Manga reveals the secret of the hidden Christians of Japan!

Manga reveals the secret of the hidden Christians of Japan!

Amakusa, Japan - in an exciting step to shed light on the fate of the "hidden Christians" of Japan, the talented artist Kan Takahama presents her manga "Shishi to Botan" ("Lion and Pearzen"). This in Rome and Lucca tells Graphic Novel about the brave Christians who kept their faith secret in the 17th century despite forbidden and brutal persecution. As the Vatican mission press service, Fides, reports, the presentation will be part of a conference that takes place on the occasion of the 440th anniversary of the historical "Tensho message". This significant event is organized by the Japanese message in the Holy Chair and the Archdiocese of Lucca.

manga and history combined

The "Kakure Kirishitan", as they are called in Japanese, lived without priests or churches during the persecution years and led their communities in the dark. Takahama, even from the Amakusa region, came across old documents and oral traditions that document the life of these secret Christians. Her manga also addresses the brutal peasant uprising of Shimabara (1637/38), which was led by the Christian Samurai Amakusa Shiro and demanded thousands of victims.

In the manga "Amakusa 1637", such as , the story of a group of friends who are unexpectedly returned to 1636 during a cruise. The protagonist Hayumi Natsuki, who resembles the late Amakusa Shirou, is drawn into the conflicts of the time and fights against the persecution of Christians. This combination of historical fiction and real events shows how manga serves as a powerful medium in order to create historical awareness and to keep stories of faith and resistance alive.