Youtube
Volume 3
The citrus fruit of the Sun and the Village of Hidden Christians
We will visit a citrus fruit plantation in Uki City, central Kumamoto Prefecture, because we heard that there are citrus fruit plants that are full of the blessings of Kumamoto’s Sea and mountains!
KUMAMON falls in love with the citrus fruits shining like the sun that grew on the slope overlooking the sea.
After that, we are visiting the World Heritage-listed Sakitsu Village, home of the Hidden Christians, for some relaxing sightseeing!
Fruit
Famous placeFruit
Dekopon Orange® (Citrus Fruit)
Kumamoto Prefecture is the birthplace of Dekopon Orange® , citrus fruit that was first planted in Shiranui-cho, Uki City.It has a sweet and juicy taste and beautiful distinct shape.
Dekopon Orange® is a registered trademark owned by JA Kumamoto Fruit Growers Association.
Season
Harvesting begins at the end of December every year, after harvesting the fruits undergo a maturation period before being distributed.The best time to eat is from December to June.
Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture
A historic peninsula region with beautiful sea, mountains and a lot of sunshine
Uki City is located in the center of Kumamoto Prefecture and consists of the Yatsushiro Plains and the mountains of the Udo Peninsula.The Udo Peninsula extends into the Amakusa region, dividing the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea. It has prospered since ancient times as the gateway to the sea and to Amakusa in Kumamoto.The region also has a mild climate all year round, excellent conditions for fruit farming.There are many places where you can feel the history of the area, such as the ‘Einootsurugi Shrine’ where you can see a mirage. Shiranui which is mentioned in the records of Japan and ‘Misuminishiko’ which is recognized as World Heritage Site.
Famous place
Sakitsu Village
Transcending history and the peaceful flow of time
World Heritage Site of the village of Hidden Christians.
Sakitsu Village is located on Amakusa Shimo Island, a remote island in western part of Kumamoto Prefecture.
It is an area where Buddhism, Shintoism and Christianity coexisted and continued their faith under the religious ban of the Edo period.
This culture and history have been highly evaluated in recent years, in 2016 it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site as one of the components of ‘Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region’.
In the fishing village there is a church, historical shrines, charming houses and a lot of cats, which are cherished as guardians of the fishermen. They look very cute and can be found relaxing in the village.
Sakitsu Church
Popularly known as the ‘Heavenly Hall of the Sea’
A symbol of the heart of Sakatsu Village
The church was designed in 1934 by Yosuke Tetsukawa, who is known as a master of church architecture in various parts of the Kyushu area.
The church was built in the Gothic style, with the steeple towering in front made of reinforced concrete. The interior is mainly made of wood, with tatami mat flooring, which is rare for a church.
It is said that at the strong wish of the priest at the time, the present altar was placed on the spot where the strict stamping of pictures took place during the period of forbidden religions.
©2010 Kumamoto Pref. Kumamon