|
Hall Hours
|
AM9:00 - PM5:00
|
|
Closed
|
Year-end holiday period
|
|
Transportation
|
Bus: 1hr 20min. from Kumamoto Kotsu Center via
Hondo-bound Express Bus to Oyano Keisatsu-sho Mae stop.
Train: 55min. from Kumamoto Station via Misumi line to
Misumi terminal. From Misumi station 20min. via Hondo -
bound bus to Oyano Keisatsu - sho Mae stop.
|
|
Inquiries To
|
Amakusa Siro Memorial Hall
Oaza Naka 977-1, Oyano-machi,
Amakusa-gun, Kumamoto-ken 869-36
Tel. 0964-56-5311
Oyano Town hall Sightseeing Section (Kankoshokoka)
Oaza Kami 1514, Oyano-machi,
Amakusa-gun, Kumamoto-ken 869-36
Tel. 0964-56-1111
|
Amakusa Shiro: A Revolutionist
Who Wanted To Create A New Era Of Freedom And Equality
In October of 1637, the people of Amakusa and Shimabara rose up
together to demand "liberty and equality". This monumental action is
known today as the Amakusa-Shimabara Rebellion. Its leader was a
young man of only 15, Amakusa Shiro. The attempted revolution ended
four months later when the revolutionary forces were wiped out in
battle at harajo Castle on the Shimabara Peninsula. But in that time,
the people, with Amakusa Shiro as their driving forcer were united in
an unwavering pursuit of their goal.
Amakusa Shiro's real name was Shirotokisada Masuda. His father,
Jinbei Masuda, was once a retainer to Yukinaga Konishi, a Christian
Daimyo of what is now the Uto area of Kumamoto Prefecture. A child
prodigy, at 5 his writing ability is said to have been good enough to
put an adult to shame. Stories of his miracles - walking on water,
healing the sick with the touch of his hands - have been passed down
for many generations. The authencity of these accounts aside, there
is no question that he was an outstanding young man, whose good looks
and intelligence could charm anyone he came into contact with.
His oft-repeated philosophy was "Tenchi dokon banbutsu ittai,
issai shujo fusen kisen," or roughly, "all things on earth originate
from the same roots, all human beings without regard to rank." This
vision of equality found a very receptive audience in the people of
the area, who had endured many years of suffering from famine,
tyranny and suppression of their religious faith.
The Amakusa islands are joined to the main island of Kyushu by the
Amakusa Five Bridges. The first bridge, or Tenmonbashi, joins Oyano,
in Amakusa, with Misumi, on Kyushu. The second through fifth bridges
(Oyanobashi, Nakanobashi, Maejimabashi, Matsushimabashi) join Oyano
with Matsushima on Amakusa Upper Island, and the road which spans
them is well known as the Amakusa Pearl Line.
From Kumaoto to the Tenmonbashi Takes about 1 hour by bus or car,
or 55 minutes by train to Misumi terminal. Ferries also join Amakusa
with the Shimabara Peninsula. From Misumi it takes 1 hour to
Shimabara Gaiko (outer port); from Matsushima, about 1.5 hours.
The ruins of Harajo Castle are 45 minutes from Shimabara Gaiko
station by Shimabara private railway to harajo station, and then a 10
mintue walk. The high ground of the inner citadel is now used as a
park.
1. Amakusa Five Bridges
2. Martyr's Park
3. Amakusa Christian Hall
4. Sakitsu Catholic Church
5. Amakusa "Collegio" Hall
6. Oe Catholic Church
7. Amakusa Rosario Hall
8. Harajo Castle Ruins
9. Shimabara Castle
10. Santa Maria Hall
Memorial Hall Floor Plan
1. Information
2. Entrance
3. Waiting hall
4. Time Tunnel
5. Western Ship
6. Special Theme Area - European culture and Japan
7. Projection Hall - 3D pictures of the Amakusa-Shimabara
Rebellion
8. Diorama - Amakusa Shiro going ashore; the battle for Harajo
castle
9. Meditation Area
Amakusa Shiro's Fight Began In
The Era Of Long-Distance Navigation, When East-West Contact First
Brought Ideas Of Liberty And Equality to Japan
Japan's first contact with the west came in 1543, when Portuguese
sailors were washed ashore at Tanegashima in Kagoshima-ken. Japan's
"discovery" came relatively late, approximately one century into the
era of long-distance navigation. It was to be the Japanese people's
first encounter with those they dubbed the "Southern Barbarians."
