Nagasaki Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
of Japan
located on the island of Kyūshū
. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.
Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen
with the island provinces of Tsushima
and Iki
. Facing China
and Korea
, the region around Hirado
was a traditional center for both traders and pirates.
During the 16th century, Catholic missionaries
and traders from Portugal
arrived and became active in Hirado and Nagasaki, which became a major center for foreign trade. After being given free rein in Oda Nobunaga
's period, the missionaries were forced out little by little, until finally, in the Tokugawa
era, Christianity was banned under the Sakoku
national isolation policy, during which time, Japanese foreign trade was restricted to Chinese and Dutch traders based at Dejima
in Nagasaki; however, Kirishitan
(Japanese Christian) worship continued underground. These Kakure Kirishitan
(hidden Christians) were tried at every step, forced to step on fumi-e
("trample pictures", images of the Virgin Mary and saints) to prove that they were non-Christian. With the banishment of all Catholic missionaries, traders from Catholic countries were also forced out of the country. Along with them, their children, half Japanese and half European, were also forced to leave the country. The majority was sent to Jagatara (Jakarta
) and are still remembered by the locals as the people who wrote the poignant letters which were smuggled across the sea to their homeland. Today, Nagasaki has a prominent Chinatown and Catholic churches.
During the Meiji Restoration
, Nagasaki and Sasebo became major ports for foreign trade, and eventually major military bases and shipbuilding centers for the Imperial Japanese Navy
up to World War II
. On August 9, 1945, the United States
dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which completely destroyed all buildings in a one mile radius from the point of impact and extensively damaged other parts of the city. 70,000 people died and over 70,000 more were injured in the attack.
on the east, and is otherwise surrounded by water, including Ariake Bay, the Tsushima Straits, and the East China Sea
. It also includes a large number of islands such as Tsushima
and Iki
. Most of the prefecture is near the coast and there are a number of ports such as Nagasaki and a United States Navy
base at Sasebo
.
's novel "Silence
" which draws from the oral history of the local Christian ( Kirishitan
) communities, both Kakure Kirishitan
and Hanare Kirishitan.
As of 2002, there are 68,617 Catholics
in Nagasaki Prefecture, accounting for 4.52 percent of the total population of the prefecture.
of the Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League
make Nagasaki Prefecture their home.
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
located on the island of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.
History
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...
with the island provinces of Tsushima
Tsushima Province
was an old province of Japan on Tsushima Island which occupied the area corresponding to modern-day Tsushima, Nagasaki. It was sometimes called .-Political History:...
and Iki
Iki Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Nagasaki Prefecture. The province which occupied the entire area of Iki Island. It is also known as .- Political History :...
. Facing China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, the region around Hirado
Hirado, Nagasaki
is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The part historically named Hirado is located on the island of the same name. With recent mergers, the city's boundaries have expanded, and Hirado now occupies parts of the main island of Kyūshū...
was a traditional center for both traders and pirates.
During the 16th century, Catholic missionaries
Catholic missions
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases...
and traders from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
arrived and became active in Hirado and Nagasaki, which became a major center for foreign trade. After being given free rein in Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
's period, the missionaries were forced out little by little, until finally, in the Tokugawa
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
era, Christianity was banned under the Sakoku
Sakoku
was the foreign relations policy of Japan under which no foreigner could enter nor could any Japanese leave the country on penalty of death. The policy was enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate under Tokugawa Iemitsu through a number of edicts and policies from 1633–39 and remained in effect until...
national isolation policy, during which time, Japanese foreign trade was restricted to Chinese and Dutch traders based at Dejima
Dejima
was a small fan-shaped artificial island built in the bay of Nagasaki in 1634. This island, which was formed by digging a canal through a small peninsula, remained as the single place of direct trade and exchange between Japan and the outside world during the Edo period. Dejima was built to...
in Nagasaki; however, Kirishitan
Kirishitan
, from Portuguese cristão, referred to Roman Catholic Christians in Japanese and is used as a historiographic term for Roman Catholics in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Christian missionaries were known as bateren or iruman...
