Fukuoka Castle was built by feudal lord Nagamasa Kuroda in Fukuoka-city in 1601 and was called Maizuru castle.  Part of stone wall and canal, and the Tamon tower are still left intact as they were back then. There is also a nice view of the city from the former main citadel. Parts of the castle’s former moats were used to construct nearby Ohori koen Park, a pleasant and picturesque public city park. At the present, the area around the ruins of Castle is also part of Maizuru park. The place is famous for its beautiful plum and cherry blossoms.

Fukuoka Castle Ruins…の続きを読む

  Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki is the place of Martyrdom of 26 Japanese Saints.  The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed by  crucifixion on February 5, 1597. The Twenty-six Christians, including six foreign missionaries and three young boys, were arrested in Kyoto and Osaka on the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the National ruler, for preaching Christianity. They were marched 800 km through the snow to Nagasaki and crucified in front of large crowd on Nishizaka hill on Feb. 5, 1597.   Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan. In 1950, Pope Pius XII designated this place as an official pilgrimage site for Catholics.  Pope John Paul II visited here in 1981, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta commonly known as Mother Teresa visited in 1982.  Paulo Miki and 25 others were crucified for their belief in God on order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  The martyrs including four Spaniards, one from Goa, India, one Mexican and 20 Japanese demonstrated their spiritual unity despite differences in races, ages and professions.     By putting them to death, Hideyoshi threatened people, saying “I hereby ban Christianity”.  Responded the martyrs’ chant “All people, bless God! ” Death and life, liberty and persecution and Dictators and the people confronted on Nishizaka Hill. The martyrs are immortal. In 1862, the 26 Japanese martyrs were canonized by Pope Pius IX.  In 1956, the place of their martyrdom was designated as a Historical Place by Nagasaki Prefecture. A monument dedicated to them was built on …

Nishizaka Hill…の続きを読む

  A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village in Amakusa. In 1934, a French priest Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a wooden and concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction. He placed the altar at the very site where fumie or a test to ensure non-allegiance to Christianity had been conducted.

Sakitsu Church, in Amakusa…の続きを読む

  The Church is a Pilgrimage site and is the oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his own money and contributions from local Christians living in the area.

Oe Cathedral, in Amakusa…の続きを読む