NAGASAKI, DIOCESE OF. — A suffragan see of Tokyo, it is situated in the western part of the island of Kyushu. It comprises the entire civil prefecture of the same name, which has an area of 4,192 sq. km. This territory was first part of the diocese of Funai, erected in 1588; it then passed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Japan, erected in 1846, and to that of Northern and Southern Japan (20 June 1876). The latter was elevated to a diocese on 15 June 1891. After the diocese of Fukuoka was detached, the remaining territory was entrusted to the Japanese secular clergy on 16 July 1927. The first native bishop, Abp. Gennaro K. Hayasaka, was consecrated in Rome by Pope Pius XI on the feast of Christ the King of that year.
The first to sow the seed of the Gospel in this territory was St. Francis Xavier in 1550. The work of the Saint was continued by Jesuit Fathers and Brothers, and by 1552 there were already 200 Catholics at Hirado. Among these should be remembered the diary of Arima, Protasio Harunobu, and that of Omura, Bartolomeo Omura Sumitada, who in 1582, together with the diary of Bungi, sent an embassy to the Holy See promoted by Fr. Alessandro Valignano. In 1593 the Franciscans established their residence at Nagasaki. To them were added in 1606 the Augustinians and in 1613 the Dominicans. In 1587 the first edict prohibiting the Christian religion was issued by the sovereign Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1597 twenty-six Japanese martyrs were crucified at Nagasaki, of whom Abp. Pedro Martins, bishop of Funai, was an eyewitness.
In 1863, after various persecutions, the era of missionary revival began through the efforts of Fr. Petitjean of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. In 1865 he discovered at Urakami, near Nagasaki, many thousands of Christians, descendants of those of the 17th century, who had secretly maintained their faith despite the absence of priests and any external assistance.
According to the statistical calculations of 1950, the population numbers 1,657,558, mostly Buddhists and Shintoists. There are 63,170 Catholics with about 350 catechumens, some 3,000 Protestants; 44 secular priests, of whom 40 are Japanese; 17 regular priests; 27 brothers; 431 sisters, both foreign and native; 26 major and 77 minor seminarians; 402 catechists; 153 teachers; 47 sacred buildings; 36 parishes, 3 main stations and 83 secondary ones; 3 hospitals; 5 orphanages; 2 homes for the elderly; 22 kindergartens; one elementary school; 3 middle schools; 3 high schools; one vocational school. Two newspapers are published: *Catholic Kyoho* with 13,500 copies; *Seibon Kishi* with 32,500 copies.