(Japanese Christian) worship continued underground. These Kakure Kirishitan
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
(hidden Christians) were tried at every step, forced to step on fumi-e
Fumie
A was a likeness of Jesus or Mary upon which the religious authorities of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan required suspected Christians to step in order to prove that they were not members of that outlawed religion. The use of fumi-e began with the persecution of Christians in Nagasaki in 1629...
("trample pictures", images of the Virgin Mary and saints) to prove that they were non-Christian. With the banishment of all Catholic missionaries, traders from Catholic countries were also forced out of the country. Along with them, their children, half Japanese and half European, were also forced to leave the country. The majority was sent to Jagatara (Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
) and are still remembered by the locals as the people who wrote the poignant letters which were smuggled across the sea to their homeland. Today, Nagasaki has a prominent Chinatown and Catholic churches.
During the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, Nagasaki and Sasebo became major ports for foreign trade, and eventually major military bases and shipbuilding centers for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
up to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On August 9, 1945, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which completely destroyed all buildings in a one mile radius from the point of impact and extensively damaged other parts of the city. 70,000 people died and over 70,000 more were injured in the attack.
Geography
Nagasaki borders Saga PrefectureSaga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
on the east, and is otherwise surrounded by water, including Ariake Bay, the Tsushima Straits, and the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
. It also includes a large number of islands such as Tsushima
Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...
and Iki
Iki Island
Iki Island is an island lying between the island of Kyūshū and the Tsushima islands in the Tsushima Strait, the eastern channel of the Korea Strait. It is currently part of Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan. The city of Iki is the centre of the local government. The island has three ports.The island’s...
. Most of the prefecture is near the coast and there are a number of ports such as Nagasaki and a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
base at Sasebo
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
.
Regions
Nagasaki Prefecture currently has 13 cities, 4 districts, and 8 towns. There are currently no municipalities with the designation of village within Nagasaki Prefecture.Cities
|
Minamishimabara, Nagasaki is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the southern tip of Shimabara Peninsula.Minamishimabara city was founded on March 31, 2006 upon the merger of the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu, Minami-Arima and Nishi-Arie, all from Minamitakaki District, which was... Omura, Nagasaki is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of January 1, 2009, the city has an estimated population of 89,891. The total area is 126.33 km², and includes Nagasaki Airport.-History:... Saikai, Nagasaki is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan.Saikai City was formed through the merger of five towns on the northern tip of Nishisonogi Peninsula on April 1, 2005: the former town of Saikai, Ōseto, Ōshima, Sakito and Seihi, all from Nishisonogi District... Sasebo, Nagasaki is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park... |
Shimabara, Nagasaki is a city located on the north-eastern tip of the Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen in the west, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan.-History:... Tsushima, Nagasaki is a city governed by Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is the only city of Tsushima Subprefecture and it encompasses all of Tsushima Island Archipelago, which lies in the Tsushima Strait north of Nagasaki on the western side of Kyūshū, the southernmost mainland island of Japan. the city has an... Unzen, Nagasaki is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, located on the northern tip of Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen to the south. Unzen city was formed on October 11, 2005 by a merger of the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chidiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from... |
Districts
|
Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki is a district located in Nagasaki, Japan.As of January 1, 2009, the district has an estimated population of 72,238 and a density of 1460 persons per km²...
|
Mergers and dissolutions
The following municipalities have been dissolved during the last seven years.- Kitamatsuura District:
- EmukaeEmukae, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2010 Emukae, along with the town of Shikamachi, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
, FukushimaFukushima, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On January 1, 2006 Fukushima, along with the town of Takashima, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Matsuura....
, IkitsukiIkitsuki, Nagasakiis a former town on the island of the same name located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Ikitsuki, along with the town of Tabira, and the village of Ōshima, both from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado....
, KosazaKosaza, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 1, 2006 Kosaza, along with the town of Uku, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
, ŌshimaOshima, Nagasaki (Kitamatsuura)was a village located on an island in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Ōshima, along with the towns of Ikitsuki and Tabira, both from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado....
