For several centuries Nagasaki was the only place in Japan where foreigners were welcome, early on these were the Portuguese and later the Dutch. This change happened due to the strong efforts by the Portuguese to convert the locals, which was not appreciated by the local rulers.
The 26 martyrs are a group of 20 Japanese who converted to Christianity along with six foreign-born priests, who in 1597 were executed in Nagasaki after being caught preaching in Kyoto and Osaka.Â
The group was marched back in the winter snow and then hung up and crucified in Nagasaki as a warning to the rest of the Christian population. Not long after the Portuguese were banned from returning and so was the Christian faith.Â
The pope canonized the 26 in 1862, and the center was built to commemorate this event. The main piece is a large bronze plate crafted by Yasutake Funakoshi depicting the saints. The monument commemorates their lives, but also all those who were persecuted after.Â
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