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To learn the components of the property

character ‘Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region’ comprise 12 sites: Remains of Hara Castle where occurred a historic event that triggered the hiding of Christians, villages that bear testimony to what Hidden Christians venerated to practise their religious faith, villages that demonstrate to what sort of locations Hidden Christians migrated to maintain their communities, Oura Cathedral that brought about a new transitional phase for the Hidden Christian communities, and Egami Church that marks the end of Hidden Christians’ hiding.

(Ⅰ) Origin of the tradition of continuing the Christian faith

> Click here to learn the history of this stage.
  1. 1Remains of Hara Castle


    Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    The site of the main battlefield during the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion, after which the remaining Christians had to go into hiding and find ways out to continue their religious faith by themselves.

(Ⅱ) Formation of the tradition of continuing the Christian faith

> Click here to learn the history of this stage.
  1. 2Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Kasuga Village and Mt. Yasumandake)


    Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians concealed their faith in this village by venerating the mountain that had been worshiped since before the introduction of Christianity to Japan and the island on which their ancestors had been martyred.

  2. 3Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Nakaenoshima Island)

    09_中江ノ島_日暮雄一撮影

    Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians concealed their faith in this village by venerating the mountain that had been worshiped since before the introduction of Christianity to Japan and the island on which their ancestors had been martyred.

  3. 4Sakitsu Village in Amakusa


    Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture

    In Sakitsu, Hidden Christians were able to continue practising their faith over time by substituting everyday items used in daily life and work for Christian devotional objects.

  4. 5Shitsu Village in Sotome

    01_外海の出津集落

    Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    At this village, Hidden Christians were able to practise their faith by secretly revering sacred icons.

  5. 6Ono Village in Sotome

    01_外海の大野集落

    Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    In Ono Village, Hidden Christians practised their religious faith by venerating their own deities secretly enshrined in Shinto shrines.

(Ⅲ) Hidden Christians’ endeavours to continue and spread their religious faith

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  1. 7Villages on Kuroshima Island

    01_黒島の集落

    Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they settled in former clan pasturelands on Kuroshima Island in need of redevelopment.

  2. 8Remains of Villages on Nozaki Island

    01_野崎島の集落跡

    Ojika Town, Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they migrated to Nozaki Island, which was regarded as sacred by Shinto believers.

  3. 9Villages on Kashiragashima Island

    01_頭ヶ島の集落

    Shinkamigoto Town, Minamimatsuura District, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they migrated to Kashiragashima Island, which once had been used for sick people.

  4. 10Villages on Hisaka Island

    01_久賀島の集落

    Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities in these villages after migrating to undeveloped land on the island in accordance with a migration policy established by feudal lords.

  5. 11Egami Village on Naru Island(Egami Church and its Surroundings)

    01_奈留島の江上集落

    Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    Egami Church bears witness to the history of Hidden Christian migrants to Naru Island and visually marks the end of their hiding.

(Ⅳ)The transitional phase in the religious identity of Hidden Christians, leading to the transformation and the end of their tradition

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  1. 12Oura Cathedral


    Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

    The site of the ‘Discovery of Hidden Christians’, an encounter with returned Catholic missionaries that triggered the end of Hidden Christians’ hiding.

UNESCO