St. Andrew Chistian Seminary

 

 

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St. Andrew Christian Seminary building stands on the eastern end of Dejima

and features a light blue exterior and a tower with a cross.

It is the oldest surviving Protestant Seminary building in Japan.

It was built as a church school in 1878 and opened the following year as the Dejima

Shinbashiguchi English and Japanese School.

It later changed its name to Dejima Shinbashiguchi Anglican Seminary and offered

theological education. After closing in 1886, it was used as accommodation for foreign

missionaries.

 

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Megane-bashi bridge

 

The oldest stone arch bridge in Japan. Meganebashi or Spectacles Bridge, over the Nakashima

River was built in Nagasaki in 1634 by the Chinese monk Mokusunyoujo who is a second

generation of Chinese monks living at Kofukuji Temple. It is said to be the oldest stone arch

bridge in Japan and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property.

 

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Megane Bridge is also part of the first group of bridges built over Nakashima River. Megane Bridge is

made of stone and is a double arch bridge. It received the nickname “Spectacles Bridge” because its

two arches and their reflection in the water create the image of a pair of spectacles.

 

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Former Shitsu Aid Center

 

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. In 1879, Father Marc Marie de Rotz,

a French missionary who has been assigned to the Sotome, has a variety of farming,

fishing, medical, and educational programs to save local residents from plight. I did an activity.

 

Former Shitsu Aid Center is a delivery facility for women, in 1883. It was founded with the

cooperation of members of the Church of St. Joseph, which was founded and trained by the

Father himself. In 2003 in 12, some of these facilities were designated as nationally

designated important cultural properties as the remains of valuable birth and welfare facilities

in the early Meiji period.

 

 

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Dejima Wharf

 

Elegant international & domestic tourist harbour. Made up of around 20 unique shops and

restaurants lined up at the water front, offering various choices such Japanese, Western,

and Italian cuisine, to beauty salons, outdoor shops and more.

 

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It is quite the popular spot for people who want to relax while viewing the sea beyond as they

dine outdoors.

 

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Nagasaki Harbour

Located in the center of East Asia and is surrounded by the beautiful green mountains.

The city has flourished due to foreign trade through the port.  Now the port is home to Mitsubishi

Heavy Industries, which has one of Japan’s largest shipbuilding facilities.

 

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Not only ships but also many industrial goods such as wind and thermal generators are

manufactured and exported from Nagasaki. Recently, the port was changed by the appearance of

a beautiful park and Venus Bridge or the long cable-stay bridge. The port facilities will be further

improved as a major gateway with a long tradition of international exchange and together with a

geographically advantageous location.

 

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Peace Park

 

Peace Park was established in 1955 near the Ground Zero where the Atomic bomb was

dropped at 11:02 am on Aug. 09, 1945.  Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the

statue on August 9 every year and the Mayor of Nagasaki makes the “Nagasaki peace

declaration” for the whole world.

 

Peace Fountain

The Peace Fountain reminds us of the tragic scene unfolded shortly after America dropped the

Atomic bomb in Nagasaki at 11:02 am on Aug. 09, 1945.

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Bell of Nagasaki

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Peace Statue

Completed in 1955, ten years after the Atomic bombing. The 9.7 meter high statue sitting on a 4

meter tall pedestal, made by renown sculptor Kitamura Seibo who born in Minami-Shimabara-city,

Nagasaki-prefecture in 1884. The raised arm points to the threat of nuclear weapons and the

out-stretched arm symbolizes peace.

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Monuments presented from all over the World

 

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Peace Fountain at Peace Park

 

Peace Fountain reminds us of the tragic scene unfolded shortly after America dropped

the Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki at 11:02 am on Aug. 09, 1945. With the completion of the

Peace Fountain on Aug. 3, 1969, a monument inscribed with an epitaph was constructed.

Many people were burned deeply and died, crying and groaning for water. When people

recovered their peaceful life in 1965, a campaign for a Peace Fountain was launched.

 

Recorded on the monument are the name of the founder including the People’s Congress

for Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and Promotion of Peace and the Committee for the

Construction of the Peace Fountain.

 

 

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Atomic Bomb Museum

The museum exhibits a number of photograph that depict the devastation

caused by atomic bomb showing the lead-up to this tragic day, the history of the development of

nuclear arms and our desire for peace.

 

 

 

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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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Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

 

The peaceful Sotome, the setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome area of Nagasaki

city has an abundance of natural beauty in its sea, mountains and rivers. It also 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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From the literary museum, there is a magnificent view. In a sweep of eye one can see sun as

it majestically sets over the sea of Goto, along with the Silence Literary Monument in Shitsu

Bunka Mura. Endo Shusaku and the Sotome area are linked through Silence ; this bond has

been built up starting from when Endo was writing the novel, and continues into the present day

with the construction of literary museum.

 

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Following Endo Shusaku’s death, this Literary Museum was established thanks to kindness of

his family, and was filled with Endo’s persona belongings, mementoes, manuscripts, and his

extensive collection of books.  The Museum exhibits trace the footsteps of Endo Shusaku as

one of Japan’s greatest writers of literature. In addition, it has facilities for collecting, preserving,

and exhibiting materials related to Endo’s public perusal and research, and operating as an

information center.

 

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Note : Silence

Silence is a 1966 novel of theological fiction by author Endo Shusaku, published in English by

Peter Owen Publishers. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan, who

endures persecution in the time of Hidden Christians that followed the defeat of the Shimabara

Rebellion. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called “Endo’s supreme

achievement and “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels Written partly in the form of a letter

by its central character, the theme of a silent God who accompanies a believer in adversity was

greatly influenced by the Catholic Endō’s experience of religious discrimination in Japan, racism

in France, and a debilitating bout with tuberculosis.

 

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Dejima

 

Dejima was the fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki where was used

as a trading port during Japan’s National isolation of Edo period.

In 1636, the artificial island, Dejima was constructed to accommodate  Portuguese

who lived in Nagasaki and to prohibit Christian missionary work.

In 1638, trade with Portugal was prohibited and Dejima becaome an uninhabited island.

In 1641, the Dutch trading post in Hirado was moved to Dejima, and then the history of

trade with the Dutch began at Dejima as only the gateway to European in Japan

Many European technologies and cultures were introduced here through Dutch until 1853. 

 

Entrance of Dejima

Fan-shaped artificial island, was built in 1636

Dejima used from 1641 until 1853

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A project to restore Dejima is underway.   In 2000, five buildings including the Deputy Factor’s 

Quarters were completed and opened to the public. 

 

Dejima International Club

Building of residence, cooking room, warehouse

The old Dejima seminary, a Christian theological school

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In the spring of 2006, the finishing touches were put on the Chief Factor’s Residence, the

Japanese Officials’ Office, the Head Clerk’s Quarters, the No. 3 Warehouse and the Sea Gate.

 

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