Virgin Mary Statue from France Marks "Discovery of Christians" at Oura Cathedral
Built in 1864 by French priests Louis Furet and Bernard Petitjean, Ōura Cathedral, officially known as the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan, stands as a testament to faith and endurance in Nagasaki. This Catholic church was erected to honor the 26 martyrs executed in 1597 and quickly became a landmark. It was Japan’s first Western-style building to be designated a National Treasure in 1933, and it remains the oldest surviving Christian church in the country.
Originally a small wooden church, it was expanded into a grand Gothic-style brick basilica by 1879. A pivotal moment in its history occurred in 1865 when hidden Christians from Urakami revealed their faith to Father Petitjean, an event known as the “Discovery of Christians.” This remarkable revelation came after more than 250 years of secrecy due to Japan's ban on Christianity. The cathedral miraculously survived the atomic bomb attack in 1945, was subsequently restored, and its National Treasure status was reaffirmed in 1953. Its profound significance in the history of hidden Christians led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
Ōura Cathedral: A Beacon of Faith and Resilience #japan #travel #nagasaki (YouTube link)
Photo Gallery
The photographs taken on April 7, 2025, beautifully capture this essence, serving as a visual testament to the church's historical allure.
Diamond Princess Cruise Sighted En Route to Oura Cathedral
A Quiet Day in a Berlin Park, 1933 In the early 1930s, Takehisa Yumeji's studio became a hub for artists, inspiring ventures like the Mt. Haruna Art Research Institute. In 1931, Yumeji began a journey to the United States and Europe, supported by exhibitions of his work. While in the U.S. for 16 months, he continued to paint, creating pieces like Nude on the West Coast. Afterward, Yumeji taught in Berlin until the school was closed by the Nazis. He returned to Japan in 1933, his overseas experiences shaping his final works. His last exhibition was held in Taipei that year. Yumeji passed away from tuberculosis in 1934, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and cultural exchange. Read more: Prints in Collection—Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934) Kuronosuke 黒の助: a Legacy Little Black Cat (YouTube link ) Photo Gallery The Yumeji Art Museum in Okayama exhibits many black cat paintings because the artist, Yumeji Takehisa , frequently featured them in his work, particularly in his bij...
This is a passageway leading to Nankai-Namba Station. Be aware that underground passages in Japan can be quite complex for visitors. When you arrive at Kansai International Airport (symbol: KIX) and try to reach your destinations via trains, sometimes you need to make connections at Namba Station (see Fig. 2). Namba Station is one of the main connection points (the other two are Umeda and Tennoji Stations). But, Namba Station actually means 4 different stations on Google map (see Fig. 3&4) : Namba Station (Subway): This station provides access to the Osaka Metro lines: Midosuji (see Fig. 4), Sennichimae , and Yotsubashi . These lines can take you to popular destinations like Osaka Station, Koreatown, Honmachi, and Nippombashi. JR-Namba Station: This smaller station has only four tracks and two platforms. It's located within the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) building, and the entrance can be easy to miss. Thankfully, it's connected to the ...
Koyasan (高野山), a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, has been connected to the outside world by a network of pilgrimage trails. While most visitors enter the mountain by cable car nowadays, many of the pilgrimage trails still remain in use. Koyasan Travel—Temple Lodging (Shukubo; YouTube link ) Part of the pilgrimage trails, the Fudozaka Trail (不動坂; click the map to enlarge), leads to Koyasan from Gokurakubashi Station, the lower station of the Koyasan Cablecar. The steep, paved trail is 2.5 kilometers long and takes about an hour to ascend and less time to descend. The trail ends at the Nyonindo temple (女人堂). [1] On 11/27/2016, I have decided to descend from Fudozaka Trail instead of riding the cable car. I was the only person on the trail at beginning. However, in the middle of the trail, another young blonde girl passed me by swiftly with a big smile on her face. I was really surprised to see another soul on that rainy day. Althoug...
