Urakami Cathedral

Urakami Cathedral (浦上天主堂, Urakami Tenshudō) in Nagasaki is a Catholic church with a profound and tragic history. Located just 500 meters from the hypocenter of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, the cathedral was nearly destroyed in the blast. However, some relics survived, such as a group of charred stone saints that still stand before a decimated wall, and the head of a Saint Mary statue, which was recovered after the bombing. The modern version of the church, completed in 1959, stands as a powerful symbol of resilience.

The cathedral’s history also traces back to a darker time. Built on the site of previous “picture trampling” ceremonies in the late 1800s, the area once saw efforts to root out Christians during Japan's period of religious persecution. People were forced to trample on Christian imagery to expose hidden believers. Today, Urakami Cathedral stands as a monument to the endurance of faith and the resilience of the Nagasaki people, offering a powerful reminder of both tragedy and hope.