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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Yoshii, Shirakabe-dori Avenue

 

Shirakabe-dori Avenue is located in Yoshii, Ukiha-city

Time-honored scenery, back to 100 years ago. The Avenue is located in Yoshii-machi, 

Ukiha-city.  Shirakabe, literary meaning is white wall. The avenue of houses with white

wall were constructed about 100 years ago.  About 250 houses in the area has been

designated as National important traditional buildings preservation district.

 

Featured Restaurant, Shirakabe

The restaurant Shirakabe is in the former merchant’s building constructed in 1928. Japanese

cuisines using best local ingredients that vary by season can be enjoyed. The chef who makes

that cuisines also experienced the imperial family’s cook.

Yakiniku, 焼肉

 

Yakiniku is grilled meat and a popular cuisine in Japan.

 

Grill beef, pork, seafood, and vegetables over an open flame in front of

you and eat them with sauce.

 

Cherry blossom in Japan

 

Japanese people have loved cherry blossoms since ancient times.

The blooming of cherry blossoms signals the arrival of beautiful spring.

 

In 2024, cherry blossoms in Kyushu will bloom from the end of March to the

beginning of April.

During that period, you can enjoy cherry blossoms in most places where

you will visit in Kyushu.

Shimabara Rebellion

 

 

It was founded by Arima Takazumi in 1496 and was a flat castle with a fortress naturally created

both by the cliff facing Ariake Sea and the tide coming in. This Castle was abandoned since

Matsudaira Shigemasa, the load of Shimabara, built Shimabara Castle after the rupture of Arima

family ties. 

26 Saints Pilgrimage route from Tokitsu to Nishizaka

 

26 Christians arrive at Tokitsu Port by the boat on the cold night of February 4, in 1597

and stayed one night on the boat. At dawn on February 5, they got off the ship with a cold b

ody and landed at Togitsu Port. Then they began walking the 12km path to Nishizaka,

the place of martyrdom. Passed through the mountain pass, and through Michinoo, Akasako,

and Urakami, and arrived at Nishizaka at 10 o’clock.

And as soon they arrived, they were all crucified on the cross.

 

Then, Paul Miki said from the Cross

All of you who are here, please listen to me.

I did not com from the Philippines, I am a Japanese by birth, and a brother of the Society of Jesus.

I have committed no crime, and the only reason why I am put to death is that I have been

teaching the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am very happy to die for such cause, and see my death as great blessing from the Lord.

At this critical time, when you can rest assured that I will not try to deceive you, I want to stress

and make it unmistakably clear that man can find no way to salvation other than the Christian

way. The Christian law commands that we forgive our enemies and who have wronged us.

I must therefore say here that I forgive Taikosama (Hideyoshi).

 

Then they all ascended to heaven with the happy of giving the life to Christ.

 

In 1862, 26 Martyrs at Nishizaka were canonized by Pope Pius IX.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII designated the Nishizaka of Martyrdom of 26 Japanese

Saints as an official Pilgrimage site for Catholics

Mt. Sarakura, the most dynamic night view in the World, in Kitakyushu-city

 

Mount Sarakura is the best scenic spot in Kitakyushu-city.

The height of the mountain is 622 meters from sea level. At the top you are presented with a

magnificent and spectacular view of Kitakyushu. ​In 10 minutes, you can reach the summit 

from the Cable Car Station using the Cable car and the Slope car. 

 

We offer the most dynamic night view in the World.

The dynamic city where one million people are living and working, is creating the beautiful Night view

which you have never seen before. The night view from the mount Sarakura is chosen the three major

Night View in Japan along with Nagasaki from Mount Inasa.

The area of Night view is the largest in the World ; about 40km east to west and 10km south to north 

And also the number of lighting to create the night view is the largest in the World. 

 

Soba and tempura, そば & 天ぷら

 

Soba and tempura are two of Japan’s most popular dishes, along with sushi.

 

Soba (right cuisine of the photo) is a noodle dish made from buckwheat flour made

from buckwheat seeds.

Tempura (left cuisine of the photo) is a dish of seafoods and vegetables coated

with flour and fried in oil.

Chanpon, ちゃんぽん

 

Chanpon is a Japanese cuisine created in Nagasaki.

It was invented to provide a cheap and nutritious meal by the Chinese chef at Shikairo

restaurant in 1899 originally for Chinese students visiting Japan at that time, which is

a noodle dish made with chicken bone and pork bone soup and plenty of seafood and

vegetables from Nagasaki.

 

Now, it is one of the popular Japanes cuisine which you can eat any place in Japan.