, SechibaruSechibaru, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On April 1, 2005 Sechibaru, along with the town of Yoshii, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
, ShikamachiShikamachi, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2010 Shikamachi, along with the town of Emukae, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
, TabiraTabira, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Tabira, along with the town of Ikitsuki, and the village of Ōshima, both from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado. Its top attraction is Tabira Insect Park.As of 2003, the town had an...
, TakashimaTakashima, Nagasaki (Kitamatsuura)was a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On January 1, 2006 Takashima, along with the town of Fukushima, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Matsuura....
, UkuUku, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 1, 2006 Uku, along with the town of Kosaza, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
, YoshiiYoshii, NagasakiYoshii was a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On April 1, 2005 Yoshii, along with the town of Sechibaru, also from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Sasebo....
- Emukae
- Minamimatsuura District:
- Arikawa, Kamigotō, Kishiku, Miiraku, Narao, Naru, Shin'uonome, Tamanoura, Tomie, Wakamatsu
- Nishisonogi District:
- Iōjima, KinkaiKinkai, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.On January 4, 2006 Kinkai was merged into the expanded city of Nagasaki.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,518 and a density of 185.10 persons per km². The total area was 67.63 km²....
, KōyagiKoyagi, Nagasakiwas a town, currently part of Nagasaki City, Japan. Situated approximately 13 km south of the centre of Nagasaki City, the town is notable for the Mistubishi shipyard which occupies 60% of urban areas....
, NomozakiNomozaki, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,528 and a density of 359.68 persons per km²...
, ŌsetoOseto, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,577 and a density of 96.25 persons per km². The total area was 78.72 km²....
, ŌshimaOshima, Nagasaki (Nishisonogi)was a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 6,046 and a density of 453.56 persons per km². The total area was 13.33 km²....
, SaikaiSaikai, Nagasakiis a city located in Nagasaki, Japan.Saikai City was formed through the merger of five towns on the northern tip of Nishisonogi Peninsula on April 1, 2005: the former town of Saikai, Ōseto, Ōshima, Sakito and Seihi, all from Nishisonogi District...
, SakitoSakito, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 2,126 and a density of 150.57 persons per km². The total area was 14.12 km²....
, SanwaSanwa, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,883 and a population density of 546.60 persons per km²...
, SeihiSeihi, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.On April 1, 2005 Seihi was merged with the towns of Saikai , Ōseto, Ōshima and Sakito, all from Nishisonogi District, to form the new city of Saikai.-Geography:...
, SotomeSotome, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,412 and a density of 116.09 persons per km²...
, TakashimaTakashima, Nagasaki (Nishisonogi)was a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 791 and a density of 590.30 people per km²...
, TaramiTarami, Nagasakiwas a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 16,995 and a density of 448.65 persons per km². The total area was 37.88 km²....
- Iōjima, Kinkai
- Kitatakaki DistrictKitatakaki District, Nagasakiwas a district located in Nagasaki, Japan.On January 4, 2005 all towns from this district merged with the City of Isahaya to form the new City of Isahaya. The District of Kitatakaki was dissolved due to this merger....
:- IimoriIimori, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitatakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,979 and a density of 321.35 persons per km²...
, KonagaiKonagai, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitatakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 6,437 and a density of 208.12 persons per km²...
, MoriyamaMoriyama, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitatakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 6,154 and a density of 264.57 persons per km²...
, TakakiTakaki, Nagasakiwas a town located in Kitatakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 10,912 and a density of 219.16 persons per km²...
- Iimori
- Minamitakaki DistrictMinamitakaki District, Nagasakiwas a district located in Nagasaki, Japan. The district was dissolved on March 31, 2006.The district was equivalent to the cities of Shimabara, Unzen, and Minamishimabara....
:- AinoAino, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Aino was merged with the towns of Azuma, Chijiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
, AriakeAriake, Nagasaki) was a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On January 1, 2006 Ariake was merged into the city of Shimabara.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,863 and a density of 505.24 persons per km². The total area was 23.48 km²....
