On the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians
17 March, 2015 is the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians. Discovery of Japanese Christians took place in Oura Capital Church. Hidden Christians (Kirishitan) told their faith to Father Petitjean.
Before SPERA’s concerts celebrating it, Koji Oguchi, choir director talked his passion for the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians.
This column is divided into three parts.
Nagasaki and SPERA
After the concert of my 10th anniversary of choral director activity on March 2014, I began thinking what to do next. The 150th anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians (Shinto Hakken) came to my mind. It is not well known because it is recognised as local news.
I started this project because I believe that it is my mission to put my faith into music during a Lent. Fortunately, I had a chance to see the Archbishop Takami of Nagasaki, and this project began.
Recently, people advocate nominating churches in Nagasaki for a World Heritage Site, but it is not something local Catholics really want. Churches are home of the God for them. Small number of Catholics needs to maintain each church. Some of them even need to take out a loan in order to maintain the church and their faith.
As I heard their story when I went on a pilgrimage to Nagasaki, I just wanted to do something for Nagasaki. I found that I wanted to raise funds to Nagasaki from gains I receive through my choral activity.
“Discovery of Christians in Nagasaki” is changed to the “Discovery of Japanese Christians” (Nihon no Shinto Hakken). It was submitted to Rome and approved as the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians. It took place in Nagasaki, but it has an enormous impact on Japan as a whole. Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki supports a concert next March. I found that my passion followed His guidance. I am glad to see my little hope has transformed into a big vision.
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Ensemble Choir SPERA sings in the concert. It sang in a concert on 2014 too. I work with them because I have made music with members of SPERA for a long time, and they naturally see the God through music without prejudice. Of course thinking is important but it is more important to see Him without any doubt through services and music as I did in church since I was young.
It is natural for members to be greedy, but I believe that it is our mission to just enjoy music and to sing with our faith.
Discovery of Japanese Christians in a History
Among hymns in Tenrei Seika and the Japanese Catholic Hymn Book (Katorikku Seikashu), SPERA mainly sings hymns that many Japanese Christians are familiar with.
When the Discovery of Japanese Christians took place, liturgy proceeded in Latin. When I attended a Mass on 17 March two years ago, Mass was sung in Latin. Japanese one was also sung. Foreign Catholics could not sing in Japanese, but they sang in Latin with other Japanese.
After the Second Vatican Council, language of each country are emphasised, but the tradition of Latin needs to be kept as a common language in churches. SPERA will sing hymns regarding a Lent and Saint Mary in Latin in a concert devoted to Saint Mary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians.
Tenrei Seika is a primary hymn book for Catholic churches in Japan, but the importance of Japanese Catholic Hymn Book, which was organised before Tenrei Seika should not be forgotten. Hymns in the hymn book were written in literary style in Japanese, and they have traditionally sung by Japanese ancestry.
Hymns in Tenrei Seika are sung in Masses, but I want to look at them from an artistic perspective in the concert. It is generally a source of “output” for Catholic, but listening to them in a concert will be a new opportunity. This “input” will provide a chance for audiences to meditate.
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Also, I want to share what I felt in Nagasaki, which are not fully reflected in Tenrei Seika, Japanese Catholic Hymn Book and masses in Latin in a programme of the concert.
When we think about the Discovery of Japanese Christians, we also need to remember the plight of Japanese Christians since the era of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Japanese Christians continued their faith even they were prosecuted as the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan.
Textbook on history just says that Christians were forced to step on Christian symbols. But it is just a part of the story. Japanese people do not really know how Japanese Christians kept their faith.
Not only martyrs but also even some Christians stepped on Christian symbols kept their faith with a tiny hope in their mind. Then I wanted to reflect their faith in music. Nishizaka Park in Nagasaki, where the twenty-six Christians were martyred is the place came to my mind. Relief in Nishizaka Park says, “Laudate Dominum omnes gentes”. It means “O praise the Lord, all ye nations”. I found that a martyrdom for them was to praise the God. I was just moved. I always feel a great holy spirit when I stand in front of the relief.
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On 5 February, the day the twenty-six Christians were martyred, masses proceed throughout the day. I feel that many people just focus on martyrdom, and some wrongly assume that the Christian faith means to give their lives.
It is not true. God is with us. Martyrdom was led by the God inside of them and their faith at the time. Samurai is the same. At the time, harakiri was the way to take responsibility. Martyrdom might be a way to confirm their faith at the time, but in today’s context, we should use our “talent”. It is a way to confirm our faith today. I believe a musical talent is given to me. So I need to think how to use my talent through music. Then I decided to form The Prayer for the Twenty-Six Martyrs in Japan from music of the Taizé Community for this concert.
The 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians and a Future
In Oura, where the Discovery of Japanese Christians took place, hidden Christians asked, “where is the Statue of Saint Mary (Santa Maria no Gozo wa doko)?” In front of the statue of Saint Mary, I attended a mass. In the website, the statue appears to be a big one, but it is a tiny Saint Mary that placed on the right-hand side of the altar. Miracle happened in front of the statue of Saint Mary that was brought by Father Petitjean from France. I really wanted to compose a mass for Saint Mary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians. It is during a Lent, but Gloria is included in the mass because this miracle is special. The mass is full of my ideas.
Remembering the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians enables us to start a new movement of faith towards the future. Someone needs to take an action. 150 years ago, some Christians visited the Oura Capital Church to confess their faith. They might think of the possibility of martyrdom. As a catholic and a musician, I want to take an action.
It is an anniversary but not a goal. 150th anniversary itself does not matter much. But the anniversary is important because people pay attention to it, and they have a chance to know the Discovery of Japanese Christians.
As an imperfect human being, our faith can weaken any time. So this anniversary is an important opportunity for us to think about future, remembering our ancestors. I believe that we need to make each moment count. We need to pass our faith to the next generation because a number of children are decreasing, and the church community is aging.
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Kingdom of God cannot be built just within the church community. It is about peace throughout the world. So sharing a Gospel is a mission of all people.
My baptismal name is Paul. I cannot be like the Apostle Paul, but I want to and I need to do what I can do. I hope the 150th anniversary of the Discovery of Japanese Christians will be a turning point to create a new movement for a new era. New movement is needed for the future of the church. Our seeding is crucial for our mission.
Usually, I am working ecumenically but I focused on Catholicism in this concert. This programme enables me to talk to Him. He is always with me. I hope this concert gives audiences a power to pursue their missions. I am glad if they feel the power of the Christ through music in the concert.
(Excerpted from p. 5 of The Christ Weekly on 25 December 2014 “An interview with Koji Oguchi, Sharing a joy of Christian chorus and faith: Concerts for the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Christians in Tokyo and Nagasaki next March”. Some parts are modified.)
Translated by Hajime Akiyama