Endo Shusaku Literary Museum, Literary and biographical museum in Sotome, Nagasaki, Japan
The Endo Shusaku Literary Museum is a city-run museum in Nagasaki's Sotome district, opened in 2000. Its permanent exhibition recreates the writer's study and presents photographs, essays, books and manuscripts from his life. A library and a free space called Chōtō, where visitors can play go, are also part of the building.
The writer lived in the 20th century and explored Christianity in Japan through his novels, most famously in his work Silence. The museum opened in 2000 to preserve his literary legacy and continue his cultural influence.
The writer's Catholic faith shapes much of what you see here, from his desk to his Bible and rosary displayed in the rooms. These objects reveal how deeply his beliefs influenced the stories he created and the themes he explored throughout his career.
From Nagasaki Station, the Saiaki Kotsu bus takes about 75 minutes to the "Michi-no-Eki (Museum Entrance)" stop, two minutes on foot from the museum; by car it is 40 minutes along Route 202. The museum is open 9:00-17:00, with last entry at 16:30, and closes from 29 December to 3 January. From March to November a regular sightseeing bus through the Sotome area also stops here.
In January 2022, researchers discovered three previously unknown plays written by the author in the museum's collection. These findings revealed unexpected theatrical works that significantly expanded the documented body of his dramatic writing.
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