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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
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 rosary hidden within a “kamidana”, an old man’s mysterious way of praying…
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Nagasaki
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
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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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
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
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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Goto Islands
In 1985, a new church was constructed in Gorin, and Former Gorin church became disused.
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Goto Islands
It seems that St. Joseph’s earnest and sincere life resonated with local Christians
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Goto Islands
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
Many fishermen on Naru keep holy objects within their boats
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
If you wish for peaceful coexistence, many barriers must first be overcome.
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
The Arima clan, which had governed the Shimabara peninsular for generations, left and moved to another domain.
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Shimabara/Amakusa
A great number of Christian artefacts have been uncovered during archaeological excavations at Hara castle.
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
Many Christians were tortured and killed at Unzen, a place of numerous burning hot springs
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Shimabara/Amakusa
After the Amakusa-Shimabara rebellion, there was group migration into Arima, with many people coming and settling there.
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
Christian burial methods sometimes help to manifest beliefs which lie at the very heart of the Christian faith
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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
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
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
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
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
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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Goto Islands
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 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
From Buddhist believer to follower of Christ. A family who sticks to love and offers prayers together.
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Goto Islands
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
Sakitsu church is the pride and joy of the village’s Christians
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Shimabara/Amakusa
The watercress which grows by Imatomi river is good for making both goma-ae and tempura
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Shimabara/Amakusa
"I want to untie the knots of this buried history..."
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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。
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Goto Islands
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
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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Nagasaki
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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Shimabara/Amakusa
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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Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture
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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Center of Nagasaki Prefecture/Western Nagasaki Prefecture
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!?