Nakamachi Church

 

Nakamachi Church is located near JR Nagasaki Station. In 1988, the

church was dedicated to the 16 Martyrs of Nagasaki (St. Thomas Nishi

and his 15 companions), who were martyred in Nagasaki between 1633

and 1637. To honor them, a monument was erected on the church grounds.

 

Following the 26 Saints of Japan, these 16 martyrs were canonized

as saints in 1987.

 

Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia, Dominican Priest (Spanish, 1633)

Antonio Gonzalez, Dominican Priest (Spanish, 1637)

Jordan Ansalone, Dominican Priest (Italian, 1634)

Luke of the Holy Spirit, Dominican Priest (Spanish, 1633)

Michael de Aozaraza, Dominican Priest (Spanish, 1637)

Guillaume Courtet, Dominican Priest (French, 1637)

Jacobo Kyushei Tomonaga, Dominican Priest (Japanese, 1633)

Thomas Rokuzayemon Nishi, Dominican Priest (Japanese, 1634)

Vincent Shiwozuka, Dominican Priest (Japanese, 1637)

Francis Shōyemon, Dominican Lay Brother (Japanese, 1633)

Matthew Kohioye, Dominican Novice (Japanese, 1633)

Lorenzo Ruiz, Layman (Filipino, 1637) — The first Filipino saint

Marina of Omura, Dominican Tertiary (Japanese, 1634)

Magdalene of Nagasaki, Dominican Tertiary (Japanese, 1634)

Michael Kurobioye, Layman (Japanese, 1633)

Lazarus of Kyoto, Layman (Japanese, 1637)

 

Saint Filippo de Jesus Church ( Japan 26 Saints Memorial Church )

 

 

 

 

Saint Kolbe Memorial Museum, at Hongouchi Church

 

 

 

 

Hokohara martyrdom place in Omura

 

This is a place related to the Kori-kuzure incident in Omura in 1657 in which

a large number of hidden Christians were arrested.

As many as 608 Christians were arrested, making it a rare and major incident

in the history of Christian oppression.

411 Christians were beheaded, and 131 of them were martyred at Hokohara

martyrdom place.

 

As a result of this incident, the Omura domain began implementing even stricter

policies prohibiting Christianity.

The believers have erected the monument to commemorate the martyrdom

at this location.

 

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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.

 

  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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History of Japanese Christianity

 

Christianity in Japan has a unique history that is not found anywhere else in the world.

The history of Christianity in Japan began in 1549 when Francis Xavier arrived as the first missionary.

Christianity then spread mainly in the Nagasaki area. However, Christianity was later banned by the

shogunate, and people continued to practice their faith in secret. As a result, there is a history of many

martyrs in various places.

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

The tour introduces Japanese Christianity by visiting Nagasaki region.

 

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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 by Gaspal Villera

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 natioal isolation policy was applied

1614 The Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited Christianity throughout Japan

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 against 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

 

1853     Mathew C Perry came to Uraga; the Commodore of the US navy, who played a

             significant role in Japanese history, succeeded in opening Japan to foreign countries

1854    Treaty between the USA and Japan : ending the isolation policy and opening the country

1858    Treaty of Amity and Commerce between USA, Netherlands, Russia, England, France and

            Japan ; allow religious freedom in foreign residential areas

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, the most important event in Japanese history, which heralded a new era

             of modernization in Japan. This revolution restored the imperial rule to Japan after more

             than 250years of Tokugawa Shogunate

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 completed, 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 constructed

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

             Saints as 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    Saint 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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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.

Started at Akama accommodation and using Karatsu walking road, they went to

Wajiro passing through Koga and Shingu.

Accommodation was Wajiro where faced Hakata bay, in order to cross from

Saitozaki to Shikanoshima the next day.

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.

Transfered to Wakamatsu from Tobata by a boat.

Walked to Akama through Ashiya and Koyanose, and  then stayed at Akama.

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

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.

It is said that they stayed around Kokura Castle.