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A unique pulpit
Father Marmand decorated Kuroshima church’s pulpit with ornamentations which he himself carved by hand. There are only a small number of pulpits in Japan.
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
A church of 400,000 bricks
It is said that 400,000 bricks were used to construct Kuroshima church. Some of these were made on Kuroshima itself by the Christians who were living there.
