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.