Historical Timeline And Oriterius' East
India Map
1492 Columbus arrives in North
America
1522 Magellan accomplishes his
journey around the world
1543 Portuguese land on
Tanegashima - guns introduced to Japan
1549 Francis Xavier arrives in
Japan
1550 Portuguese ships first
arrive in Japan
1582 Delegation of young japanese
departs for Rome
1587 Hideyoshi Toyotoumi orders
all missionaries deported
1609 Dutch traders establish a
base in Hirado
1613 Christianity is outlawed in
Japan
1635 National isolation policy is
implemented
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier first set foot in Japan in 1549. he captivated many
people with the new ideas he spread through his teaching. Within a
few years he had converted thousands, from peasants to Daimyo, to
Christianity. This exposure to new foreign cultures planted seeds
which eventually grew into some of the most significant events in
Japanese history.
Folding Screen Painting
The European ships brought not only novel commodities to Japan. They
were also responsible for the introduction of western manners and
customs. The looks of curiosity and interest on the faces in a
folding screen painting of the period give an interesting insight
into people's feeling about the arrival of the new foreign cultures.
European Youth Delegation
In 1582 several Christian Daimyo organized a delegation of 4 young
men and sent them to Europe. In Rome, they recieved a warm reception
from the Roman people and were granted an audience with Pope Grogory
XIII.
Christian Daimyo
Various Daimyo originally sought the missionaries' patronage for
trade purposes. As they became personally exposed to the religion,
however, their faith deepened. By the end of the 16th century
Sumitada Omura, Harunobu Arima, Sorin Otomo and others had one after
another converted to Christianity.
Amakusa Books
A European-style printing press, brought to the Amakusa "College"
(Daishin School), became instrumental in the flourishing of Western
culture. Publishing works, which came to be known as the "Amakusa
Books", included Aesop's Fables among others.
Automated Clocks
In addition to commodities for trade, the European ships brought
advanced machinery of the era, which greatly fascinated the Japanese
people. One such item was the automated clock. It wasn't long before
Amakusa and other areas began making their own products, and soon
thereafter the first Japanese clock was produced.
Western Instruments
Flutes, lutes, (pictured) and other instruments also contributed to
the spread of Western culture.
Chronology Of The Amakusa-Shimabara
Rebellion
1623 Christianity is outlawed
1626 Underground organization is
formed in Oyano
1629 Faithful are arrested in
great numbers and subsequently "martyred"
1636 Famine worsens; many die of
starvation
- 1637-38
- Oct. 24 Amakusa/Shimabara
peasants' representatives convene a secret meeting on Yushima
island (in modern Oyano Town); Amakusa Shiro is elected leader.
- Oct. 25 Forceful uprising
begins in Shimabara
- Oct. 27 Forceful uprising
begins in Amakusa
- Dec.5 Amakusa-Shimabara
forces link up and occupy Harajo castle on the Shimabara peninsula
- Dec. 20 40,000 men of the
Shogunte army attack Harajo area and are beaten back
- Jan. 1 Shogunate army
again fails in an assault on the castle. Their Supreme Commander
Shigemasa Itakura is killed in the battle
- Jan. 4 Nobutsuna
Matsudaira assumes command of the Shogunate forces
- Jan. 13 Dutch ships
commence firing on the castle
- Feb. 27 Shogunate forces
again lay siege to the castle
- Feb. 28 Harajo falls to
Shogunate forces
In 1637, the peasants of Amakusa and Shimabara, long suffering
from sever religious oppression, cruel tax collection and continuing
famine, were finally pushed beyond the limits of their tolerance. led
by Amakusa Shiro, they rose up against this tyranny in October of
that year.
In December, the respective revolutionary armies joined forces and
barricaded themselved in the abandoned Harajo castle. A handwritten
document of the time (pictured right) shows Amakusa Shiro's call for
solidarity among the 37,000 strong army. In the three months until
the castle fell, most of them never set foot outside its walls.
Under the command of Shigemasa Itakura, an army comprised of
forces of serveral Kyushu Daimyo surrounded Harajo castle. In
December they attacked the castle several times, though
unsuccessfully. The Amakusa Shiro side, with resolute conviction and
clever tactics, managed to hold out until February when additional
forces sent by the Shogun finally launched the last successful
attack.
The struggle for "liberty and equality" was proclaimed over when
the last of 37,000 revolutionists perished in the flames of Harajo.
Yet even today, long after the last battle, the fire for "liberty and
equality" lit by the hand of Amakusa Shiro continues to burn on in
the hearts of the people of Amakusa and Shimabara.
