It was a sultry summer evening in Omura, a city in Nagasaki, Japan, yet there we were, dressed for the first time in traditional yukata, the Japanese casual version of the kimono, skittering through dark streets and alleyways in our geta (wooden clogs) to join the annual street party of the town’s Summer Festival.
Beads of sweat began to drip down our backs, but despite the oppressive heat the merrymaking was just too contagious to resist. There were street dancers who cajoled us into joining their group (which we genially obliged), and we found ourselves dancing and chanting in the streets.
Vendors sold local specialties, as well as alcohol and nonalcoholic drinks. It was a festive atmosphere, a tradition that heralds the summer purification rites. During the three-day festival, locals would visit Omura’s 25 Shinto shrines to be cleansed of their sins. The street party is a celebration of that purification.
Unknown to many, though, Nagasaki Prefecture is home to Japan’s largest population of Christian Catholics. St. Francis Xavier introduced Christianity to Japan in 1549; the following year, many missionaries came to Nagasaki.
Christianity rapidly flourished that Nagasaki was called the “Little Rome.” Unfortunately, in 1624, an edict expelling Jesuit missionaries was issued. Ten years after the edict, 20 lay people and six missionaries were crucified on a hill in Nishizaka, Nagasaki.
Today, a memorial on their unwavering faith and bravery stands on the same hill where they died.
Nearby is the 26 Martyrs Museum, which documents the suppression of Christianity that led to the execution in 1597 of 26 Catholics—four Spaniards, one Mexican, one Indian, all Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits and 17 Japanese laymen including three young boys, who were all members of the Third Order of St. Francis.
The Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, also has a martyrdom site at the Museum’s patio.
Other suspected Japanese Christians were forced to step on the image of the Virgin Mary, or they will either be burned alive or crucified. Many pretended to be Buddhists while secretly practicing their Christian faith.
It was not until 200 years later that the edict was lifted.
“This is the Philippines’ connection to Japan, the Christianity aspect. We can build this into the new pilgrimage destination in Asia,” said Robert Lim Joseph, president of Network of Independent Travel and Allied Services (Nitas).
Oldest church
Oura Catholic Church, the oldest church in Japan constructed in 1864, is also a national treasure, the first Western-inspired building to be cited with the honor. It is also known as the Church of the 26 Martyrs.
A few steps away is Glover Garden, where we were comfortably whisked up the hillside by escalators. We hear it’s best to visit during springtime when beds of flowers line the walkways.
The park, designed like an open-air museum, has a sculpture of Madame Butterfly. Nagasaki has always been known for two things—Puccini’s love story opera, “Madame Butterfly,” and the horrific dropping of the second atomic bomb (the first was in Hiroshima) in the final days of World War II.
The hilly and mountainous terrain of Nagasaki somehow lessened its devastation unlike Hiroshima. In some parts, our guide said, only the stained glasses of churches in Nagasaki were shattered. Still, thousands of people were killed when the bomb was dropped.
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum shows the aftermath of the tragedy. Across it is the Peace Park commemorating the date of the bombing on Aug. 9, 1945.
Today, however, no trace of the war remains except in museums, as we toured this side of the prefecture, taking in the majestic view of forested mountains and green spaces. Nagasaki, after all, is also the site of Hollywood blockbusters such as the Tom Cruise movie “The Last Samurai,” the Daniel Craig flick “Skyfall” and “Wolverine” starring Hugh Jackman.
‘99 islands’
The tour’s third day made a brief stop at Hasami Town, hometown of Nagasaki’s pottery village, where we witnessed pottery-making handpainted by the locals.
In Sasebo City we went cruising around Kujukushima, a 50-minute boat ride through Nagasaki’s “99 islands.”
There are actually more than 200 islands off the coast of Sasebo, but the cruise has since been credited to 99 islands since “kujuku” literally means “99.” As the boat passed around coves, we saw pearl farms and vacationers kayaking.
The Kujukushima Aquarium allowed visitors to open oysters and harvest the pearls; we had the option to turn them into a keychain, necklace, or simply keep as a souvenir. Pearls come in gold, silver, yellow, or pink, each color interpreting supposedly one’s personality.
Then we checked-in at Huis Ten Bosch Hotel Europe—famous for having hosted Michael Jackson, the Emperor of Japan and The Netherlands Queen Beatrix at its Royal Guest House.
Huis Ten Bosch is a Dutch-inspired amusement park. There are flower festivals here for all four seasons, 5D theaters, a movie where you become the star of the show (they scan your face before the movie starts), cruise rides, and a cheese shop selling Dutch cheeses.
Nagasaki offers a healthy mix of spiritual reconnections and recreational activities that makes it an interesting tourist destination.
The familiarization trip was sponsored by the government of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, Philippine Airlines and Nitas. Call 523-07501/6537, e-mail [email protected].
Follow the author on Twitter @annejambora
HEAD: Lucky credit card holder wins trip for 2 to Napa Valley
AUB gold cardholder Marvin Lloyd Castro is the lucky winner of the bank’s “Napa Valley Vineyard Priceless Experience” promotion. Castro, together with his companion, will travel to California, USA, sometime in September 2016.
Launched last May, the campaign offered all AUB cardholders the opportunity to see the gorgeous sights and taste the best wines that Napa Valley, one of the world’s greatest viticulture regions, has to offer.
This promotion was open to all AUB Mastercard credit card holders. Each P5,000 single-receipt purchase using the AUB Mastercard awarded a cardholder with one e-raffle entry to the promotion.
The prize package includes a four-day tour package inclusive of business class airfare/roundtrip tickets, hotel accommodations, and a tour around Napa Valley vineyards. Hosted by a world-class winemaker, the trip will treat Castro and his companion to an exclusive reception and tour of a premium winery. They will also enjoy wine tasting, blending and pairing, and dining in a Michelin star restaurant overlooking the Napa Valley vineyard.
Mastercard Philippines Vice President Ailea Zialcita says these tailored experiences further enhance how cardholders enjoy and maximize the use of their AUB Mastercard. “We wanted to provide a customized priceless experience package that rewards our cardholders’ patronage and preference for using their AUB Mastercard for their various purchasing needs,” she said.
The promotion was in line with the bank’s launch of its gold and platinum credit cards early this year.
Cardholders can use their AUB Mastercard at over 24 million establishments worldwide and enjoy local and global promotions for shopping, dining, traveling and more.
To learn more about the features and latest promotions of AUB credit cards, visit www.aub.com.ph/creditcards.
