Nagasaki in Figures Population Total population: 1,377,187 Number of households: 560,720 Both as of October 1st, 2015

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2 Nagasaki Prefecture is a region blessed with beautiful natural resources and abundant tourism resources. It has many outlying islands - an astonishing 45.5% of the prefecture's total surface area consists of islands - and, thanks to this, the prefecture has the second-longest coastline in Japan. Nagasaki has two cultural heritages that it must hand down to future generations. One is the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution", which was granted World Heritage registration in The other is the "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region", for which a bid for registration in 2018 has been placed. Both collections of sites represent important chapters in Japanese history that began in Nagasaki. The magnificent drama and mystical ambience of these sites is sure to inspire the imagination and move the heart. Speaking of moving, the splendor of the night-time scenery of Nagasaki City has recently been certified as one of the "New Three Great Night Views of the World", shoulder-to-shoulder with Monaco and Hong Kong. Why not come on over to Nagasaki with someone special to you and enjoy the beautiful night views formed by the area's distinctive geographical features? The experience will without a doubt become a most wonderful memory. Futhermore, Nagasaki has long been a treasure-trove of culinary delights. Among the foods found in the prefecture is Nagasaki Wagyu, which has claimed the title of the 'best beef in Japan'*. Nagasaki Wagyu is a masterpiece born from the blessings of nature and the care of the producers. The superb balance between the red meat, which essentially constitutes the flavor of the beef itself, and the white fatty meat, gives the beef an irresistibly soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture. There are yet more delights to be found around Nagasaki, from the mountains to the sea: this place is simply jam-packed with charm. I hope that by reading through this pamphlet you will get a feel for even just one or two of the things that make our prefecture so special, from the cuisine, to the mood, from the heritage sites to the night views and more. All of us hope that you will come here and experience Nagasaki for yourself, and that by the time you leave, you will already be planning your next trip back. *The National Japanese Beef Quality Competition was held in Nagasaki Prefecture in All Nagasaki Wagyu items on show took home honor prizes, and in the Beef Cattle Division of the contest, Nagasaki Wagyu was given the Prime Minister s Award, taking its place as the best in the country. Nagasaki in Figures Population Total population: 1,377,187 Number of households: 560,720 Both as of October 1st, 2015 Geography Length of coastline: 4,178 km [As of March 31st, 2015] Area Total area: 4, km2 [Statistical reports on the land area by prefectures and municipalities in Japan] [As of October 1st, 2015] Number of islands: 594 (*Over km2.) [data from respective municipalities] [As of October 1st, 2014]

3 Industrial Heritage Christian Hata-Age Christian Scenes of Nagasaki Scenes of Nagasaki Food of Nagasaki Food of Nagasaki Nagasaki Specialties Traditional Crafts of Nagasaki Traditional Crafts of Nagasaki

4 The History of Nagasaki, Rooted in Exchange with the Outside World Nagasaki is located at the western edge of Japan. As such, it has acted as a link to the Asian continent since ancient times. During the Edo period, Nagasaki was also the only open window to the West, and prospered through the acceptance of foreign culture and mutual exchange with a great many people. To this day, numerous cultural assets that tell the story of this history of international exchange remain across the Historical documents relating to the domain duties of the So clan, who facilitated ties between Japan and Joseon (Korea) over a time-span of about 240 years, from the Kan ei period (1624 to 1644) through to the end of the Bakufu and the close of the Edo period. The library of historic records of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Joseon during the E d o p e r i o d a m o u n t s to a r o u n d 80,000 documents. [Property of the N a g a s a k i P r e fe c t u r a l Ts u s h i m a Museum of History and Folklore] prefecture. Nagasaki Meguri

