Justo Takayama

2025-10-14T15:46:53Z

2600:4040:44B7:FF00:F815:295C:AC38:189D: /* Biography */

{{Short description|Japanese Daimyō and Blessed}}
{{hatnote group|{{Family name hatnote|Takayama|lang=Japanese}}
{{baptismal name|Justo}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|高山右近|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox saint
|honorific-prefix = [[Beatification|Blessed]]
| name = Justo Takayama Ukon
| honorific_suffix= ジュスト高山右近
| image = File:Takayama-Ukon.jpg
| imagesize = 220px
| caption = Meiji Era Stylized Illustration of Justo Takayama in WoodBlock Print by Utagawa Yoshiiku
| titles = [[Martyr]]
| birth_name = Takayama Hikogorō
| birth_date = c. 1552
| birth_place = [[Haibara, Nara]], [[Sengoku period|Sengoku Period]], [[Ashikaga Shogunate]]
| death_date = 3 or 5 February {{death year and age|1615|1552}}
| death_place = [[Manila]], [[Captaincy General of the Philippines]], [[Viceroyalty of New Spain]]
| death_cause = [[Fever]]
| feast_day = 3 February
| beatified_date = 7 February 2017
| beatified_place = [[Osaka-jō Hall]], [[Osaka]], [[Japan]]
| beatified_by = [[Angelo Amato|Cardinal Angelo Amato]] (on behalf of [[Pope Francis]])
| canonized_date =
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by =
| major_shrine = [[Manila Cathedral]], [[Intramuros]], [[Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| attributes = [[Sword]], [[crucifix]], samurai robes, [[martyr's palm]]
| patronage = 
| issues =
| suppressed_date =
| venerated_in = [[Catholic Church]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Justo Takayama Ukon'''|ジュスト高山右近|}}, born {{nihongo|'''Takayama Hikogorō'''|高山彦五郎|}} and also known as '''Dom Justo Takayama''' (c. 1552/1553 - 5 February 1615) was a [[Kirishitan|Japanese Catholic]] [[daimyō]] and samurai during the [[Sengoku period]] that saw rampant [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholic]] sentiment.<ref name=SQPN>{{cite web|url=http://catholicsaints.info/blessed-iustus-takayama-ukon/|title=Blessed Iustus Takayama Ukon|publisher=Saints SQPN|date=6 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=CBCJ>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/catholic/saintbeato/ukon/|title=Justo Takayama Ukon|publisher=Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan|access-date=26 July 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref>

Takayama was baptized into the [[Catholic Church]] in 1564 when he was twelve, though he later became disenfranchised from his religion due to his actions as a samurai. He eventually renewed his faith after a [[Coming of age|coming-of-age]] ritual near the age of 20. He renounced his samurai status to devote himself to Christianity and was exiled to [[Manila]] in 1614, where he lived until his death two months later.<ref name="SEB">{{cite web|url=http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/96314|title=Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon|publisher=Santi e Beati|access-date=18 February 2017|language=Italian}}</ref><ref name="AO">{{cite news|url=http://aleteia.org/2016/05/12/the-catholic-samurai-who-could-be-declared-a-saint/|title=Takayama Ukon: The Catholic Samurai on the Path to Sainthood|date=12 May 2016|work=[[Aleteia]]|publisher=Aleteia SAS|access-date=18 February 2017}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

His cause for sainthood began after his death and he was declared a [[Servant of God]]. [[Pope Francis]] beatified him on 21 January 2016; the celebration occurred on 7 February 2017 in [[Osaka]] with Cardinal [[Angelo Amato]] presiding on the pope's behalf.<ref name=AN>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Takayama-Ukon,-%E2%80%9CChrist%E2%80%99s-samurai,-to-be-beatified-36469.html|title=Takayama Ukon, "Christ's samurai," to be beatified|date=22 January 2016|publisher=Asia News|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>

==Biography==
Dom Justo Takayama was the eldest son (thus the heir) of [[Takayama Tomoteru]] who was the lord of the Sawa Castle in the [[Yamato Province]].<ref name=AO/> His childhood name was '''Hikogorō''' (彦五郎).

In 1564, his father converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] after meeting with Portuguese missionaries. Hikogorō was [[baptized]] as '''Justo''' (Latin: '''Iustus'''; Japanese: ジュスト or ユスト, based on Portuguese or Latin pronunciation). After his [[coming-of-age|coming-of-age celebration]] his name was changed to '''Shigetomo''' (重友). However he is better known as '''Takayama Ukon''' (高山右近), "Ukon" being a title. Portuguese and Spanish Europeans also referred to him as [[Don (honorific)|Dom/Don]] Justo "Ucondono" (from 右近殿, ''Ukon[[Japanese honorifics|-dono]]'').<ref name=SEB/>

In 1571, he fought in an important and successful battle as part of his [[coming-of-age]] ritual which culminated in a duel to the death with a compatriot whom he killed; however, Takayama received grievous wounds in the process and during his convalescence realized he had cared little about Catholicism.<ref name=SEB/>

