Catholic Church of Okasari

Catholic Church of Okasari A Catholic Church Rooted in the Landscape of the Settlement
This project is a reconstruction plan for a Catholic church on Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. Catholic churches on Amami Oshima have been built upon the enduring faith of people who have continued to believe despite numerous hardships and periods of persecution. The church rooted in the Okasari area has, for over a century, served not only as a center of faith but also as an integral part of the settlement’s landscape.There are many Catholic churches on the island. While population decline and aging have led to a decrease in thenumber of parishioners—making maintenance an ongoing challenge—the project was initiated with the client’s aspiration to create a church that will continue to be cherished for the next 100 years. The vision is for a place loved not only by the faithful but also by the wider community.
The site is located on a hill in the northern part of Amami, overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean and surrounded by rich natural scenery. Within the grounds stand various buildings, including a bell tower, a rectory, a parish hall, and a nursery school, each forming its own place while maintaining relationships with one another.
The new structure is designed in reinforced concrete to withstand the region’s severe climate. A waffle slab roof is employed over the sanctuary to create a column-free space, while a grid structure expresses the serenity appropriate for a place of prayer. The columns are given a slight taper to enhance the sense of spatial expansion, and openings at a height of 1700 mm guide the seated eye toward the expansive ocean view. An independent wall adjacent to the sanctuary is set at a slight angle, allowing it to gently mediate relationships between the existing bell tower and parish hall without dividing them.
Around the sanctuary, gentle hills and walking paths invite activity, where the voices of children can be heard. The intention is for this place to serve not only as a site of prayer but also as a communal space where people gather and relax.
Additionally, this project actively incorporates concrete finishing techniques rarely used on the island, such as exposed aggregate finishes for walls and polished finishes for floors. These choices enrich the architectural expression while also contributing to the development of local construction skills through collaboration with regional craftsmen. We have completed numerous architectural works on this island over the years. This church stands as a continuation of that journey, with the hope that it will be passed down through generations as a place that supports both prayer and everyday life within the community.