History of Japanese Christianity

Christian history in Japan was started when St. Francis Xavier came to Japan as a first Christian

missionary in 1549. Then Christianity was spread in Nagasaki region. However, unparalleled

hidden Cristian history was started from when Toyotomi Hideyoshi Shogunate proclaimed Christian

ban in 1587. During ban on Christianity, people secretly continued to faith while surviving in the

midst of the conventional society and Japanese religions.

Since ban on the Christianity was lifted in 1873, new Christian history in Japan has begun.

 

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1549  St. Francis Xavier came Kagoshima Japan as a first Christian missionary and

           commenced the Christian history in Japan

1550  St. Francis Xavier came Hirado as a Christian missionary

1551  Catholic Hirado Church was constructed as first church in Japan

1557   Introduction of Catholicism to Ikitsuki, Kasuga in Hirado

1563  Omura Sumitada, feudral lord of Nagasaki who was first lord convert to Christianity

1569  Todos os Santos Church was constructed as first in Nagasaki

1571  Nagasaki Port was opend to Portugal by feudral lord Omura Sumitada

1580   Arima Harunobu, lord of Arima convert to Christianity and the Seminario was

          established in Kuchinotsu as first in Japan

1582  Arima Harunobu teamed up with Kyushu Christian lords Otomo Sorin and ura Sumitada

          to dispatch the Tensho Mission to the Pope in Rome

1587  Shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi proclaimed Christian ban

1590  The Tensho Mission retured to Nagasaki

1597  The Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, were a group of Catholics who were

          executed by crucifixion on February 5 at Nagasaki. Their martyrdom is especially

          significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan.

 

1603 Tokugawa Shogunate was established and the natioanl isolation policy was appied

1614 The Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited Christianity throughout Japan

Continue Christian faith during the ban period in the following hidden Christian sites resistered on

the UNESCO World Hiritage Sites

・Kasuga Village in Hitado

・Ikitsuki in Hirado

・Sotome district

・Goto island

・Amakusa

 

1622 five Christians were martyred at Nakae no Shima in Hirado

1624 three Christians were martyred at Nakae no Shima in Hirado

1627 twenty seven Christians were martyred at Unzen Jigoku

1637 Shimabara Rebellion : a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians

         under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro

1637 Lorenzo Luiz from Philippines martyred at Nashizaka hill in Nagasaki

1641 Dejima, the small artificial island was opened as Dutch trading port in Nagasaki 

1644  Last Christian missionary in Japan is martyred

 

1862     The 26 Japanese Martyrs at Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki were canonized by Pope Pius IX.

1865     Oura Cathedral was built as the basilica of Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan 

1868     Meiji Restoration : led to enormous changes in Japan’s political and social structure and

             spanned both the late Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period.  

1873     Ban on the Christianity was lifted

1882     Shitsu Church in Sotome construction started by Father de Rotz’s design

1909     Shitsu Church was completed 

1914     Urakami Cathedral construction was compleeted, it was the largest Catholic church in East Asia

              at that time

1912     Yamada Church in Hirado was constructed

1917     Tabira Church in Hirado was construted

1920     Kurosaki Church was completed by Father de Rotz’s design

1931     St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church in Hirado was constructed at the present location

1945     Atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki on Aug. 9

　　　　The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost.  

              and Urakami Cathedral was completely destroyed.

　　　　About 73,000 died instantly, and up to 60,000 were injured.

 

1950     Pope Pius XII designated the Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaaki of Martyrdom of 26 Japanese

             Saintsas an official Pilgrimage site for Catholics

1959     Urakami Cathedral replacement was built

1981     Pope John Paul II visited in Nagasaki

1982     Saint Teresa of Calcutta commonly known as Mother Teresa visited in Nagasaki

1987    Satint Lorenzo Ruiz was canonized by the same pope in the Vatican city on 18 October,

            making him the first Filipino Saint

2000    Ebdo Shusaku ( novelist of Silence ) Literary Museum is opened in Sotome

2018    Hidden Christian site is registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage

 

2019     Pope Francis visited Nagasaki on Nov.24 and and calls for a ‘world without Nuclear

             Weapons’ at the Ground Zero.

