80115-0020 - Takabokojima Island

Takabokojima island (高鉾島) as seen from Kaminoshima (神ノ島) around 1895 (Meiji 28). Sanpan boats (サンパン) are moored at the pier.

The island was also known as Pappenberg (パーペンベルグ, a misspelling of Papenberg, rude Dutch for Catholic Mountain).

It was a landmark for foreign ships entering Nagasaki Harbour. Until the country was opened to foreign trade, they were forced to anchor here, so they could be inspected by the Japanese authorities.

It was mistakenly believed that early Japanese Christians and missionaries had been thrown to their deaths here.

More probable is that the (Protestant) Dutch called the island by this name because they observed the ships of (Catholic) Portuguese at anchor at this place.