Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
The peaceful Sotome, the setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome area of Nagasaki
city has an abundance of natural beauty in its sea, mountains and rivers. It also is blessed with
a unique history and culture of Christianity. In particular, the area in which the Endo Shusaku
Literary Museum stands is known as the site of a Christian village, one of Endo’s most notable
work, Silence.
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From the literary museum, there is a magnificent view. In a sweep of eye one can see sun as
it majestically sets over the sea of Goto, along with the Silence Literary Monument in Shitsu
Bunka Mura. Endo Shusaku and the Sotome area are linked through Silence ; this bond has
been built up starting from when Endo was writing the novel, and continues into the present day
with the construction of literary museum.
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Following Endo Shusaku’s death, this Literary Museum was established thanks to kindness of
his family, and was filled with Endo’s persona belongings, mementoes, manuscripts, and his
extensive collection of books. The Museum exhibits trace the footsteps of Endo Shusaku as
one of Japan’s greatest writers of literature. In addition, it has facilities for collecting, preserving,
and exhibiting materials related to Endo’s public perusal and research, and operating as an
information center.
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Note : Silence
Silence is a 1966 novel of theological fiction by author Endo Shusaku, published in English by
Peter Owen Publishers. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan, who
endures persecution in the time of Hidden Christians that followed the defeat of the Shimabara
Rebellion. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called “Endo’s supreme
achievement and “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels Written partly in the form of a letter
by its central character, the theme of a silent God who accompanies a believer in adversity was
greatly influenced by the Catholic Endō’s experience of religious discrimination in Japan, racism
in France, and a debilitating bout with tuberculosis.
