What happened here
Yokoseura was the Portuguese trading port that replaced . In 1561 a quarrel at Hirado, the Miyanomae incident, left fourteen dead, including the Portuguese captain, and the Jesuits looked for another harbor.The lord offered Yokoseura. Under the agreement with Fr. , Ōmura allowed Christianity to be preached and a church to be built, gave half the land of the port, and exempted merchants from tax for ten years. The agreement was concluded in July 1562.
In June 1563, Sumitada was baptized at Yokoseura, becoming the first Christian in Japan. also landed at Yokoseura when the port opened and began his preaching there.
A large cross stood on the islet of Hachinokojima (八ノ子島) at the harbor mouth, and it served as a landmark for incoming Portuguese ships.
The port lasted little more than a year. The City of says a revolt against Sumitada broke out in August 1563 (Eiroku 6), and in late November Yokoseura was burned and the missionaries abandoned the port.Another account dates the burning itself to Eiroku 6.7.27 (August 15, 1563), by Takaaki, acting with Ōmura's retainers(Disputed date).
What is there today
The white cross on Hachinokojima is a modern one: the present cross was rebuilt in 1962 to mark the 400th anniversary of the coming of the Portuguese ships.Yokoseura Park covers the area where the church is thought to have stood. It has an observation tower suggesting a church, a small museum, and a near life-size statue of Luís Fróis.
Visiting
Yokoseura Park is at 2933-12 Yokose-gō, Saikai-chō, Saikai City. It is about fifteen minutes' walk from Yokose-nishi port, or about 22 km by road from the Sasebo-Ōtō interchange, with free parking.Checked October 20, 2026.
People connected
- Ōmura Sumitada.
- Fr. Cosme de Torres.
- .
- Luís Fróis.
- Gotō Takaaki.
What is uncertain
Where the sources disagree
- Disputed: the date Yokoseura was burned. The City of Nagasaki gives late November 1563; -mag gives Eiroku 6.7.27 (August 15, 1563).
- Tradition, Unverified: that a Portuguese captain (Pero Palete or Parretto) saw a cross in the sky three times. No opened source.
- Unverified: "about 300 Christians" at Yokoseura, and the cross repaired in 2009. No opened source.