おらしょ こころ旅

Registered asset

Nothern Nagasaki Prefecture

Hirado City Ikitsuki-cho Municipal Museum “Shima no Yakata”

・This museum is located at the gateway to Ikitsuki Island, which is reached after crossing Ikitsuki Bridge.
・The museum introduces the history of Ikitsuki Island, including whale fishing by the Masutomi-gumi, Japan’s largest whaling hunting group in the Edo Period.
・In its prime, the Masutomi-gumi hired more than 2,000 people for whaling and caught 200 whales a year, generating a hefty profit of 20,000 ryo (approx. 2 billion yen). The wealth of the whale hunting group helped Underground Christians survive and continue to practice their faith, through their employment and the supply of goods.
・On the second floor of the museum, valuable materials and the latest research findings concerning Underground Christians are on display. It is recommended to stop by the museum to gain prior knowledge before visiting Kasuga Village.

Related persons and terms（By hovering your mouse pointer over an item, explanation of the item are displayed.）

Kakure Kirishitan

［Kakure Kirishitan］ Kakure Kirishitan (underground Christian) refers to those who did not return to Catholicism even after the lifting of the edicts banning Christianity in the 19th century but continued to follow the unique beliefs developed during the forbidden period.

Biography & Glossary >>

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Articles related to this asset

  • 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

    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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