To the editor
To whom it may concern:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Invitation to Kagoshima,, encounter the
history of St.Francis Xavier
Kagoshima , the southern tip district of Kyushu Island, has
played a vital role in the introduction of Asian and Europe to Japan. It was here that St.
Francis Xavier landed in the 16th centrury, the first Christian missionary to reach Japan.
The first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil were a group of shipwrecked Portuguese
sailors, who landed on the small southern-Japanese island of Tanegashima in the year 1543.
In the year 1549, the renowned Jesuit missionary St.Francis Xavier arrived, and stayed in
Kagoshima for 9 months.
St. Francis Xavier(1507 -1553) was born in Navarra(present Spain) and wrote, on concluding
his two years pioneering visit to Japan from 1549-1551," These people are my
delight.....They are the best people so far discovered, and it seems to me that among
unbelievers of Christianity no people can be found to excel them.
One year before the 450th anniversary of his landing (in 1999) we would like to invite you
to
this beautiful historical encounter by tracing his footprints in Kagoshima.
When you apply, fill in the attached application form and send it by
fax or E-mail to xavier@po.synapse.ne.jp.
Your return JAL tickets from Tokyo, 2 nights accommodation and a guided tour of the
saint*s footprint is included.
Itinerary of invitation(subject to change)
Sept 03, Thursday
Arriving in Kagoshima from Tokyo/Osaka by morning flight.
Our representatives meet at airport then transfer to Kagoshima city.
Visit to the monument of landing of St. Xavier & the ruin of Fukushoji temple where
Xavier visited several times.
Courtesy call to government office and local press.
Check in at hotel.
Evening reception hosted by Xavier Memorial Association
Sept.04,Friday
Fullday tour of Xavier Road
At 09:00 leave hotel for Ijuin, the tomb of Yajiro and Ichiujijo,the ruin of castle where
St.Xavier & Takahisa met.
At 10:30 arriving at Higashi-ichiki, pottery village & the ruin of tsurumaru castle
there where some 100 christians baptized by Xavier and Eguchi port where Xavier departed
for Hirado.
At 12:00 lunch at Gold park Kushikino
At 14:00 arriving Sendai Fukushoji, the buddist priest Kokushun Tominaga will greet you,
He is a successor of the Ninjitsu who became intimate friend of Xavier in 1549.
At 15:00 visit to Kyodomari, the ruin of first christian church in Japanese history.
At 17:30 terminates at hotel
Sept.05,Saturday
Morning tour including mass at Xavier church, Xavier Park.
Lunch at Iso Garden, a traditional Japanese garden.
Transfer to airport and catch your flight.
Application to visit the tour on St.
Francis Xavier in Kagoshima
- Name(Family, First)
- Title & Organization
- Contacting address
- Phone number
- Fax
- E-mail
|
Send this application to 099-
256-0302 by Fax.
(KTS Kagoshima Television Station)
The number of participants:
20 Persons
This tour is organized by:
Kagoshima Television Station Co., ltd.
President Umashi Hidaka
6-15-8 Murasakibaru, Kagoshima, Japan 890-8666
Ph: 099-285-8812 Fax: 099-256-0302
PIC: Shuji Yonemura-General Manager of
Enterprise Dept.
For further contact:
Mr.Shuji Yonemura(above)
Ph: 81(0)99-285-8812 Fax:81(0)99-256-0302
Toshihiro Nana*eda-St. Francis Xavier Memorial Association
Ph: 81(0)30-739-9405(day) Fax:81( 0)99-282-7629
E-mail: xavier@po.synapse.ne.jp
St.Francis Xavier Memorial Association Homepage
http://www.mg21.co.jp/xavier450
Under cooperation of:
Kagoshima Prefectural Touris Federation |