Ban on Christianity
The number of Christians in Japan continued to increase, and reaching 300,000 in 1614.
Fearing the ever-increasing number of Christian rebellions, Tokugawa Shogunate finally
issued a ban on Christianity in Nagasaki in 1612, and two years later in 1614 throughout
the country in Japan.
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After that, the history of martyrdom began in various places.
・in 1617, 4 missionaries were martyred in Omura
・in 1622, Genna great martyrdom (55 Christians) at Nishizaka
・in 1622-24, Ikutsuki and Nakae-no-shima island martyrdom
・from 1627, Unzen jigoku martyrdom
・1633, Nakaura Julian martyred in Nishizaka
・in 1637, Shimabara Rebellion
・in 1644, Konishi Manjo martyrdom, Domestic priests become absent
・in 1657, Persecution of Christians in Omura
・in 1790, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
・in 1839, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
・in 1856, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
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Nakamachi Church
Nakamachi Church is located near JR Nagasaki Station which was constructed
for Japanese Christians in 1986.
The church was dedicated to the 16 Saints of Nagasaki (St. Thomas and the 15 Martyrs)
in 1988, and the monument honoring them was erected in the premise.
The 16 Saints were martyred in Nagasaki from 1633 to 1637.
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The 16 martyrs became Saints in 1987, since 26 Saint.
Dominic Ibáñez de Erquicia Pérez de Lete, Spanish, 1633, Dominican Priest
Antonio Gonzalez, Spanish, 1637, Dominican Priest
Jordan Ansalone, Italian, 1634, Dominican Priest
Luke of the Holy Spirit Alonso Gorda, Spanish, 1633, Dominican Priest
Michael de Aozaraza, Spanish, 1637, Dominican Priest
Guillaume Courtet, French, 1637, Dominican Priest
Jacobo Kyushei Gorōbyōe Tomonaga de Santa María, Japanese, 1633, Dominican Priest
Thomas Rokuzayemon Nishi, Japanese, 1634, Dominican Priest
Vincent Shiwozuka, Japanese, 1637, Dominican Priest
Francis Shōyemon, Japanese, 1633
Matthew Kohioye, Japanese, 1633
Lorenzo Ruiz, Filipino, 1637
Marina of Omura, Japanese, 1634
Magdalene of Nagasaki, Japanese, 1634
Michael Kurobioye, Japanese, 1633
Lazarus of Kyoto, Japanese, 1637
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Saint Kolbe Memorial Museum, at Hongouchi Church
Father Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894 and was a priest of the Conventual
Order of St. Francis.
He had been active in promoting the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
He came to Japan in 1930 and began educating seminarians and publishing a monthly
magazine ” the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.”
After that, the number of Japanese people who understood God’s teachings increased,
and Hongouchi Church was established in 1931.
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After six years in Japan, he returned to Poland for health reasons.
And then, he volunteered to die in place of a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek in the
German death camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland.
Saint Kolbe Memorial Museum was built to commemorate his canonization in 1986.
Ban on Christianity in 1614
The number of Christians in Japan continued to increase, and reaching 300,000 in 1614.
Fearing the ever-increasing number of Christian rebellions, Tokugawa Shogunate finally
issued a ban on Christianity in Nagasaki in 1612, and two years later in 1614 throughout
the country in Japan.
 |
 |
 |
After that, the history of martyrdom began in various places.
・in 1617, 4 missionaries were martyred in Omura
・in 1622, Genna great martyrdom (55 Christians) at Nishizaka
・in 1622-24, Ikutsuki and Nakae-no-shima island martyrdom
・from 1627, Unzen jigoku martyrdom
・1633, Nakaura Julian martyred in Nishizaka
・in 1637, Shimabara Rebellion
・in 1644, Konishi Manjo martyrdom, Domestic priests become absent
・in 1657, Persecution of Christians in Omura
・in 1790, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
・in 1839, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
・in 1856, Persecution of Christians in Urakami
26 Saints Pilgrimage route on January 29 in 1597
The route of this day was from Akama in Munakata to Wajiro, the distance
was 21 km.
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Started at Akama accommodation and using Karatsu walking road, they went to
Wajiro passing through Koga and Shingu.
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Accommodation was Wajiro where faced Hakata bay, in order to cross from
Saitozaki to Shikanoshima the next day.
Shimabara Peninsula Martyrs Memorial Cathedral
This Cathedral is house of prayer for tens of thousands Christians who were martyred
between 1612 and 1658 throughout the Shimabara Peninsula.
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It was built in 1997 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of 26
Japanese Saints and the 360th anniversary of the Shimabara Rebellion.
The Cathedral is a beautiful octagonal building with a large octagonal dome.
26 Saints Pilgrimage route on January 28 in 1597
The route of this day was from Kokura in Kitakyushu to Akama in Munakata via Koyanose ,
the distance was 34.5 km.
Started at Kokura accommodation around Kokura Castle, and walked to Tobata port
along the Kanmon Strait.
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Transfered to Wakamatsu from Tobata by a boat.
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Walked to Akama through Ashiya and Koyanose, and then stayed at Akama.
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26 Saints Pilgrimage route on January 27 in 1597
There were 24 martyrs when they started Kyoto, but two more martyrs were added in
Shimonoseki, then became 26 martyrs in total.
The route of this day was from Karato in Shimonoseki to Kokura in Kitakyushu.
Rode on the boat at Karato, and transfer to Dairi in Kitakyushu
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Karato |
Kanmon Strait |
Dairi |
They landed at Dairi and walked 6 km along the coastline of Kanmon Strait to Kokura,
where was the place to stay.
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It is said that they stayed around Kokura Castle.
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Japan’s first Seminary
In 1579, Priest Alessandro Valignano of Jesus from Portugal came to Japan to inspect
the situatin of missionary work in Japan.
Valignano believed that training Japanese priests and monks was the key to the success
of missionary work in Japan.
And then, he made the Japan’s first Seminary in Shimabara peninsula in 1580, where was
the Hinoe Castle town of Arima Harunobu.
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Among the first students, included member of Tensho youth mission to Europe who were
Ito Mansho Ito, Chijiwa Miguel, Hara Martino and Nakaura Julian.
Note : Seminary is an educational institution established in Japan by the Society of Jesus
between 1580 and 1614 to train Jesuit priests and monks.
Hidden Christian site, Kasuga Village
Kasuga Village and Mount Yasugatake is a Christian Pilgrimage site and is registered on
the World Heritage as Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.
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This idyllic, remote village was refuge to a small community of Hidden Christians who
practiced here for centuries, far from the prying eyes of the government. After the ban on
Christianity was lifted, the local villagers decided to continue practicing their own unique
brand of the religion rather than rejoin the Catholic Church. As a result, churches were not
erected in the village, and the religion remains outwardly invisible.