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Urakami Cathedral

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also St. Mary's Cathedral, often known as Urakami Cathedral (Japanese: Urakami Tenshudō) after its location Urakami, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Motoomachi, Nagasaki, Japan.

The atomic bomb that fell on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, detonated in Urakami only 500 m (1640 ft) from the cathedral, completely destroying it. As the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15) was near, Mass was held on the day and was well attended. The resultant collapse and heat-wave cindered and buried all those present in the cathedral.

Walking towards the cathedral.

Urakami Cathedral.
In January 1958 the Catholic community announced their intent to build a new, larger cathedral of reinforced concrete on the original site and following the plan of the original cathedral.

  • After further debate the city government accepted this proposal and the new cathedral was finished by October 1959.
  • In 1980 the cathedral was remodeled using brick tiles to more closely resemble the original French style.

Ruins of the cathedral destroyed by the atomic bomb.

North Bell Tower of Urakami Cathedral.
The estimated 50-ton bell tower was collapsed by the force of the blast.


Urakami Bombed Mary Statue.
The Marian statue of Urakami is in fact the head of a Madonna statue that survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb. Located in the Urakami Catholic chapel, the statue was destroyed during the bombing and buried in the rubble.

  • The blackened head was found by a recently discharged Japanese soldier who happened to be also a Trappist monk.

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Source

Location

Location: 1-79 Motoomachi, Nagasaki, 852-8112, Japan