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Full Color Gospel Brochure, Large Print, 14-Point Type
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塩狩峠
(Shiokari Pass)
Shiokari Pass in northern Japan is a beautiful but otherwise unremarkable mountain pass, except for an event which took place there over a century ago—an event which was memorialized in the popular Japanese novel titled Shiokari Pass. The book had to be a novel because, by the time it was written, the facts available were relatively few.
The novel is based on the life and death of Masao Nagano, and the circumstances of his death which made the story particularly worth telling.
Masao Nagano worked for a Japanese railroad. On a dark wintery night in February 1909, he was on his way home from a remote church service. As the train in which he was a passenger neared the top of the pass, the rear carriage in which he was riding became detached from the train and began rolling backward down the slope. This was a very dangerous situation, because the incline was long and there were curves where the carriage might easily fly off the rails. Masao ran to the rear platform of the carriage where there was a large wheel which was designed to enable manual braking. He was seen straining on the wheel as the carriage slowed almost to a stop; then he disappeared, and the carriage finally came to a stop.
When the greatly relieved passengers got out to survey the situation, they found Masao’s body crushed by the wheels of the carriage. Although the railroad initially listed Masao’s death as an accident, the passengers, considering the position of his body, generally believed that Masao, realizing that the brake was not fully stopping the carriage, quickly decided to throw himself onto the track in order to stop the carriage. He had succeeded just in time; because, just beyond him, the incline became steeper; and controlling the rolling of the carriage would have been hopeless past that point.
Masao had a reputation as an intelligent man. It is not likely that he simply fell over the platform’s guardrail onto the track. We believe, as the passengers believed, the Masao deliberately gave his life to save his fellow passengers.
A noble act indeed! But, why did he do it? Was it just because he was an honorable man and a responsible and well-trained railroad employee? The inscription on the monument erected near the site of his sacrifice sixty years after his death suggests something more:
“In the evening of February, the 28th 1909, here at Shiokari Pass, the last carriage suddenly became un-coupled and started to run down backwards. All the passengers were in terror of the carriage derailing and overturning. At that moment, one of the passengers, Masao Nagano, who was the head of general affairs at Asahikawa Transportation Office, operated the emergency brake saving all the passengers’ lives, but he himself died under the wheels. As a devout Christian, he was carrying his will in his inner pocket at all times. “I am equally grateful for all the hardships, happiness, life and death. With gratitude I offer all I have to God” is a part of the will. He was 30 years of age.”
It appears that Masao died somewhat as his Master had died—to save others, and you may agree that he and his sacrifice are worthy to be remembered. But how much more worthy is Masao’s Master and His sacrifice?
Masao’s Master was (is) the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. … Therefore doth My Father love me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.” John 10:15-17
Furthermore, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:23-28
“But this Man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.” 1 John 3:16
You may honor Masao, even though Masao didn’t die for you; but Jesus did die for you. Have you honored Him by recognizing Him as your Savior? Are you a living monument for Him?