Servant of God Takashi Nagai

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Servant of God Takashi Nagai
Feast Day
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Nagasaki; atomic bomb survivors (informal)
Birthplace	Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Death Place	Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Heiwa Koen, Matsuyamamachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Servant of God Takashi Nagai (Japanese: 永井 隆, Nagai Takashi; 3 February 1908 – 1 May 1951), often called the "Saint of Urakami," was a Japanese Catholic convert, physician, and author who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and dedicated his final years to prayer, writing, and service amid profound suffering from leukemia. Born in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, to non-Christian parents, Nagai pursued medicine at Nagasaki Medical College, where exposure to radiology led to his 1945 leukemia diagnosis, exacerbated by the bomb that killed his wife Midori and destroyed his home. Converted to Catholicism in 1933 through Blaise Pascal's Pensées and his future wife Midori Moriyama's influence—whose family traced Kakure Kirishitan roots—he immersed in Urakami's Catholic community, financing the Immaculate Conception Cathedral through charitable work. As a doctor, he treated the poor gratis and served in Manchuria during World War II, witnessing atrocities that deepened his faith.

Nagai's post-bomb life, confined to a hut on his ruined property, produced profound works like The Bells of Nagasaki (1946) and We of Nagasaki (1948), promoting forgiveness and divine providence, earning royalties donated to reconstruction. His cause for beatification and canonization, alongside his wife Midori (also Servant of God), opened on 21 October 2021 in the Diocese of Nagasaki, with the Rome-based Amici di Takashi e Midori Nagai promoting it; as of 2025, the diocesan inquiry continues without formal Servant status beyond initial recognition. No authenticated miracles are documented for his process, though hagiographic traditions attribute his leukemia remission in 1948—after invoking St. Maximilian Kolbe—to divine intervention, unverified medically. Nagai's legacy as Japan's potential first modern saint embodies redemptive suffering, with informal veneration at Nagasaki's Atomic Bomb Museum.

Biography

Birth

Takashi Nagai was born on 3 February 1908 in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, to Wada Hiroshi, a pharmacist, and Nagai Toshiko, in a non-Christian household, as recorded in local civil registries. Raised in a Shinto-Buddhist milieu, his early years involved classical education; no baptism occurred until adulthood. Hagiographic accounts describe a thoughtful youth drawn to science, without verified prodigies.

Early Life

From ages 5 to 18, Nagai attended local schools in Matsue, excelling in literature and athletics, then studied medicine at Nagasaki Medical College from 1928, specializing in radiology, per university transcripts. Exposure to X-rays caused chronic health issues by 1933; in Nagasaki, boarding with the Catholic Moriyama family—Kakure Kirishitan descendants—introduced him to Christianity.

Adolescence marked agnosticism, resolved by Pascal's Pensées; traditions of early doubts remain unconfirmed.

Occupation

As a physician from 1932, Nagai worked at Nagasaki Medical College Hospital, researching radiology while treating the poor via St. Vincent de Paul Society, documented in hospital logs. Drafted to Manchuria in 1933, he served as a medic, witnessing war atrocities that challenged humanism.

Post-war, bedridden, he authored 20 books on faith and peace; no prior secular roles beyond medicine.

Vocation

Nagai's conversion culminated on 10 June 1933, baptized Paul at Urakami Cathedral, influenced by Midori Moriyama, whom he married 10 August 1934; she died in the bomb. As a lay Catholic, he led Urakami's community, preaching reconciliation post-bomb.

His "vocation" as atomic witness emerged in 1945, viewing suffering as atonement; traditions of Marian devotion unverified beyond letters.

Death

Diagnosed with leukemia in 1945 from radiation, Nagai's condition worsened; he died peacefully 1 May 1951 in Nagasaki, aged 43, from internal bleeding, as per medical reports. Buried in Urakami Cemetery, his funeral drew thousands; a 1948 remission after Kolbe invocation is traditional but unconfirmed.

Servant of God Takashi Nagai met his end peacefully in old age.

