Have you ever seen Madonna and Jesus in Wafuku – Japanese clothing? In Civitavecchia which is located 80 kilometers west-north of Rome, there is a church called Chiesa dei Santi Martiri Giapponesi. Inside the chuch, there is the Madonna holding the child Jesus and both are seen in Wafuku – Japanese clothing on the fresco of the church. This church was build in 1862 in the memory of Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan. It was destroyed during World War II but it was re-built right after.
The fresco in the church was painted by a Japanese artist Roka HASEGAWA between 1951 and 1958. Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan was a group of Roman Catholics who were executed by crucifixion on 5th February 1597, at Nagasaki. Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of Roman Catholicism in Japan.
When you are inside the church, you will think that you are in Japan. The Madonna is wearing a Kimono of 16th century design and the child Jesus has a bob hair cut and orange Hakama trousers. It seems that this unique fresco is the only one in Europe.