, ArieArie, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Arie was merged with the towns of Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, AzumaAzuma, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Azuma was merged with the towns of Aino, Chijiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
, ChidiwaChidiwa, Nagasaki) was a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Chijiwa was merged with the towns of Aino, Azuma, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
, FukaeFukae, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Fukae was merged with the towns of Arie, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, FutsuFutsu, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Futsu was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, KazusaKazusa, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Kazusa was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, KitaarimaKitaarima, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Kitaarima was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kuchinotsu, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, KuchinotsuKuchinotsu, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Kuchinotsu was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Minamiarima and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, KunimiKunimi, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Kunimi was merged with the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chijiwa, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
, MinamiarimaMinamiarima, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Minamiarima was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu and Nishiarie, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, MinamikushiyamaMinamikushiyama, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Minamikushiyama was merged with the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chijiwa, Kunimi, Mizuho and Obama, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
, MizuhoMizuho, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,884 and a density of 224.07 persons per km². The total area was 26.26 km²....
, NishiarieNishiarie, Nagasakiwas a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Nishiarie was merged with the towns of Arie, Fukae, Futsu, Kazusa, Kitaarima, Kuchinotsu and Minamiarima, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Minamishimabara....
, ObamaObama, Nagasakiwas the name of a town located in Minamitakaki District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Obama was merged with the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chijiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama and Mizuho, all from Minamitakaki District, to form the new city of Unzen....
- Aino
- Kamiagata District:
- Kamiagata, Kamitsushima, Mine
- Shimoagata District:
- Izuhara, Mitsushima, Toyotama
- Iki District:
- Ashibe, Gonoura, Ishida, Katsumoto
Religion
Nagasaki is the most Christianized area in Japan with Roman Catholic missions having been established there as early as the 16th century. See Shusaku EndoShusaku Endo
Shūsaku Endō was a 20th-century Japanese author who wrote from the unusual perspective of being both Japanese and Catholic...
's novel "Silence
Silence (novel)
is a 1966 novel of historical fiction by Japanese author Shusaku Endo. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution in the time of Kakure Kirishitan that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion...
" which draws from the oral history of the local Christian ( Kirishitan
Kirishitan
, from Portuguese cristão, referred to Roman Catholic Christians in Japanese and is used as a historiographic term for Roman Catholics in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Christian missionaries were known as bateren or iruman...
) communities, both Kakure Kirishitan
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
and Hanare Kirishitan.
As of 2002, there are 68,617 Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Nagasaki Prefecture, accounting for 4.52 percent of the total population of the prefecture.
Sports
The Nagasaki SaintsNagasaki Saints
The were a semi-professional baseball team in the Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League of Japan that played out of Nagasaki Prefecture. The team was established as part of an expansion of the league in 2008. Following the 2010 season, the team announced that it would not be participating in the league's...
of the Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League
Shikoku-Kyushu Island League
The is a baseball league on the islands of Shikoku in Japan. Neither the Central nor the Pacific League has a team based in Shikoku.IBLJ Inc. operates the league...
make Nagasaki Prefecture their home.
Tourism
- Nagasaki (capital city)
- Ōura ChurchŌura Churchis a Roman Catholic church in Nagasaki, Japan, built soon after the end of the Japanese government's Seclusion Policy in 1853. It is also known as the Church of the 26 Japanese Martyrs...
(大浦天主堂) - Urakami CathedralUrakami CathedralSt. Mary's Cathedral, often known as Urakami Cathedral after its location Urakami, is a Roman Catholic church located in Motoomachi, Nagasaki, Japan.- History :...
(浦上天主堂) - Confucius ShrineConfucius ShrineConfucius Shrine in Nagasaki, Japan is said to be the world's only Confucian shrine built outside China by Chinese hands. Even today the land on which it stands is Chinese territory and the land rights controlled by the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.First built in 1893 by Chinese residents of Nagasaki...
