It was around 11:00 at night. Togitsu was a Christian town. Escort officers were afraid if these martyrs might be grabbed, and took precautions. Then they didn’t permit twenty-six martyrs even to get on the beach. Keeping to have their hands tied behind their back, they crouched down and spent night in uncomfortable boats. It is considered that martyrs awaited the dawn without being able to sleep. This night became their last one on the earth. This night was certainly a Gethemane for them.
Standing in the port of Togitsu and praying with watching the bay, I feel as if I were hearing their breathing. The 800 km journey was about to end on the next day after almost one month. It was true that their flesh got all weakened. But, they had love to the Lord Jesus and their assured hope toward heaven. Their faith in their Lord were burning not vanishing even at a frosty night.
At dawn on the next day, February 2nd, they left for the hill of Nishizaka, where they would be martyred. Eventually, it came the day of their triumphal parading to heaven.
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