Hidden Christian Artifacts in Nagasaki Prefecture Recommended for Designation

Hundreds of items used by "hidden" Christians in Nagasaki Prefecture to practice their religion during a time when doing so meant certain death have been recommended for designation as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties.

The Council for Cultural Affairs submitted its recommendation to the education minister on January 24th. These 2,218 items were used from the mid-16th century, when Christian missionaries first arrived in Japan, until the 1950s.

The sheer number of surviving items is a testament to the secrecy with which Japanese Christians practiced their faith to avoid persecution. These items are owned by six organizations, including the Hirado city government, in Nagasaki Prefecture.

After the Edo Shogunate banned Christianity and devised cruel executions for unrepentant believers in the early 17th century, followers used items that incorporated elements of Shinto and Buddhist religions. One example is a hanging scroll depicting the Virgin Mary wearing a kimono.

Among the items are prayer books called "orasho," a word derived from the Latin "oratio" for prayer.

The recommendation for designation came after officials with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, suggested a search for items used to practice the religion. This led the Nagasaki prefectural government to undertake a five-year study into Christian relics in its jurisdiction.

In addition to the artifacts, four traditional festivals, including those that use huge dolls in a ceremonial parade, were recommended for designation as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.