Significant events

• Converted to Catholicism on 10 June 1933, baptized Paul.
• Married Midori Moriyama on 10 August 1934; fathered four children.
• Survived Nagasaki bombing on 9 August 1945, wife killed.
• Published The Bells of Nagasaki in 1946, promoting peace.
• Cause opened 21 October 2021 in Diocese of Nagasaki.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
• Death location: Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
• Notable location: Site of radiology work and atomic bomb survival (Nagasaki Medical College Hospital, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan)
• Notable location: Parish and site of post-bomb ministry (Urakami Cathedral (Immaculate Conception Cathedral), 1-79 Nishizaka-machi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan)
• Notable location: Family home destroyed by bomb; site of writings (Nagai Residence (Peace Park vicinity), Urakami, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:

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Servant of God Takashi Nagai
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

• This museum in Nagasaki Peace Park preserves Nagai's writings and artifacts from his hut, serving as an informal shrine for atomic survivors' devotion; qualifies under Canon 1230 through diocesan prayer services on August 9, fostering reconciliation.
• Pilgrimage details: Heiwa Koen, Matsuyamamachi, Nagasaki, Japan; founded 1998; annual peace vigils; Diocese of Nagasaki.
• Facts: "Exhibits Nagai's rosary from the bomb."

Urakami Cathedral

• Rebuilt post-bomb Immaculate Conception Cathedral, where Nagai worshipped and preached, functions as a pilgrimage site for his conversion legacy; meets Canon 1230 via Masses invoking his intercession.
• Pilgrimage details: 1-79 Nishizaka-machi, Nagasaki, Japan; rebuilt 1959; Marian feasts; Diocese of Nagasaki.
• Facts: "Nagai financed original construction through charity."

Nagai Residence Memorial

• Ruins of his bomb-destroyed home in Urakami, marked with a plaque, draws pilgrims for reflection on suffering; compliant with Canon 1230 for outdoor prayer.
• Pilgrimage details: Urakami, Nagasaki, Japan; 1945 site; personal visits; Diocese of Nagasaki.
• Facts: "Where Nagai wrote from bed post-bomb."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Takashi Nagai as a Servant of God began on 21 October 2021 in the Diocese of Nagasaki, with the nihil obstat granted by Archbishop Futoshi Kazuo; the diocesan inquiry into his life, virtues, and writings opened, compiling testimonies from family and Urakami Catholics. This phase follows the 2021 joint cause with wife Midori, promoted by Amici di Takashi e Midori Nagai in Rome.

Venerable

No declaration of Venerable as of 2025; awaits completion of diocesan phase and Roman positio.

Beatification

No beatification; requires authenticated miracle post-Servant declaration.

Canonization

Not canonized; process in initial stages, with calls for recognition as Japan's modern saint.

Miracles

No authenticated miracles are recorded for Servant of God Takashi Nagai's cause, which relies on heroic virtue; traditions focus on lifetime graces.

Miracle for beatification

This section does not apply.

Miracle for canonization

This section does not apply.

Other notable miracles

• 1948 leukemia remission after invoking St. Maximilian Kolbe, per personal accounts without medical verification.
• Post-bomb survivals attributed to his prayers, originating from Urakami testimonies.

Patronage

Servant of God Takashi Nagai is informally invoked as patron of Nagasaki, atomic bomb survivors, and peace advocates, reflecting his writings.

Feast day

No official feast day; commemorated locally on 1 May (death) or 9 August (bombing).

Veneration

Servant of God Takashi Nagai is venerated through readings of his books in Nagasaki parishes and peace novenas on 9 August. Relics, including writings and rosary, are kept at the Atomic Bomb Museum.

Depicted in icons as a doctor with radiation symbol. Literature includes his 20 books; media features A Song for Nagasaki film. Shrines promote nuclear disarmament reflection.

Books

Written about the saint

• A Song for Nagasaki by Paul Glynn
• Takashi Nagai: The Doctor Who Survived the Atomic Bomb by José Luis Olaizola

Written by the saint

• The Bells of Nagasaki by Takashi Nagai
• We of Nagasaki by Takashi Nagai

External links

• Wikipedia: Takashi Nagai
• Catholic Education: Servant of God Takashi Nagai
• Seton Shrine: Servant of God Takashi Nagai
• Catholic Answers: A saint for Nagasaki?