The History of Christian Music in Japan

The History of Christian Music in Japan:  Its Rise and Fall.
---The Prayer Song:Introduced by St.Francisco Xavier in the 16th Century.

 Preface:
 
 1. A cradle where the Japanese played western music for the first time.
 
    <1> The first encounter with the western music.
    <2> Bungo Funai(Oita City) as a nursery, breeding the seed of
        "The western Culture" to bloom.

 2. The contents of music education in Kyushu in the 16th century.

 3. The first introduction of the Pump Organ to Japan in the 16th 
    century.
 
 4. The music education in Seminarios(Christian elementary schools).
 
 5. The departure for Europe by a Japanese government mission in 
    the Tensho era(The Tensho Mission).

 6. The cultural state of affairs when the Mission landed Europe.

    <1> The cultural state of affairs in Europe in the 16th century.
    <2> Western music in the Renaissance and the Reformation era.
    <3> Renaissance music in European countries in the second half 
       of the 16th century.

 7. The footprints left by the Mission on European soil and the 
    music that might have reached to their ears.

 8. The return of the Mission. 

 9. The Prohibition of Christianity in 1614 and the discovery of the
    remaining Christians called KAKURE KIRISHITAN in the Showa era.

 10.The annual function of the remaining Christians on Ikitsuki 
    Island(Nagasaki prefecture) and the existence of pray songs 
    named UTA ORASHO.

 11.The prayer music sounds beyond time and space. 

 Conclusion:  The rise and fall of Christian music introduced by 
              St.Francisco Xavier---- from a musical view point.
   
 Postscript: 

 "The Western Culture" time table: 

 The Gregorian sacred song in "Sacaramenta":