 

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Nagasaki Pilgrimage one-day tour   Nagasaki Pilgrimage 3 days tour   Nagasaki Pilgrimage 6 days tour

 

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Nagasaki travel guide

The city in harmony with foreign countries cultures

Nagasaki-city has many oversea countries cultures and the significant Japanese histories

like no other areas. The fascinating Nagasaki-city has been created since Japan began exchanging

with foreign countries during the National isolation period. In addition to above features, the

geographical conditions are creating fascinating tourism and now many tourists are visiting here.

 

Historical features

1）National isolation in Japan

     Nagasaki is the only place opened to oversea countries ( just Dutch and China ) during the

     National isolation period from 1639 to 1854.

     And trading with Dutch was done at artificial island Dejima.

2) Christian Pilgrimage sites

    Japan’s unique practice of the Christian faith continued in Nagasaki region even during the ban

    on Christianity from 1587 to 1859.There are many Christian Pilgrimage site and

    Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki region is registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage in 2018.

3) Japan’s Industry modernization

    Shipbuilding, and Coal Mining, industries in Nagasaki were great contributed Japan’s Industry

    modernization. And 5 sites of these industries are registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage as

    Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution         

4) Atomic bomb

   The Atomic bomb exploded at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945.

    The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost.

    Nagasaki is now appealing for World Peace, Disastrous War must not be repeated.

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Peace Park

Established in 1955 near the Ground Zero where the Atomic Bomb was dropped at 11:02 am on

Aug. 09, 1945. Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue on August 9 every year and

the Mayor of Nagasaki makes the “Nagasaki peace declaration” for the whole world.

 

Atomic Bomb Museum

The museum exhibits a number of photograph that depict the devastation caused by atomic

bomb showing the lead-up to this tragic day, the history of the development of nuclear arms

and our desire for peace.

Atomic Bomb Museum

Exhibits a number of photograph

Paper folded cranes wishing for World Peace

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Ground Zero

The plutonium atomic bomb exploded about 500m over the central monument at 11:02 a.m.on

August 9, 1945.   The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives

were lost. And about 70,000 of Nagasaki’s 240,000 residents died instantly, and up to 60,000

were injured. 

The time, Atomic bomb was exploded

Atomic bomb exploded over  the central monument

Ruin of destroyed Urakami Cathedral

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Peace Statue

Completed in 1955, ten years after the atomic bombing. The 9.7 meter high statue sitting on

a 4 meter tall pedestal, made by renown sculptor Kitamura Seibo who born in

Minami-Shimabara-city, Nagasaki-prefecture in 1884. The raised arm points to the threat of

nuclear weapons and the out-stretched arm symbolizes peace.

Visiting from all over Japan and the World

Wishing for eternal World peace from Nagasaki

Peace Fountain, reminds the tragic scene after the Bomb

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Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution UNESCO World Heritages sites  

The origin of Japan’s modernization is here.  Under the growing sense of crisis over a foreign

menace, Nagasaki supported the introduction of Western countries technology, which started

during the last years of Japan’s National isolation period. With “ Dejima ” as the only window

to West during the period of National isolation. Nagasaki contributed for Shipbuilding and Coal

Mining and 7 sites have been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage. 

Glover House

Hashima island /  Gunkan-jima island

Giant Cantilever Crane

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Christian Pilgrimage sites in Nagasaki

 

Oura Cathedral  / UNESCO World Heritage

The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

Established 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the Church of 26 Martyrs.”

It was built by the French priest Bernard Petitjean of Fier who had been dispatched by the Foreign

Missionary Church of Paris to dedicate prayers to the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka hill.

