|
| |
 |
We had a Kyushu Island session of Group of Friends from September 28 through 29. Six members of Oita branch took Seagaia, a limited express, at 11:02 in the morning. We changed the train to Kirishima at Miyazaki station. Afer a long time on the trains, for five and a half hour, we at last arrived at Kagoshima station, some 200 miles to the south of Oita. |
 |
Active volcano Sakurajima welcomes us in the cloudy sky. The grand vista of the volcano always makes passengers enjoy. |
 |
I explored the town before the meeting starts in the evening. I have long been expecting to visit Xavier Church in Kagoshima. Missionary Fransisco Xavier of Spain marked his first step on the soil of Japan on August 15, 1549 here in Kagoshima. He first brought in Christianity into Japan. He propagated Christianity in Kagoshima, Yamaguchi, Kyoto, and Oita. The billboad on the left reads "The 450th anniversary of first landing of Xavier will be open in 14 days." |
 The memorial park of Xavier's 400th anniversary features its statue of the missionary. A part of old stone-made church is used to construct the monument. In this October, another statue of Xavier and Kagoshima believers will be constructed here as a part of many events to be held in Kagoshima City. | |
 @@ In commemoration with Xavier's 400 anniversary, Xavier Church was first constructed in 1949 and rebuit in this year. A ceremony called "New Cathedral Dedication" was held just on September 17. The interior is very simple, beautifully illuminated by gentle light through colorful stained glass, filling a solemn atmosphere in the hall.
| |
 |
A large painting on the wall of the Cathedral tells us the arrival of Christianity to Japan. Xavier first brought-in not only Chrstianity, but also Western spiritual culture, life, and science. He was engaged in missionary work for two years with great difficulties, but his seeds are now grown up in the hearts of the believers. |
 |
We took a dinner at restaurant Satsuma (old name of Kagoshima) located close to Tenmonkan amusement center. I have once visited the restaurant 15 years ago on my trip to Kagoshima to join a meeting of Group of Friends. |
This is an excerpt from Ms. Mieko Nagano's photo journal dealing with her visit to Kagoshima, in so far as it touches upon St. Francis Xavier. This excerpt is taken from http://pretty.coara.or.jp/~mieko/990927kagoshima/990927kagoshima.htm .Her entries for Ikitsuki, a remote island in the westernmost part of Kyushu, too may be of interest to Xavier fans, for there she comments about the ruins related to "Kakure-Kirishitan" Hidden Christians in that island." The Ikitsuki entries are at:http://www.coara.or.jp/~mieko/ikitsuki.htm Ms. Nagano describes herself as "an ordinary housewife living in the western suburbs of Oita City, a medium-sized local city on Kyushu Island." Sincere thanks to her for giving me permission to use her materials here. |
