Justo Takayama
Justo Takayama Ukon (ジュスト高山右近), born Takayama Hikogorō (高山彦五郎) and also known as Dom Justo Takayama (c. 1552/1553 - 5 February 1615) was a Japanese Catholic Kirishitan daimyō and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period that witnessed anti-Catholic sentiment.
Justo Takayama Ukon ジュスト高山右近 | |
|---|---|
Illustration of Justo Takayama | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | Takayama Hikogorō c. 1552 Haibara, Nara, Sengoku Period, Ashikaga Shogunate |
| Died | 3 or 5 February 1615 (aged 62–63) Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Viceroyalty of New Spain |
| Cause of death | Fever |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 7 February 2017, Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka, Japan by Cardinal Angelo Amato (on behalf of Pope Francis) |
| Major shrine | Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines |
| Feast | 3 February |
| Attributes | Sword, crucifix, samurai robes, martyr's palm |
Takayama had been 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 ritual near the age of 20. He renounced his status to devote himself to Christianity and was exiled to Manila, where he lived until his death two months later.
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.