Entrance gate of Oura Cathedral

Japan’s oldest Gothic-style Cathedral building

Statue of Mary, at entrance of Cathedral, installed in 1867

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Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan     

Nishizaka hill, the site of Martyrdom in 1597

The martyrs said that  ” All people, bless God ”

The 26 Japanese martyrs have  been canonized in 1862

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Sotome Pilgrimage sites   / UNESCO World Heritage

Sotome is a rural, coastal area on the peninsula north of central Nagasaki. During the ban

on Christianity, Sotome was home to communities of “Hidden Christians”, many of whom

emigrated there from other parts of Nagasaki as the remote region allowed them to practice

their religion in secret.

Shitsu Church

Former Shitsu Aid Centre

The statue of Mary

 

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Featured destinations

 

Mount Inasa   World’s three great night veiw  can be seen from the summit

Megane-bashi bridge The oldest stone arch bridge in Japan

Kazagashira Park Magnificent view of Nagasaki, on the other side of Mt. Inasa

 

Dejima Only the trading port in Japan  during Natinal isolation

Urakami Cathedral Newly constructed church, after destroyed by Atomic bomb

Sofukuji temple  The first Chinese style temple in Nagasaki

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China town One of the three big China  town in Japan

Confucius Shrine   The world’s only Confucian shrine built outside China by Chinese hands

Suwa Shrine The spiritual and cultural hub for the citizens of Nagasaki

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Nagaaski Wharf Elegant international & domestic tourist harbour

Kofukuji Temple A Chinese temple to pray for safe navigation

Nagasaki Pearl Nagasaki-prefecture is the birthplace of pearls

 

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Tour results

We are offering various types of tours, and the tour results up to now are shown links below.

Tailor-made tour     Study tour     Golf tour

 

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Study tours to Nagasaki

Nagasaki–city has many oversea countries cultures and the significant Japanese histories

like no other areas. The fascinating Nagasaki-city has been created since Japan began exchanging

with foreign countries during the National isolation period. In addition to above features, the

geographical conditions are creating fascinating tourism and now many tourists are visiting here.

 

Because Nagasaki has the following various historical features, offer many themed Study tours

1) National isolation in Japan

2) Christian Pilgrimage sites

3) Japan’s Industry modernization

4) Atomic bomb

 

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Where to learn

We are offering various type of study tour utilizimg the following learning resources, and historical

aspects. Feature of our study tour is the tailor-made in accordance with customer

requirement of learning.  

 

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Dejima 

Dejima was the fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki where was used as a Dutch

trading port and it was only open gateway to Europe during Japan’s National isolation of Edo

period from 1641 until 1853. At that time, many European technologies and cultures were

introduced here through Dutch.

Fan-shaped artificial island, was built in 1636

Building of residence, cooking room, warehouse

The old Dejima seminary, a Christian theological school

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Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution UNESCO World Heritages sites  

The origin of Japan’s modernization is here.  Under the growing sense of crisis over a foreign

menace, Nagasaki supported the introduction of Western countries technology, which started

during the last years of Japan’s National isolation period. With “ Dejima ” as the only window

to West during the period of National isolation. Nagasaki contributed for Shipbuilding and Coal

Mining and 7 sites have been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage. 

Glover House

Hashima island /  Gunkan-jima island

Giant Cantilever Crane

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Christian Pilgrimage sites

One-day tour	3 days tour	6 days tour
To show how Christians have been continued their faith since 26 martyrs were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597	To visit Nagasaki, Shimabara and Unzen. Shimabara was the Battle field of Shimabara Rebellion	To visit Sotome, Nagasaki  Unzen, Shimabara, Amakusa  Kumamoto and Hirado

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World Peace learning

Disastrous War must not be repeated. The Atomic bomb exploded in Nagasaki at 11:02 a.m. 

on August 9, 1945. Let us swear World Peace in Nagasaki.

Peace Statue

Ground Zero

Atomic Bomb Museum

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Contact us

 

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Related sites to the Study tour

Study tour to Kyushu    Study tour to Kitakyushu    History of Industrial modernization 

History of Japanese Christianity

 

 

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