The Monument of the Twenty-Six Martyrs
Before you go inside the museum, your eyes will surely be caught by the bronze monument of the twenty-six martyrs—six missionaries and twenty Japanese believers—who were executed on this hill, named ‘Nishizaka,’ on February 5, 1597. This monument represents their religious devotion and precious sacrifice. Everyone in the monument holds a small cross with their name inscribed on it.
“This monument doesn’t represent the very moment of execution. What do you think it represents instead?”
Basic Info: It was created in 1962 by Yasutake Funakoshi (one of the most celebrated sculptors in Japan). The motif is the twenty-six Christians executed in Nishizaka on February 5, 1597. The composition is characterized by its horizontal line, equal intervals, and uniform height.
“I think you might feel they look motionless; they don’t look distressed, and they aren’t crying in agony. This is not a monument to people who are about to face execution, but to those who are prepared for death.”
The points I’d like you to appreciate are: Everyone’s body faces the same direction, even though their eyes gaze in different directions. This suggests the unity of going through the same hardship together. It doesn’t emphasize the differences in their height or age. They are adults and children (the youngest being only 12). It visualizes equality before God. Besides, no executioners are depicted.
“The importance of this monument lies in their choice of death over the renunciation of faith. Which should be selected, death or faith? The monument presents us with this question, I think.”
The Road of Martyrdom
On the back of this monument is a relief named ‘The Road of Martyrdom,’ which represents their painful journey from Kyoto to Nagasaki. It shows the true significance of their martyrdom.
“This relief doesn’t represent the scene of their death, but the scene of their journey.”
Basic Info: It is placed at the back of the monument. It depicts the route of about 1,000 kilometers from Kyoto, through Osaka and Shimonoseki, to Nagasaki. The death procession of the chained prisoners was open to the public.
“The background scenery is abstract, with no specific locations, which suggests that this could have happened anywhere. The execution took place in only one day, while the procession lasted for several weeks. Just imagine the winter season, bare feet, chains, the bystanders, and their scorn and curiosity. And also, the walkers’ resolve.
This hill is remembered as a place of execution, but it is actually where the longest religious walk in history ended.”
Zone 1 The Introduction of Christianity
The first exhibition area introduces the initial missionary activities by Francisco Xavier in 1549. There are maps and documents showcasing the encounter between Europe and Japan, the background of the mission work, and the historical situation of the time.
In 1549, Japan met the unknown world. In other words, Japan came to know the most cutting-edge culture in the world at that time.
The displays include an explanation of Francisco Xavier’s visit to Japan, a map of Japan made in Europe, a map of the missionaries’ voyages (through India and Southeast Asia to Japan), and religious books written in Latin and Portuguese.
“To the missionaries, Japan was not the end of their journey, but the front line of a global propagation network. They thought the Japanese people were literate, argumentative, and very intelligent. Xavier reported that they would not believe something until they found it logical. This means the Japanese people were not deceived by the missionaries; instead, they chose Christianity based on their own logical judgment. Besides religion, the Europeans brought to Japan a new sense of the world, learning, and ethics.”
Zone 2 The Propagation of Christianity and Cultural Intercourses
This zone showcases how significantly Christianity influenced Japanese religion as well as the culture and lifestyle in Kyushu, especially Nagasaki. The displays include maps of Europe, models of ships, and other historical documents.
Christianity was more than just a ‘religion.’
“Strong religious teaching was not the only reason why Christianity spread so widely.”
The exhibits include pictures of Japan’s trade with European countries, and many historical items related to guns, navigation skills, medicine, music, Western paintings, musical instruments, and movable-type printing, along with explanations about Christian feudal lords (Kirishitan Daimyo). In short, Christianity represented a package of advanced civilization, including religion, medicine, education, and scientific technology. To some feudal lords, Christianity brought other advantages, such as international trade profits and military technologies. The highlight of this international exchange was the Tensho Embassy, the first Japanese youth mission to Europe.
Nagasaki had the first Western-style hospital, movable-type printing, and chorus music in Japanese history, which means Nagasaki at that time was the most rapidly globalizing city in Japan.
Zone 3: The Age of Persecution
This area showcases how Christians were persecuted and later forced to go underground as Hideyoshi Toyotomi and the Tokugawa Shogunate issued anti-Christian edicts one after another and strengthened their persecution policies. It exhibits actual Fumie (tablets with Christian images) and related documents, which show the hardships and agonies they faced.
“It is necessary to explain why a religion that was once welcomed turned into a religion punishable by death. This period was a turning point for the worse for Christianity in Japan.”
This area displays the Anti-Christian Edict issued by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the religious governance policies of the Edo Shogunate, the Fumie (both original and replicas), and records of arrests, torture, and forced conversions.
The main reason for this shift was the conflict between Christian faith and the samurai world. Because Christianity believes that God is above everything—even beyond the nation—the samurai governments came to consider it a very dangerous ideology. That was why the government utilized Fumie to identify Christians and force them to convert.
Zone 4: The Records of the Martyrs
This area showcases individual records, episodes, and the remains of the martyrs, including the Twenty-Six Saints. There are many items showing religious life at that time, such as handwritten letters, religious tools, and secretly hidden images. The most remarkable item is the letter written by Julian Nakaura.
The execution of the twenty-six believers was used as a warning to others.
“Why do you think they were forced to walk all the way to Nagasaki?”
The exhibitions include personal data about the twenty-six—their names, ages, and social classes—the route from Kyoto to Nishizaka in Nagasaki, the method of execution (crucifixion), and the records of the day they were executed.
“The group of martyrs was composed of six missionaries and twenty Japanese believers, the youngest being only twelve. Nagasaki was chosen as the location for the execution because it was a remarkably Christian city, making it the most ‘effective’ place to send a message. They couldn’t escape it, and they didn’t even try to. They believed they had to hold fast to their religion as earnest proof of their faith.”
Zone 5: The Faith of the Hidden Christians
This area introduces the lives and ingenuity of the faithful hidden Christians under the strict anti-Christian edicts. It showcases how they survived by merging their religion with Japanese culture, using Buddhist statues and daily necessities to conceal the true elements of Christianity.
This faith remained submerged underground for 250 years.
“During this time, they never gave up their religion, showing their toughness by never revealing their true selves.”
The exhibitions include Kannon statues used as substitutes for the Virgin Mary (Maria Kannon), Buddhist tools hiding Christian symbols, handwritten copies of prayers, and records of family successions of the faith.
“They didn’t have holy books or priests, but they continued to live as Christians. Their prayers were translated from Latin through Portuguese and into Japanese. It is rare in world history for a faith to continue for 250 years without any priests. By merging with Japanese culture, their style of faith became something new and unique.”
Zone 6: The Revival and Restart of Faith
This area explains the historical course in which, after the establishment of the Meiji government, the Christian faith was permitted once again. Nagasaki has played a crucial role in establishing religious freedom and serving as the starting point for spreading Christian culture.
“At last, they returned from the underground.”
“In 1865, the world was surprised by what happened in Nagasaki.”
The exhibitions include Oura Cathedral, the news of the ‘Discovery of the Hidden Christians,’ the right to religious freedom in the Meiji Era, the collection of rebuilt churches, and the contemporary history of Christianity in Nagasaki.
“Some hidden believers appeared before the priest of the newly built cathedral (Oura Cathedral), saying, ‘Our hearts are the same as yours.’ This news was shocking to churches all over the world and was hailed as a miracle.
To sum up, Nagasaki is a place of persecution, martyrdom, and ultimately, reconciliation and co-existence.”