The cathedral is one of the most significant Christian pilgrimage sites in Japan. Established in 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the Church of the 26 Martyrs.” It was built by Father Bernard Petitjean, a French priest from Fier, who had been dispatched by the Paris Foreign Missions Society to offer prayers for the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka Hill. For this reason, the cathedral directly faces Nishizaka Hill. It was designated as a National Treasure in 1933 in recognition of its historical value as Japan’s oldest Gothic-style cathedral.   On March 17, 1865, a group of peasants from Urakami visited the church and professed their secret faith to Father Petitjean, revealing that Christianity had survived through centuries of intense persecution. The white marble statue of the Holy Mother at the entrance was erected to commemorate this dramatic discovery of the “Hidden Christians.   The cathedral also welcomed Pope John Paul II in 1981, followed by Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta) in 1982.  

Oura Cathedral…の続きを読む

  The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum opened in April 1996 as part of a project commemorating the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The museum replaced the Nagasaki International Cultural Hall, which had previously exhibited a vast collection of artifacts related to the bombing.   The museum exhibits numerous photographs and artifacts that depict the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. Its displays also cover the history leading up to that tragic day, the development of nuclear weapons, and our enduring desire for peace.          

Atomic Bomb Museum…の続きを読む

  Such a disastrous war must never be repeated. At 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945, a plutonium atomic bomb detonated approximately 500 meters above the central monument. Most of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost; about 70,000 out of Nagasaki’s 240,000 residents died instantly, and up to 60,000 others were injured.   The radius of total destruction was approximately 1.6 kilometers, with subsequent fires spreading across the northern part of the city and extending up to 3.2 kilometers south of the hypocenter.        

Ground Zero…の続きを読む

  The Peace Park was established in 1955 near ground zero, where an atomic bomb was dropped at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945. The Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue on August 9 every year, during which the Mayor of Nagasaki delivers the “Nagasaki Peace Declaration” to the world.   Peace Fountain The Peace Fountain reminds us of the tragic scene unfolded shortly after America  dropped the Atomic bomb in Nagasaki at 11:02 am on Aug. 09, 1945.   Bell of Nagasaki   Peace Statue The Peace Statue was completed in 1955, ten years after the atomic bombing. The 9.7-meter-high statue sits on a 4-meter-tall pedestal and was created by the renowned sculptor Kitamura Seibo, who was born in Minami-Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, in 1884. Its raised right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons, while the outstretched left hand symbolizes eternal peace.   Monuments Donated from Around the World    

Peace Park…の続きを読む