Japan has a a unique connection with the outside world.
Trade via Dejima Island is one such example of its relationship with the West.
Religion is another. I was surprised to see Western churches. Their history is fascinating.
One such church can be found in the hill district just behind the main railway station.
The 26 Martyrs of Japan, also known as the "Nagasaki Martyrs," were a group of Catholic Christians who were executed in Nagasaki, Japan, on February 5, 1597. Their execution marked a significant event in the history of Christianity in Japan and is commemorated annually in the Catholic Church.
During the late 16th century, Japan was undergoing a period of political upheaval and social change. Christianity had been introduced to Japan by European missionaries, primarily Jesuit and Franciscan priests, during the mid-16th century.
The Christian faith gained a significant number of followers, particularly among peasants and some members of the ruling class.
However, the spread of Christianity in Japan alarmed the ruling authorities, particularly Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the de facto ruler of Japan at the time. Hideyoshi perceived Christianity as a threat to his authority and to the traditional Japanese social order, which was based on Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In 1587, he issued an edict banning Christianity and ordering the expulsion of missionaries.
Despite the edict, many Japanese Christians continued to practice their faith in secret.
This led to increased persecution of Christians by the authorities, who sought to root out and punish those who refused to renounce their faith.
In 1596, a Spanish ship, the San Felipe, was shipwrecked off the coast of Japan. Among the survivors were several Spanish Franciscan missionaries. They were arrested and brought to Nagasaki, which was a center of Christian activity in Japan at the time.
On February 5, 1597, 26 Christians, including the Spanish Franciscan missionaries, were publicly executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki. They were the first martyrs of the Catholic Church in Japan to be officially recognized as such. Among the martyrs were priests, brothers, and laypeople, including Japanese converts to Christianity.
The martyrdom of the 26 Christians had a profound impact on the Christian community in Japan and inspired many others to remain steadfast in their faith despite the risks. Over the following decades, persecution of Christians in Japan intensified, leading to further executions and the suppression of Christianity.
In 1865, after centuries of persecution, Japan reopened its doors to the world, and Christianity began to flourish once again. Today, the 26 Martyrs of Japan are revered as saints by the Catholic Church, and their feast day is celebrated annually on February 6th. Their sacrifice is remembered as a testament to the enduring faith of Japanese Christians in the face of adversity.
Inside of the cathedral
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