The 'Tomb of Christ' in Japan
A village in northern Japan claims that Jesus lived out his life there as a farmer and died aged 106.
What was reported
In 1935 the writer Takeuchi Kiyomaro claimed to have found ancient documents showing that Jesus had studied in Japan as a young man, escaped execution when his brother took his place, and returned to Japan to settle in the village of Herai, now Shingō, where he married and lived to 106.
Two grave mounds marked with wooden crosses are said to be his and his brother's, and the village holds an annual festival there.
Explanations offered
The documents were said to have been destroyed in the Second World War, and historians regard the story as a modern invention; Takeuchi promoted several similar claims. The village isn't Christian, and the site is mainly a curiosity for visitors, with a small museum.
- When
- Claimed since 1935
- Where
- Shingō, Aomori, Japan
- Witnesses
- Villagers and visitors
- Status
- Legend
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