An island known as “San Juan-sama”

Nakae no shima is a deserted island that surfaces to the east of Ikitsuki island. Local Hidden Christians prayed on this island for the healing of the sick, and their dead were buried with their faces turned towards it. They called this island “San Juan-sama”, after the Portuguese reading of St. John (the reference in this case is to St. John the Baptist).

After the Tokugawa government had issued its prohibition on Christianity in 1614, some faithful from Ikitsuki and Hirado who had helped a priest proselytise in secret were sent to this island for execution. This happened in 1622. They became martyrs – decapitated on rocks sprayed with the white foam of waves, their heads stuffed into sacks and tossed into the sea. Their fellow Christians, facing the island to send them off, passed down the tragic story of their martyrdom, and Nakae no shima came to be regarded as the holiest place in the entire region by local Hidden Christians.

A unique “water-drawing ceremony”

Kakure Kirishitan from Ikitsuki still perform omizutori (a water-drawing ceremony) on this island today. There is no port on the island, so they must ride a small boat out to it and come ashore. Once on land, they kneel facing a crack in the rocks and begin chanting prayers (known as orasho). It is said that on doing this, water will seep out of the rock face. They fill bottles with this water, which they regard as holy. This water was used in the past for baptisms, to purify homes, and to treat illness.

(Please be aware that landing on the island is forbidden).

この島では、生月のかくれキリシタンによって「お水取り」という儀式がおこなわれる。船着き場が無い島には小船に乗り移って上陸せねばならず、断崖の割れ目の前に正座し、信徒がかくれキリシタンの祈りであるオラショを唱えると、壁面から水が染み出てくる。それを瓶に詰めて持ち帰り、聖水として祀るとともに、お授け（洗礼）や家の祓い、病気直しに用いられた。聖水を大切に祀ることは、キリシタンの時代からおこなわれてきた。