He married in 1574 and went on to have three sons (two died as infants) and one daughter. Justo and his father fought through the turbulent age to secure their position as a ''[[daimyō]]''. He managed to acquire Takatsuki Castle (in [[Takatsuki, Osaka]]) and participated in the [[Ishiyama Hongan-ji War]] (1570-1580) under the warlord [[Oda Nobunaga]]. He also fought under the daimyō [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] during his rule's earlier times, participating in the [[Battle of Yamazaki]] (1582), [[Battle of Shizugatake]] (1583) and [[Siege of Kagoshima]] (1587).<ref name=SQPN/><ref name=SEB/><ref name=AN/><ref name=Sansom>{{cite book|last1=Sansom|first1=George|title=A History of Japan, 1334-1615|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofjapan00sans|url-access=registration|date=1961|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford|isbn=0804705259|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofjapan00sans/page/311 311–313]}}</ref>

During their domination of Takatsuki region, he and his father pushed their policies as ''[[kirishitan]] daimyōs''. Several of their subjects converted to Catholicism under their influence. During his reign, Takayama destroyed numerous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in both Takatsuki and [[Akashi, Hyōgo|Akashi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rambelli |first1=Fabio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ae9LAQAAQBAJ |title=Buddhism and Iconoclasm in East Asia: A History |last2=Reinders |first2=Eric |publisher=[[A&C Black]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4411-4509-3 |pages=67 |language=en}}</ref>

However, Hideyoshi became hostile towards the Christian faith and in 1587 ordered the expulsion of all [[missionaries]] and that all Christian ''daimyōs'' should renounce their faith. While several daimyō obeyed this order and renounced Roman Catholicism, Justo proclaimed that he would not give up his faith and would rather give up his land and all that he owned.<ref name=AO/>

Takayama lived under the protection of [[Maeda Toshiie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%AB%98%E5%B1%B1%E5%8F%B3%E8%BF%91-92796|title=日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)「高山右近」の解説|date=7 February 2017 |publisher=Kotobank|access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref> until 1614 when [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] (the ruler at the time) prohibited the Christian faith which resulted in Takayama's expulsion from Japan. On 8 November 1614, with 300 other Japanese Christians, he left his home from [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]]. He arrived at [[Manila]] on 11 December 1614 where he received a warm welcome from the [[Captaincy General of the Philippines|Spanish]] [[Jesuits]] and the local [[Filipinos]].<ref name=SQPN/><ref name=AO/>

The governor Juan de Silva wished to provide him with an income to support him and his relations but he declined this offer saying he was no longer in a position to offer his services in exchange for income nor did he wish to act like a lord.<ref name=AN/>

Some in the colonial government of the Spanish Philippines suggested to invade Japan and overthrow Tokugawa in order to protect Japanese Christians and place him in a position of great power and influence. Takayama declined to participate and even opposed the plan.

==Death==
After suffering from a violent fever, he died of illness at midnight on 3 or 5 February 1615, 44 days after arriving in Manila.<ref name="SQPN" /><ref name="SEB" /> The Spanish government gave him a Christian funeral with full military honors, as befitting his status as a daimyō, and buried him in the [[San Ignacio Church (Manila)|San Ignacio Church]] inside [[Intramuros]], [[Manila]].{{fact|date=August 2025}}

In December 1945 after the [[Battle of Manila (1945)|Battle of Manila]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]], his [[Relic|relics]] were hastily mixed with those of others recovered from the ruins of San Ignacio, and [[Translation|translated]] to the Society’s Sacred Heart Novitiate in [[Novaliches]], [[Quezon City]]. The containers of known and unknown remains, including those of Takayama, were interred in two niches, making him the only daimyō buried on Philippine soil. DNA testing has yet to identify all of his bones.<ref>{{Cite web |last=De Pedro |first=Ernie |title=The Search for the Bones of Takayama Ukon |url=https://takayamaukon.com/the-search-for-the-bones-of-takayama-ukon/ |access-date=21 July 2025 |website=Takayama Ukon.com |publisher=Prayer Warriors of Blessed Takayama |language=English |via=Wordpress.com}}</ref>

==Memorials==
[[File:WTMP Noel Gonong DSC 0024.JPG|thumb|Plaza Dilao, The center of the plaza is dominated by a statue of Dom Justo Takayama, who settled here after he was exiled from Japan in 1615.]]
At [[Plaza Dilao]] in [[Paco, Manila|Paco]], [[Manila]] a statue of Takayama was installed in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aning |first1=Jerome |title=Manila honors and exiled nobleman |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_1k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=580%2C34050682 |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=5 May 2003}}</ref> The site is the last vestige of the old town where some 3,000 Japanese immigrants lived in exile. The statue of Takayama depicts him in traditional samurai garb and a [[Chonmage|topknot]]. He is holding a sheathed [[katana]] pointed downwards, upon which hangs a [[crucifix]].

