Endo Shusaku Literary Museum, in Sotome, Nagasaki

 

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

 - Museums