Michino-eki, 道の駅

 

Michino-eki means Road Station in Japan and provides places for travellers to rest,

they are intended to promote local tourism and trade.

 

There are local shops such as agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, flowers etc. ) ,

seafood, snacks, souvenirs and other goods.

And also, some Michino-eki has reataurants.

26 Saints are the first martyrs in Japan

 

26 Christians arrested in Kyoto who were consisted of 20 Japanese, 4 Spaniards,

1 Mexican, and 1 Portuguese.

They were forced to walk barefoot to Nagasaki for about a month.

On February 5, 1597, all 26 Christians arrived at Nishizaka and were tied to Crosses.

 

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).

 

I would rather have all the Japanese become Christians.

(From Luis Frois’s Martyrs Records, 1597)

 

Jan. 4, 2024

 

Eel cuisne, Unagino seiro-mushi, 鰻のせいろ蒸し

 

The eel cuisine created in Yanagawa.

The grilled eel is placed on the rice sprinkled with special sauce and

steamed in a bamboo steamer.

 

Each restaurant has own special sauce.

 

Causes of the Martyrdom of 26 Saints

 

In 1596, the Spanish ship San Felipe, heading from the Philippines to Mexico, washed

ashore on the Tosa-Urato coast due to a typhoon.

Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi confiscated the ship’s vast cargo.

At that time, the navigator said that Spain first send Christian missionaries to increase

the number of believers, and then eventually conquer the country.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi heard this, he was shocked and ordered the capture of

Spanish Franciscan missionaries who were actively carrying out missionary activities

in Kyoto.

 

 

Then, he ordered Ishida Mitsunari to execute Franciscan missionaries and Christians.

This was the beginning of the Martyrdom of 26 Saints in Nagasaki on February 5, 1597.

 

Dec. 31, 2023

 

Gyudon, 牛丼

 

Gyudon is a Japanese dish in which thinly sliced beef and onions are simmered

in sweet and spicy sauce such as soy sauce and placed on top of a bowl of rice.

 

The menu on the photo is Gyudon, shijimi kai (fresh water clam) soup and salad at

the restaurant Sykiya which is Gyudon Chain restaurant.

 

Fruits picking in Chikugo region

 

The Chikugo Plain, where spreads along the Chikugo River basin, is the most

prosperous agricultural region in Fukuoka-prefecture.

In particular, Asakura, Ukiha, and Tanushimaru are cultivated with a wide

variety of fruits.

You can enjoy fruit picking all year round.

Strawberry : all year round

Grape : August to beginning of October

Pear : August to beginning of October

Persimmon : Middle of October to beginning of December

Apple : August to December

Tonkatsu, 豚カツ

 

Tonkatsu is the pork cutlet, which is a Japanese dish made of thick slices of pork loin

or fillet coated with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs and fried in cooking oil.

 

The dish on the photo are Tonkatu, fried prawn and fried oyster at Hamakatsu

restaurant.

Hamakatsu is a tonkatsu restaurant chain.

 

Tensho youth mission to Europe

 

In 1582, four youth boarded a ship bound for Europe at Nagasaki Port.

They were dispatched as representatives of Japanese Christian federal lords,

and departed with Alessandro Valignano who was Jesuit missionary who

planned the Youth mission.  

Four youth were Ito Mansho Ito, Chijiwa Miguel, Hara Martino, Nakaura Julian

who were around 13 years old.

 

The purpose of the mission is to show the four people who studied at Arima

Seminario about Europe and to convey the greatness of Europe to the

Japanese people.

By introducing the boy raised by the Jesuits to Europe, the mission was to

highlight the achievements of Japan’s missionary work and gain support from

the Pope and the King of Portugal.

 

Two years and six months after leaving Nagasaki, they finally arrived in Europe.

He first had an audience with Philip II at Rispon, and was subsequently welcomed

in various places.

On March 23, 1585, Japan had an audience with the Pope and made its grand d

ebut on the world stage. After that, they also visited various parts of Italy.

 

When they returned to Nagasaki in 1590, Christianity was being prohibited.

Therefore, their achievements were suppressed due to the ban on Christianity.

It was not until 1858, when religious freedom was recognized, that their activities

were evaluated.

 

Dec. 29, 2023

 

Tonkotsu ramen, 豚骨ラーメン

 

Tonkotsu ramen is a local dish representing Fukuoka-prefecture.

Meaning of Tonkotsu ramen is pork born soup noodle created in Kurume,

Fukuoka-prefecture.

Toppings include roast pork, wood ear mushrooms, and boiled eggs, etc.

 

The restaurant on the photo is Toryuken in Kitakyushu.

Opening the port created Christian town Nagasaki

 

Nagasaki Port was opened in 1570 by Sumitada Omura, who was the first feudal lord

in Japan to be baptized as a Christian.

At that time, there was a Christian family who immigrated with Figueiredo.

Many of them were people fleeing persecution, coming from Shimabara, Iki, Goto,

Hirado, and Yamaguchi. This was the beginning of the Christian town Nagasaki.

 

Sumitada Omura donated the territories of Nagasaki and Mogi to the Jesuits in order

to fend off attacks from nearby enemies.

In 1580, Japan Society of Jesus established its headquarters in Nagasaki.

 

Dec. 28, 2023