Japanese Christianity

Japanese Christianity has a unique history of continuing faith while coexisting with Japanese

Religion Shinto and General society.

Nagasaki Port was opened and the first Portuguese ship arrived in 1571. And development of the

town of cape was started as Christian town in 1571 and many Churches were constructed in

Nagasaki. However, due to the Tokugawa Shogunate’s Ban on Christianity in 1614, most of the

church buildings were destroyed. Since ban on the Christianity was lifted in 1873, new Christian

history in Japan has begun and many Churches and Cathedrals have been constructed.

Then Christianity was spread in Nagasaki region. However, unparalleled hidden Cristian history was

started from when Toyotomi Hideyoshi Shogunate proclaimed Christian ban in 1587. During ban on

Christianity, people secretly continued to faith while surviving in the midst of the conventional society

and Japanese religions. And many Christians were also martyred during this period. Here we

introduce the history of the ban on Christianity, including the places of martyrdom and museums.

26 Christians arrested in Kyoto who were consisted of 20 Japanese, 4 Spaniards, 1 Mexican, and

1 Portuguese. They walked from Kyoto to Nagasaki in January and February 1597. How great

were the physical and mental suffering of those 26 men who were forced to march all the way

from Kyoto to Nagasaki during these cold winter days, and they all ascended to heaven at

Nishizaka Hill on Februay 05.

Christian history in Japan was started when St. Francis Xavier came to Japan as a first Christian

missionary in 1549. Here we introduce the history of Christianity from the time it spread to Japan

until the present day.