3 - Japan – “Silence” by Shusako Endo, September 2013 (Score 8.41)


This is a straightforward narrative which tells the story of the persecution of Roman Catholics (both Japanese and foreign priests) in the time of the establishment of the Shogunate which united Japan for the first time. Previous to that, for generations, there had been the time of the warring states.

The change is summarised in a Japanese saying –

(Oda) Nobunaga mixed the dough.

(Toyotomi) Hideyoshi baked the cake,

(Tokugawa) Ieyasu ate it.

Simplistically, Nobunaga began the process of unification, Hideyoshi consolidated it and Ieyasu took over on the death of Hideyoshi. The Tokugawa shogunate brought two centuries of peace and development by isolating the country from all outside interference. This lasted until the 1860s, at which time the Western powers forced Japan to open their ports to trade by bombarding Japanese cities and towns from the sea.

Bearing this in mind, it is important that “Silence” does not address the reasons for the persecution, especially after a long period during which the Shoguns had welcomed the Catholic priests and the trade they brought.

Set in 1643, “Silence” states that Christovao Ferreira, a Jesuit, is believed to have apostatised in Japan after being subjected to torture.

Three priests, Francisco Garrpe, Juan de Santa Maria and Sebastian Rodriguez, head for Japan from Lisbon to find out what happened to Ferreira, and to bring succour to Japanese Catholics. Rodriguez reports back in letters.

Santa Maria catches a debilitating dose of malaria, so only the other two carry on to Japan. They arrive, contact Catholic villages, baptise children and adults, hold masses, and generally teach and help their congregations.

Rodriguez pictures the face of Christ as being that of the figure in the painting in Borgo San Sepulcro, showing the figure of Christ with one foot on the sepulchre, and holding a crucifix in his right hand.

As the story progresses he begins to question his faith. He comes to realise that the God of the Japanese Catholics is not the God of the Catholic Church in Europe. Rodriguez’s God is silent in the presence of the persecution of his believers. He especially doubts when he is captured and learns of what the Japanese Catholics with him will be subjected to if he does not recant. He himself will not be harmed.

This must be the most dreadful torture, and must surely break the resolve of any decent person. Does it break Rodriguez? Read the book. I scored it at 8.5. Most, but not everyone liked it as much as I did as you can see from the average score.