Old execution site now used as a children’s playground
A playground for children in Nagoya has a sign identifying it as the location where Christians were once executed for their beliefs:
Former Kirishitan execution site and burial ground for people who had no living relatives
In 1661, during the era of the Edo Shogunate’s “Prohibition of Kirishitan (Christianity) Policy”, the second-generation lord of the Owari feudal Clan, Mitsutomo Tokugawa began to carry out mass arrests of Kirishitan (Christians) and in 1664 executed over 200 arrestees at the Senbonmatsubara execution ground, formerly located here.
However, just one year later, Mitsutomo Tokugawa moved the execution ground to Kawarakeno and erected the Seiryo Hermitage (existing Eikoku Temple) in its place, to pray to Buddha for the repose of the souls of those executed.
Additionally,more than 1,400 people who died leaving no living relatives behind were buried here during the period 1860-1871.
For more details, check out Coming Anarchy’s post about “dark spots for fun.”
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