Kakure Kirishitan
Ikitsuki Island in Nagasaki is one of the most well-known refuges for the Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) who fled persecution under the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868). Christianity first arrived in Japan in the mid-16th century with Portuguese missionaries, leading to rapid conversions, especially in Kyushu. However, fearing foreign influence and political destabilization, Tokugawa Ieyasu and his successors outlawed Christianity in the early 17th century, enforcing brutal crackdowns, including the infamous Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638). Many Christians fled to remote islands like Ikitsuki, where they secretly maintained their faith by blending Christian beliefs with Buddhist and Shinto practices, a unique religious syncretism that survived for centuries in isolation.
A Christian's cross was put in a place where Gaspard a christian was executed in Ikitsuki.
A member of hidden christian community checks the condition of holly painting before a ceremony for summer (middle of the year).
Hidden christian community members rest together after a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Mr Tanaka's son takes continuation of family wagyu (japanese famous beef) business, but for him he is buddhist and didn't take the continuation of hidden christian's culture.
Women for hidden christian community members put some sashimi on plates in the small house. Sashimi and japanese sake are used for the communion (in hidden christian's culture) during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Two women from hidden christian community pray in front of an altar.
Mr Tanaka's son didn't take the continuation of hidden christian's culture, but he knows the folklore of them, like small stone with a cross engraved on it was used by hidden christians to indicate a holy (clean) place where they can gather, have a ceremony...
A tourist family seats on rock at the Christian martyrs monument at Unzen volcano.
View of Ikitsuki bridge from a cemetery, this bridge is the only road access to the small island.
Ikitsuki Island in Nagasaki is the most famous place where hidden christian (kakure kirishitan in Japanese) escaped repression by the shogun Tokugawa.
Tanimoto Masatsugu, a descendant of hidden christian, prays in a small room of the house.
Tanimoto Masatsugu, a descendant of hidden christian, prepare "god in the closet" in a small room of the house before to pray.
Hidden christian icons are display inside the house of Sakae Dori, painting use some buddhism style for discretion.
Funabara Mavashi, a descendant of hidden christian, prays with his family relic also called "god in the closet" in his house.
Funabara Mavashi, a descendant of hidden christian, family's relic also called "god in the closet" are display in a hidden place of his house.
Men from hidden christian community sign orasho before communion each other at the house of Sakae Dori (center).
Men from hidden christian community sign orasho before communion each other at the house of Sakae Dori (center).
Men from hidden christian community sign orasho before communion each other at the house of Sakae Dori (center).
Men from hidden christian community sign orasho before communion each other at the house of Sakae Dori (center).
Men from hidden christian community sign orasho in a room of the museum.
An orasho is wrote in phonetic sign on a paper, displayed inside the hidden christian museum in Ikitsuki.
Inside the hidden christian's culture a martinet is not use for flagellation but purify a place against ghost for example.
A simple grave with few stones for place where Gaspard was buried after his execution.
Men for hidden christian community members do communion after a ceremony. Sashimi and japanese sake are used for the communion (in hidden christian's culture) during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Women for hidden christian community members put some sashimi on plates in the small house. Sashimi and japanese sake are used for the communion (in hidden christian's culture) during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Women for hidden christian community members prays outside the small house, separately for men during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Hidden christian community members prays and sing orasho during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Hidden christian community members prays and sing orasho during a ceremony for summer (and middle of the year).
Mr Tanaka's son takes continuation of family wagyu (japanese famous beef) business, but for him he is buddhist and didn't take the continuation of hidden christian's culture.
This cemetery in front of Nakaeno island was the place for hidden christian to be buried, buddhism grave are also use for them.
A small house with a cross on it, was built to tribute of martyrdom on Yakima, the small forest close to the house is holly land for hidden christian.
Koshiro, also known as San Pablo's grave where is was executed on Mt Koshira, holly land for christian.
A christian's grave in cemetery, where simple crosses from kakure christian, but also catholic and buddhism are mixed together.