- Glover GardenGlover Gardenthumb|right|250px|Glover House known as Ipponmatsu from a drawing of 1863. The tree was chopped down in the early 1900s is a park in Nagasaki, Japan built for Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish entrepreneur who contributed to the modernization of Japan in shipbuilding, coal mining, and many other...
(グラバー園) - Nagasaki Shinchi ChinatownNagasaki ChinatownNagasaki Chinatown is located in Nagasaki, Japan. This area today is a big shopping strip that covers many blocks.-History:...
- Mount InasaMount Inasais a hill to the West of Nagasaki that is 333 metres high. There is a cable car up to the top of Mt. Inasa from Nagasaki. A short walk from the cable car station are several buildings that house transmitters for TV and radio stations that serve Nagasaki and the surrounding area...
- Kōfuku-jiKofuku-ji (Nagasaki)is an Ōbaku Zen Buddhist temple established in 1624 in Nagasaki, Japan. It is an important cultural asset designated by the government.-External references:* *...
- Sōfuku-jiSofuku-ji (Nagasaki)is an Ōbaku Zen temple that was built by the Chinese monk Chaonian in 1629 as the family temple of the Chinese from Fujian Province who settled in Nagasaki.-Description:...
- Suwa ShrineSuwa Shrine (Nagasaki)Suwa Shrine is the major Shinto shrine of Nagasaki, Japan, and home to the Nagasaki Kunchi...
- Ōura Church
- Hirado
- Hirado CastleHirado Castlewas the seat of the Matsuura clan, the daimyo of Hirado Domain, of Hizen province, Kyūshū. It is located in present-day Hirado city Nagasaki prefecture, Japan...
- Sakikata Park
- Hirado Castle
- Sasebo
- Kujū-ku IslandsKujū-ku Islandsis a group of islands ranging in the west coast of Kitamatsuura Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.The Islands belong to the city of Sasebo, and the city of Hirado....
- Huis Ten Bosch (theme park)Huis Ten Bosch (theme park)is a theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture that recreates the Netherlands by displaying real size copies of old Dutch buildings. The name Huis Ten Bosch literally translates into English as "House in the Forest"...
- Tenkaihō
- Kujū-ku Islands
- Saikai
- Nagasaki Bio Park
- Shimabara Peninsula
- Mount UnzenMount Unzenis an active volcanic group of several overlapping stratovolcanoes, near the city of Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū, Japan’s southernmost main island....
- Shimabara CastleShimabara Castle, also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province , also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province , also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province (present day Nagasaki prefecture. This five-story white...
- Mount Unzen
Railroad
- JR KyushuKyushu Railway CompanyThe , also referred to as , is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group . It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea.When Japan Railways was divided in...
- Nagasaki Line
- Sasebo LineSasebo LineThe is a railway line in Japan running from Hizen-Yamaguchi Station in Kōhoku, Saga Prefecture to Sasebo Station in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture. It is part of the route connecting Sasebo with Saga and Fukuoka...
- Omura LineOmura Lineis a railway line in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Part of the JR Kyushu, it runs from Haiki Station in Sasebo to Isahaya Station in Isahaya.-Track data:*Company: Kyushu Railway Company*Distance: 47.6km*Gauge: 1067mm*Stations: 13*Tracks: Single...
- Shimabara Railway
- Matsuura Railway
Expressway and Toll road
- Nagasaki ExpresswayNagasaki Expressway' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Tosu to Nagasaki. It runs through the prefecture of Saga, and the southern half of the Nagasaki prefecture...
- West Kyushu Expressway
- Nagasaki Dejima Road
- Kawahira Toll Road
- Kunimi Toll Road
- Kawahira Toll Road
National Highway
- Route 34
- Route 35
- Route 57
- Route 202
- Route 204
- Route 205
- Route 206
- Route 207
- Route 251
- Route 324
- Route 382
- Route 383
- Route 384
- Route 389
- Route 444
- Route 498
- Route 499
Port
- Nagasaki Port
- Sasebo Port
- Matsuura Port
- Hirado Port
- Shimabara Port
- Fukue Port
- Izuhara Port of Tsushima
- Gonoura Port of Iki Island