Christian Pilgrimage sites including museums

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.

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.

This is a place related to 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.

Kasuga Village and Mount Yasugatake is a Christian Pilgrimage site and is registered on

the World Heritage as Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.

Nakae no Shima is a Christian Pilgrimage site and is the UNESCO World Heritage site of

Hidden Chriatian Sites in the Nagasaki Region. Located two kilometers off the coast of

Hirado Island, Nakae no Shima is a small, uninhabited island where religious leaders

were executed during the persecution of Christians. The island is considered sacred,

and water collected there is used for baptism.

Kurose no Tsuji, martyrdom site of Gaspar Nishi Genka, in Hirado

The site where Christian Gaspar Nishi Genka was martyred in 1609, located on

Kurose Hill overlooking Nakae no shima between Hirado and Ikitsuki.

The tomb facing the sea is called Gaspar-sama and is a revered place for Ikitsuki’s

Hidden Christians.

The cross-shaped “Kurose no Tsuji Martyrdom Monument” was erected by Catholics

in 1991, and Mass is held every year around November 14th.

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