Oura Cathedral
The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan. Established 1865,
this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the Church of 26 Martyrs.” It was built by
the French priest Bernard Petitjean of Fier who had been dispatched by the Foreign
Missionary Church of Paris to dedicate prayers to the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka hill.
For this reason, the church faces Nishizaka hill. It was designated as a National Treasure in
1933 for its value as Japan’s oldest Gothic-style Cathedral.
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“On March 17, 1865, a group of peasants from Urakami came to the church and professed
their faith to Father Petitjean, thus revealing that Christianity had survived through the
centuries of persecution. The white marble statue of the Holy Mother at the entrance was built
in commemoration of the dramatic discovery of the “Hidden Christians.
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Kurosaki Church
The Church is located in Kurosaki district, where was place of the setting for Endo Shusaku’s
novel Silence. In 1897, the foundations were laid down according to Father de Rotz’s design.
Construction followed and in 1920 the church was completed.
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The followers built it brick by brick with their own hands. The modest design serves to bring out the
beauty of the bricks. Experience the depth when you come inside and see the rib vault ceiling.
The church’s stained glass also leaves a lasting impression.
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Sotome Pilgrimage sites
Sotome is located between Nagasaki-city and Saikai-city, and face to East China Sea.
During the ban on Christianity from 17 century to end of the 19 century, Sotome was
home to communities of “Hidden Christians”, many of whom emigrated there from
other parts of Nagasaki as the remote region allowed them to practice their religion
in secret.
French missionary Father Marc Marie de Rotz played a large role in reestablishing the
religion in the area. He established Shitsu Church on a hill overlooking the sea.
On an elevation commanding a view over the Sea of Goto, Father Marc Marie de Rotz
established a church at his own expense 1882. The building was extended and renovated
again and again. A statue of Mary that he ordered from France is standing in the bell tower.
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I want to save people in the Sotome from poor life. Former Shitsu Aid Centeris indispensable in
talking about the history and culture of the region.
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The setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome is blessed with a unique history and
culture of Christianity. In particular, the area in which the Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
stands is known as the site of a Christian village, one of Endo’s most notable work, Silence.
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The Church is located in Kurosaki district, where was place of the setting for Endo Shusaku’s
novel Silence. In 1897, the foundations were laid down according to Father de Rotz’s design.
Construction followed and in 1920 the church was completed. The followers built it brick by
brick with their own hands. The modest design serves to bring out the beauty of the bricks.
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Urakami Cathedral
Construction of the original Urakami Cathedral, a brick Romanesque building, began in 1895,
after a long-standing ban on Christianity was lifted.
When completed in 1914, it was the largest Catholic church in East Asia.
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The Atomic bomb dropped on August 9, 1945 explored in Urakami, only 500m from the cathedral,
which was completely destroyed.
What remained of the cathedral is now on display in the Atomic Bomb Museum.
A replacement was built in 1959, and remodeled to more closely resemble the original in 1980.
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The nearby the Ground Zero in Peace Park contains remnants of the Ruins of Urakami Cathedral
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Seishin girls’ School
Japan’s first Catholic girls’ school opened in 1891. It was relocated to a site built
in 1898. The building has now been renovated and is now Hotel Indigo Nagasaki.
The red brick structure and arched window frames remain intact, creating a nostalgic
Romanesque atmosphere.
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The 26 Martyrs Museum
The 26 Martyrs Museum is dedicated to the 26 Christians who were executed here on
February 5, 1597. They included both foreign missionaries and Japanese laymen. Missionary
activities were prohibited at the time, and Japan’s ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi staged the execution
as a warning. The monument is located in a small park on a hill not far from Nagasaki Station
and offers nice views over the city.
A straight red line runs from the Monument across the park’s plaza in the direction of the Oura
Cathedral on the opposite side of the city. Oura Cathedral is also dedicated to the 26 martyrs.
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The museum behind the monument is devoted to the memory of the martyrs and to Christianity in
Japan in general. Its interior is reminiscent of a church with stained-glass windows, making for
atmospheric viewing of the exhibits. On display are artifacts related to Christianity in Japan,
including old documents, statues and jewelry.
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Atomic bomb in Nagasaki
Disastrous War must not be repeated.
The plutonium atomic bomb exploded about 500m over the central monument
at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945.
The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost.
And about 70,000 of Nagasaki’s 240,000 residents died instantly, and up to 60,000 were injured.
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The time, Atomic bomb was exploded |
Atomic bomb exploded over the central monument |
Nuked 50th Anniversary Monument |
The radius of total destruction was about 1.6km, followed by fires across the northern portion of the
city to 3.2km south of the bomb.
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Ruin of destroyed Urakami Cathedral |
Ruin of destroyed Urakami Cathedral |
The one leg Torii gate at Sanno Shrine |
The total number of residents died may have been as many as 80,000, including those who died
from radiation poisoning in the following months. Even now, many atomic bomb survivors are
suffering. The list of names of the atomic bomb victim who died up to now is stored in the monument.
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The Bell of Nagasaki |
Peace Fountain |
Folding paper cranes pray for peace |
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
Shitsu Church
Built in 1882 by Father de Rotz, this low-ceiling church features a brick exterior, wood interior
and stone entranceway. The roof itself is low in order to limit damage done by strong winds.
The church’s bell was brought here from France by a priest and rings out beautifully every
morning. The location is famous as the place where the movie “Gege” was filmed.
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Glover Garden
Glover Garden is located on Minami-Yamate hill in Nagasaki-city, and nine traditional buildings
can be seen at Glover Garden. Among these, the Glover Residence, Orto Residence, and Ringer
Residence were built during the settlement era and are valuable buildings that have continued to
stand on this land for over 150 years.
Glover Garden boasts a great location overlooking Nagasaki Port with Mt. Inasa, a landmark
of Nagasaki-city, in the background.
In 1858, the Edo shogunate concluded treaties of amity and commerce with five countries:
the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, England, and France, and foreign merchants
with dreams came together to visit Japan as it entered a new era. Western-style buildings
covered with Japanese-style roof tiles line the hill overlooking Nagasaki Port, and these are
where the daily lives of foreigners from all over the world lived. “Glover Garden” is located here.
You can feel the history of Nagasaki from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period in this
area, where the residences of foreigners from the settlement era, including the adventuring
merchant Thomas Glover, and the Western-style houses that were scattered throughout
Nagasaki-city are gathered.
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Glover Residence
Glover Residence is Japan’s oldest wooden Western-style building and is the UNESCO
World Heritage registered in 2015 as Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution
In 1859 an enterprising Scotsman named Thomas Glover arrive in Nagasaki and immediately
become involved in a variety of businesses. Glover operated a coalmine, founded the first
modern shipyard in Japan, supplied weapons to Satsuma clan in Southern Kyushu and
established Japan’s Kirin beer brewery. The Glover residence, built in 1863, evokes an era when
Western architecture and lifestyle were of great interest to Japanese. Several other merchant
houses have been relocated to the Glover Garden, which surrounds the house itself, making the
area a pocket of 19th-cencury Western culture overlooking Nagasaki Bay.
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Golver Residence is generally believed to have been the scene of Puccini’s opera, Madame
Butterfly. Inside the park is the life-size statue of the famous opera singer, Tamaki Miura, who
received international acclaim for her performance as Cho-Cho-san in Madam Butterfly.
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