Where East Meets West: Renaissance Organ Music Returns to Usuki

Usuki, located in Oita Prefecture, is a city full of history and culture. This was recently highlighted at a special event celebrating the Usuki Castle Ruins being named a National Historic Site.

The event, titled “An Evening of Renaissance Music in Usuki,” featured a rare performance on a faithfully reconstructed Renaissance organ—believed to be one of the first organs brought to Japan by Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano in 1579. One of these was gifted to Oda Nobunaga, the Sengoku-era military unifier, and the other to Otomo Sorin, the Christian feudal lord of Usuki.

The music echoed through the former castle town where Sōrin once ruled, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural exchanges between Europe and Japan nearly 450 years ago. According to Jesuit records, a grand Mass using the organ was held in Usuki in October 1580 to celebrate St. Francis Day (Sorin's Christian namesake), bringing great joy to the Lord.

Following the concert, local residents gathered around the organ—touching it, trying it out, and taking photos with it, feeling a deep connection to this extraordinary piece of history. It was a rare and emotional moment, where the past came vividly alive through sound and shared experience.

Usuki is more than a historical city—it is a living intersection of cultures, ideas, and traditions. Come and experience the timeless spirit of Usuki, where East meets West, and history continues to resonate.