I am truly gratified at the inscription of “Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki and the Amakusa Region” on the World Heritage List.
Nagasaki and the Amakusa region are home to historic hidden Christian villages.

During the Edo era, their unique cultural characteristics, cultivated through adapting to Edo society and its cultural climate, have been handed down over several generations.

These sites convey the “shape” of a faith that is unique to Japan and they are truly unparalleled worldwide as heritage of humankind.

I wish to express my deep respect for all those who have been involved in conserving these sites over the years. As we carefully conserve these world treasures I intend to renew my determination to share their appeal broadly with the world.