5 Exchange with the Joseon (Korean) Peninsula The Fragrance of Chinese Culture Aloft in Nagasaki The islands of Iki and Tsushima lie to the west of Nagasaki Prefecture. Exchange with the Joseon Peninsula had flourished since ancient times, making these islands the point through which culture and technology from the Asian continent would make its way into Japan. The Harunotsuji Ruins on the island of Iki make an appearance in the Chinese history book Gishiwajinden as the imperial capital of Ikikoku, and are what remains of a kango shuraku (a type of village built with a surrounding moat) from the Yayoi period (300 BCE to 300 CE). Much material has been excavated, including the remnants of the oldest docking area found within Japan. These relics tell the story of the vibrant exchange that took place between Japan and the continent. Meanwhile, the border island of Tsushima, located just 50 kilometers from the Korean Peninsula, was for a time the destination of missions from Joseon. These were halted in the late 16th century when Toyotomi Hideyoshi dispatched Japanese troops to the peninsula, but were restarted in the Edo period by the So clan of the Tsushima Domain, giving Tsushima an exclusive role in diplomacy between Japan and Joseon. Starting in around the year 600, Japanese envoys were dispatched to Sui and later Tang China in order to learn about the advanced technologies and expertise developing on the continent. The envoys made their way to China via islands like Iki, Tsushima and Goto. Later, around the end of the Kamakura period (late 13th century), troops from Yuan China twice attempted to invade Japan, setting sail in large numbers. On both occasions, violent storms blew up, dubbed the Kamikaze (Divine Wind), and sunk many of the Yuan ships, leading to their defeat. This episode is known in Japanese as Moko Shurai (the Mongol Invasions) and there are many historical remnants related to this event, such as those found at the Matsuura City Takashima Seabed Ruins. Going into the Edo period, trade between Japan and China greatly increased. This trade brought not only goods from across the ocean: culturally-refined and educated Chinese people who made their way to Japan also brought with them architectural and brushwork techniques, food culture and much more. The imprints of Chinese culture can be seen around Nagasaki City, from Sofuku-ji, a temple which contains structures designated as national treasures, to Megane-bashi, the country s oldest stone arch bridge, and the Confucius Shrine, which is the only Confucian shrine in Japan to have been built by Chinese hands. Traditional festivities such as dragon-boat racing and the Spirit Boat Procession (Shoro Nagashi) bring to life the deep connection that Nagasaki shares with China. 1. Shown here is a model recreation of the docking area excavated on the west side of the Harunotsuji Ruins. In order to preserve the ruins, the excavated dirt was returned to the site after the end of the archeological survey. [Iki City] 2. This stone face was discovered at the Harunotsuji Ruins and is the only one to have been found in Japan thus far. It is thought to be an ancestral worship icon that was used to pray for fertility and so on. [property of the Iki City Ikikoku Museum] 3. The Joseon missions to Japan began during the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573). The missions were suspended for a time but recommenced during the Edo period (1603 to 1867) and saw groups of envoys up to 300 strong crossing to Japan 12 times over a period of around 200 years. [property of the Nagasaki Prefectural Tsushima History and Folk Customs Museum] 4. Mongol Invasions: Islands like Tsushima, Iki and Takashima became the frontlines of the Mongolian invasions and battles, turning into bloody battlefields as many island residents were massacred. [property of the Kyushu University Library] 5. Megane-bashi: This was the first arch-shaped stone bridge in the country and is one of the Three Famous Bridges of Japan, alongside Nihonbashi and Kintaikyo. The reflection of the arches in the river creates two half-circles and makes the overall appearance resemble a pair of glasses, which is where the bridge is said to have got its name (as megane means glasses in Japanese). [Nagasaki City] 6. Confucius Shrine: Although damaged by the atomic bombing, the shrine was repaired after the war and reconstructed in In 1983, with cooperation from the Chinese government, renovations were carried out with stone statues also being installed. [Nagasaki City] 7. Sofuku-ji: This temple was constructed in 1629 by Chinese residents of Nagasaki who were originally from Fujian. Of the three national treasures found in Nagasaki, two of them are located at Sofuku-ji. [Nagasaki City] Enquiries: Arts & Culture Division, Nagasaki Prefectural Government. Tel:

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7 Bakufu Kaientai Dejima & the End of Edo