Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - How can the treasure of a testimony of faith that took place centuries ago, of which only a few traces remain in historical documents, be passed on to new generations? Manga comics were used for this purpose, since the story to be told to today's boys and girls took place in Japan.
Read by an ever-growing audience all over the world, manga comics have long fascinated young and old alike. In addition to the adventures of unusual superheroes, the comics, drawn in their distinctive format, now also tell the stories of real men and women who, even in times of persecution, held fast to their faith in Christ: the Japanese "hidden Christians." A phenomenon that began in the 17th century, when Christianity was banned and all missionaries were expelled.
Without priests and without churches, Japanese Catholics organized themselves: the village chief led the community, established religious solemnities according to the liturgical calendar, and safeguarded the holy books. The catechist taught the children; those who knew the baptismal formulas administered the First Sacrament; a messenger visited families to announce Sundays, Christian feasts, and days of fasting and abstinence.
The drawings are by manga artist Kan Takahama, who will present her project in Italy from March 17 to 20 as part of a series of conferences organized by the Japanese Embassy to the Holy See and the Archdiocese of Lucca. The conferences are taking place in Rome and Lucca as part of meetings organized to mark the 440th anniversary of the "Tensho Embassy." It was in March 1585 that a delegation from Japan first arrived in Rome to be officially received by the Pope. The name of the Embassy refers to the date of its creation according to the Japanese calendar of the time, i.e., the tenth year of the Tensho era.
The idea of sending a group of young Japanese representatives to Europe originated with Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit who had been engaged in missionary work in the Far East since 1573. He personally selected two boys from three of the largest Christian daimyō families in Japan at the time. The daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates and feudal lords who ruled most of Japan from the 10th century until the beginning of the Meiji period in the mid-19th century thanks to their vast hereditary landholdings.
They were joined by two other young noblemen and a small group of companions, including the Jesuit priest Diogo de Mesquita, who served as guide and interpreter. With this journey, which lasted a total of eight years (1582 to 1590), Valignano wanted to raise awareness of Japan among the European church at the time and counter certain stereotypes about the Japanese country.
And the story of the cartoonist is also connected to this history. Takahama is from Amakusa, the place where the Society of Jesus founded a college for the training of Japanese priests in 1591, and where the young men represented at the Tensho embassy continued their studies upon their return to Japan, thanks in part to Gutenberg's printing press, which was introduced with the return of the embassy representatives from Europe. Thanks to them, the first books with Christian themes were printed in Japan.
The Amakusa region, along with Nagasaki, became a place where Christians found refuge from persecution for 250 years. Despite the absence of priests, they continued to profess their faith in Christ. Today, these places are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Takahama accidentally discovered old documents about the persecution of Christians in her home's archives. She has researched how to read these documents and attempted to decipher them. She is also carefully collecting oral traditions not included in the documents, thus continuing her research into the history of the local "hidden Christians."
This was the basis for the work "Shishi to Botan" ("Lion and Peonies"). The story was inspired by another true story, the revolt of oppressed Christian peasants in 1638. The revolt was led by the Christian samurai Amakusa Shiro and bloodily suppressed. But how can historical research be translated into manga comics? This question will be addressed in the lectures given by manga artist Takahama on March 17 and 18 in Rome (at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Salesian University) and on March 20 in the rooms of the Archbishop's Residence in Lucca. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/3/2025)