The [[University of Santo Tomas]] has a copy of the Plaza Dilao statue in front of the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex building. It was unveiled and blessed on 28 March 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=LOOK: UST unveils statue of ‘Samurai of Christ’ Takayama Ukon |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/604965/ust-unveils-statue-of-samurai-of-christ-takayama-ukon/story/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=GMA News |date=28 March 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

On 21 December 2022 a [[resin]] image of Takayama was enshrined inside the [[San Miguel Church (Manila)|San Miguel Church]] in Manila.<ref>{{cite news |title=There's a 'Takayama' in Manila, and it's not what you think it is |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/blessed-justo-ukon-takayama-enthronement-manila-catholic-church/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=Rappler |date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725005051/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/blessed-justo-ukon-takayama-enthronement-manila-catholic-church/ |archive-date=25 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Statue of Blessed Justo Ukon Takamaya enthroned in San Miguel Pro-Cathedral |url=https://www.manila-shimbun.com/category/english/news268348.html |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=The Daily Manila Shimbun}}</ref>

==Beatification==
His cause for sainthood started at a diocesan level which resulted in the validation of the process on 10 June 1994 after the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] (CCS) were given all the boxes of documentation pertaining to the cause. The commencement to the cause saw him titled as a [[Servant of God]]. There had been failed attempts to start the cause in the past. The first attempt came in 1630 when the Manila priests decided to commence it, but this failed due to the isolationist Japanese policies which prevented the collection of the documentation that was needed; the petition was presented but was rejected. The second attempt in 1965 failed due to several errors being made. In October 2012, a letter was presented to [[Pope Benedict XVI]] asking for the cause to be re-examined.

The ''[[positio]]'' dossier was submitted in 2013 to the competent authorities in [[Rome]] for further assessment. According to Cardinal [[Angelo Amato]], the beatification would have occurred in 2015 on 21 October 2014 to Japanese pilgrims; 2015 marked four centuries after his death but the formal beatification did not occur since it was close to completion at that stage. His cause was meant to confirm - in a rather unorthodox case - that Ukon was a martyr because of the treatment he received and because he renounced all he had to pursue and profess his faith.<ref name=SEB/>

Historical consultants met to discuss the cause on 10 December 2013, and the theologians met on 20 May 2014 to discuss and vote on the cause. The cardinals and bishop members of the CCS met on 18 June 2015 to make a final decision on the cause before it could go to [[Pope Francis]] for his approval, and they had to meet again on 12 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/28947/samurais-cause-for-beatification-forwarded-to-rome|title=Samurai's cause for beatification forwarded to Rome|publisher=[[Catholic News Agency]]|date=5 February 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> Pope Francis approved Takayama's beatification on 21 January 2016; it was celebrated in Osaka on 7 February 2017 with Cardinal Amato presiding on the pope's behalf.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/23/national/social-issues/pope-approves-beatification-warlord-takayama-ukon/#.WKfwCeIJIYc|title=Pope approves beatification of warlord Takayama Ukon|work=[[The Japan Times]]|publisher=The Japan Times Ltd.|date=23 January 2016|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/07/national/japanese-christian-warlord-takayama-ukon-beatified/#WKf1T-IJIYc|title=Japanese Christian warlord Takayama Ukon beatified|work=[[The Japan Times]]|publisher=The Japan Times Ltd.|date=7 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>

During Cardinal [[Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda]]'s visit to the [[Manila Cathedral]] on 21 December 2023, the cardinal disclosed investigations of possible miracles that would lead to Takayama's [[canonization]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Japanese cardinal reveals Vatican probe into ‘miracles’ for Blessed Takayama Ukon’s sainthood |first=Roy |last=Lagarde |work=CBCP News |date=22 December 2023 |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/japanese-cardinal-reveals-vatican-probe-into-miracles-for-blessed-takayama-ukons-sainthood/ |access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Naitō Julia]]
*[[Persecution of Christians#Japan|Persecution of Christians in Japan]]
*[[Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan|26 Martyrs of Japan]]
*[[History of the Catholic Church in Japan]]
*[[Caius of Korea]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Takayama_Ukon Samurai archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018155325/http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Takayama_Ukon |date=18 October 2017 }}
*[http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/1615.htm Hagiography Circle]
*[https://takayamaukon.com/ Takayama Ukon]

{{Filipino saints, blesseds and servants of God}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Catholicism |portal4= History|portal5= Japan|portal6= Philippines}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takayama Ukon, Iustus}}
[[Category:1550s births]]
[[Category:1615 deaths]]
[[Category:16th-century Japanese people]]
[[Category:16th-century venerated Christians]]
[[Category:17th-century Japanese people]]
[[Category:17th-century venerated Christians]]
[[Category:Beatifications by Pope Francis]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism]]
[[Category:Daimyo]]
[[Category:Japan–Philippines relations]]
[[Category:Japanese beatified people]]
[[Category:Japanese expatriates in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Japanese Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:People from Ibaraki, Osaka]]
[[Category:People from the Spanish colonial Philippines]]
[[Category:Samurai]]

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Justo Takayama