Blessed Justo Takayama

Life story

Takayama Hikogoro was born around 1552 at Haibara in Nara, the eldest son of Takayama Tomoteru, lord of Sawa Castle. When his father became a Christian in 1564, he was baptised Justo at about twelve. He later became a daimyo holding Takatsuki Castle and fought under Oda Nobunaga and then Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In 1587 Hideyoshi ordered Christian daimyo to renounce their faith. Takayama refused and gave up his lands, afterwards living under the protection of Maeda Toshiie until 1614.

In 1614 Tokugawa Ieyasu banned Christianity outright. On 8 November 1614 Takayama left Nagasaki with about 300 other Japanese Christians and reached Manila on 21 December 1614. He died of illness on 3 February 1615 according to most sources (others give 4 or 5 February), about 44 days after arriving. The Spanish authorities held a funeral with military honours and he was buried at San Ignacio church in Intramuros.

His remains were mixed with others after the Battle of Manila in 1945 and have not been fully identified. He was not executed, but he died as a result of the hardships of exile; in January 2016 Pope Francis approved a decree recognising his death as martyrdom, and he was beatified on 7 February 2017 at Osaka.

Works and witness

• Baptised in 1564 and later daimyo of Takatsuki
• Refused to renounce the faith and gave up his lands in 1587
• Left Nagasaki for Manila in late 1614
• Died in Manila in early February 1615
• Beatified on 7 February 2017

Saints from the same country

The 26 Martyrs of Japan, Blessed 205 Martyrs of Japan, Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki, Saint James Kisai

References

• Decree on the martyrdom of Justo Takayama Ukon, Pope Francis, January 2016
• Holy See Press Office, beatification at Osaka, 7 February 2017
• Takayama Ukon studies, Japanese Church historians

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.