Hokobaru Martyrdom Site is an interesting place to visit in Omura City. You will be able to step back in time and learn and understand more about the Christian History of the area and some of the surreal and horrible acts that were committed at the time in order to protect and preserve Japanese Nationalistic ideals of the time. After Christianity was banned in 1587, it seemed that the Christian religion had vanished forever within the realm of Nagasaki and Japan in general. However, many Christians continued to practice in secret and are referred as the Hidden Christians.
When the Tokugawa Shogunate took control in 1614 and then closed Japan’s borders to the outside world in 1633, they started a hunt to eliminate all practicing Christians in order to restore only Japanese traditions through the implementation of rebuilding Shrines and Temples and force feeding the public to revert back to the original Buddhist and Shinto Religions.
In 1657, known as the Kori Kuzure (Collapse of Kori) the government found and arrested 603 Christians hiding in the area known as Kori Village within the Omura domain. Out of this large number, 197 people were either found innocent or imprisoned. The other 406 people were executed. Due to the number of executions, 275 people were sent to other areas to meet their fate, such as Shimabara, Nagasaki and Saga. At Hokobaru Martyrdom Site, 131 of those captured were beheaded.
The landmark that stands today at the Hokobaru Martyrdom Site is a sign of respect and a tribute to all those that lost their life during this troubled period in Japan. The Japanese Christian community within Nagasaki and Japan have done a marvelous job to keep their history alive and to continue to tell the story of what happened all those many years ago for future generations.
Well worth a visit.
Please check out the Hokobaru Martyrdom Site in Nagasaki here
on a map:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
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Good information in English too!
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Impressive from all angles
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| Shot down by Angels from above |
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| Powerful images |
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| Interesting to say the least! |
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| Sacifice |
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