Tsuwano Catholic Church
Discover the understated elegance of the Tsuwano Catholic Church and the story of Otome Pass, where the Virgin Mary appeared to comfort exiled Hidden Christian martyrs enduring brutal winter torture for their faith.
The Tsuwano Catholic Church
Completed in 1931 under the guidance of Father Paul Aimé Marie Bonnet, the Tsuwano Catholic Church stands as a significant architectural landmark within the town’s historic Tonomachi district. While the exterior features the classic lines and pointed arches of Western Gothic design, the interior reveals a surprising and refined departure from European norms. In place of traditional wooden pews, the nave is laid with “tatami” mats, a deliberate integration of Japanese domestic customs into the ecclesiastical space. This feature reflects a sophisticated cultural synthesis, allowing for a worship environment that felt both sacred and familiar to the local community.
The church is further distinguished by its vibrant stained-glass windows, which depict the history of the “hidden Christians” who were exiled to Tsuwano during the late 19th century. These windows filter natural light into the wooden interior, creating a contemplative atmosphere that honors the resilience of the local faith. The craftsmanship of the timber arches and the simplicity of the altar emphasize a sense of historical dignity and continuity.
The Story of Our Lady of Otome Pass
The story of Otome Pass in Tsuwano, is one of the most powerful and tragic chapters in the history of Japanese Christianity. It takes place during the Urakami Yonban Kuzure (the Fourth Urakami Crackdown), right at the dawn of the Meiji Period when the centuries-old ban on Christianity was still ruthlessly enforced.
In 1868, the new Meiji government rounded up over 3,000 Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) who had finally come out of hiding in the Urakami district of Nagasaki. To break their faith, the government divided them into groups and exiled them to various regions across Japan.
A group of 153 Christians was sent to the remote mountain town of Tsuwano. They were confined to the grounds of a defunct Buddhist temple, Kōrin-ji, located up a steep pass known as Otome Pass. When the prisoners refused to renounce their faith and trample on images of Christ, the local officials resorted to extreme torture.
Among those placed in the suffocating sanjakurō was a 30-year-old man named Yasutaro. He was already weak because he kept secretly giving his meager food rations to others. His companions watched in heartbreak, fully expecting him to break or die in agony.
Instead, they noticed something incredible: Yasutaro seemed completely at peace, even happy.
Before he passed away, Yasutaro managed to whisper a secret to a few of his companions, asking them not to tell the others until he was gone. He said:
“Every night, a beautiful lady comes here and tells me wonderful stories, so I am not lonely at all. She is dressed in a blue gown and a blue veil, looking just like the statue of Santa Maria in our church in Nagasaki.”
According to records, the Virgin Mary appeared to Yasutaro every single night between January 7 and January 19, 1869, comforting him through the freezing darkness. When asked what message should be sent to his mother, Yasutaro smiled and replied, “Tell her I’m happy to die here. I am on the cross with our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
The next morning, after a heavy snowfall buried the area, guards found Yasutaro dead inside his cage, still wearing a peaceful smile.
