Visit Oita

During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Christianity split into Catholicism and Protestantism, and the Catholic Church strengthened its missionary work in East Asia to maintain its influence. Francis Xavier came to Japan in 1549.

Of the East Asian nations, why was Japan, an island nation, chosen? According to confidential Vatican documents that were discovered later, it is believed that they sought to win Japan over to Christianity, which would later make it possible to make inroads with China.

The missionary work in Japan began in Oita Prefecture, where missionary activities was actually permitted more than 15 years earlier than in Nagasaki and Amakusa, areas which are known for their Christian connections.

The spread of Christianity in Oita Prefecture began when the feudal lord at the time invited Francis Xavier to Oita City. This feudal lord was none other than Otomo Sorin, who would later become famous as a Christian daimyo.

Why was he able to accept a different culture with such tolerance? It's said that the true reason he was so interested in Christianity wasn't just his faith, but also the enormous economic benefits he could gain from trade with the Portuguese. At the time, trade with the Portuguese generated profits of up to 400 times the value of exported goods, and those in power sought to bring such Portuguese trading ships into their own ports.

During Japan's Sengoku period (around 1467 to 1603), Christianity spread at an astonishing rate in Japan , primarily among the common people. While Buddhism at the time was centered on the wealthy, missionaries performed elaborate funerals for all, provided money and food to the poor, and treated illnesses and injuries. The introduction of cutting-edge European culture, including eyeglasses, music boxes, and harmonic music, also played a major role in the rapid spread of Christianity. The Jesuits would show off items such as crystal beads and crosses, saying "If you become a Christian, we’ll give these to you." In this way, they attracted the interest of women, especially those who loved jewelry and precious stones, and from there the faith spread to the women' families.

While Sorin was struggling, the area around Taketa City, where the Taketa Christian Museum is located, saw a rapid increase in believers. Shiga Chikayoshi, the feudal lord who ruled over Taketa City at the time, was Otomo Sorin's grandson, though they were not related by blood. He himself was a devout Christian, and reportedly had a cross tattooed on his left hand. There were no opponents of Christianity in the Taketa area, and the number of believers rapidly increased. This period in which Christianity could be practiced freely continued until 1587, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the reigning ruler of Japan at the time, issued an edict to expel Christian fathers.

As the Edo period (1603-1868) began, Christianity became a target for oppression.

During the period of the edict to expel Christian fathers, Christianity was tacitly tolerated and there were many believers, but in 1614 shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who then ruled Japan at the time, issued the "Prohibition Edict," a law that entirely prohibited the religion. It was during this period that the term "Hidden Christians" was coined to refer to those who practiced Christianity without being discovered by the government.

The Shimabara Rebellion, which broke out in Nagasaki in 1637, was sparked by people who rose up against religious oppression of Christians and heavy taxes on peasants. This incident led to Japan embarking on a policy of national seclusion and isolation due to fear of Christianity and European powers.

In Oita Prefecture, the persecution of Christians, known as the "Bungo Crackdown," began in 1659 and continued for 25 years, to the point that it was said that, to surface appearances, all Christians had been wiped out. However, the era of "Hidden Christians" continued, and Christianity continued to be practiced in secret.

Around Taketa City there remain valuable Christian artifacts from roughly the 16th to 18th centuries. Because very few items from this era survive in Nagasaki or Amakusa, the artifacts in Taketa are extremely rare.

In Oita Prefecture, a distinctive culture born from exchanges with the Portugese trading ships is alive and well. First, saffron cultivation began in Taketa City in the early 1900s, and the region is now the top producer of saffron in Japan, accounting for 80% of the country's production.

Also, Usuki's local dish, "kihan" ("yellow rice") whose roots are said to be the Spanish paella introduced by missionaries, is colored with gardenia instead of costly saffron. Furthermore, new crops such as pumpkins and corn were brought to the area by the Portuguese trading ships, and the traces of these cross-cultural exchanges remain strong in the food culture to this day. There are also souvenirs with Christian and missionary motifs, so why not pick one up?

Oita Prefecture and Christianity are historically closely connected, and numerous remains and remnants survive even after religious persecution. However, the era of Hidden Christians still contains many mysteries that remain unsolved. We hope you enjoy journeying into this mystery.