Last scene. Why?

Just finished watching this myself. I feel that the Padres renouncing their faith was merely a 'formality' in front of their persecutors, but they would still go on doing their part for Christianity under the noses of the Japanese officials. The final scene where they examine the suspected Christian articles represents the padres allowing Christian articles to come into the country by saying that they weren't, therefore allowing the roots of Christianity to spread despite their obvious presence.

Thanks for your both replies. It is exactly the two thoughts shared by you in those two replies that made made me feel showing him sure ending to his amoral desire weakened the ending and made the story far less tragic than that in the novel.

Scorsese's new version has a much better ending. I agree the old Japanese version just leaves you scratching your head wondering what it was they were trying to say all along. Perhaps the massive difference in what elements are emphasized in each version's ending points to the fact that very different conclusions and interpretations can be made of the novel based on one's existing beliefs and biases.

This Japanese director apparently decided that the final takeaway message was that the flesh really is stronger willed than the spirit... which is probably the least interesting interpretation one could get from this whole story. But perhaps that interpretation was the most palpable to a Japanese audience, the majority of which were still skeptical about Christianity. It might also have to do with the fact that in the 1970s, it was hip and counter-cultural for filmmakers to take a dim view of organized religion, so this version's "shock" ending with the lustful priest (spoiled by the movie poster) was in that vain. Whereas nowdays, it is counter-cultural to present a positive view of organized religion in any movie made outside the bible belt.