Dom Justo Takayama
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Takayama Ukon in Manila, 17th century painting. |
Dom Justo Takayama (
1552 -
February 4,
1615) was a
kirishitan daimyo who rigidly followed his faith in the chaotic
Sengoku period of
Japan.
Takayama Justo was born to be the heir of
Takayama Tomoteru, the lord of Sawa Castle in the
Yamato Province. His name as a child was Hikogorō (彦"郎).At the age of 12 (1564), his father converted to
Catholicism and Hikogorō was also baptized
Justo. After his coming-of-age ceremony, Hikogorō was named Shigetomo (重友). However, he is better known as
Takayama Ukon (高山右近). The name Ukon comes from the government post he pretended, the officer of Ukonoefu. (This was usual practice among samurai of the time.)
Justo and his father fought through the turbulent age to secure their position as a daimyo. They managed to acquire Takatsuki Castle (
Takatsuki, Osaka) under
Oda Nobunaga and also under
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, at least in the first years of his rule. During their domination of Takatsuki Region, Justo and his father Dario pushed their policy as
Kirishitan daimyo (Christian daimyo) forward. Many of his fellows converted under his influence.
However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi grew against Christianity and in 1587 he ordered expulsion of missionaries. While many daimyo obeyed to this order and discarded Catholicism, Justo proclaimed that he maintain his religion and rather give up his land and property.
Justo lived under protection of his friends for several decades, but following the 1614 prohibition of Christianity by
Tokugawa Ieyasu, the ruler of the time, he was expelled from Japan. On
November 8,
1614, together with 300 Japanese Christians he left his home country from
Nagasaki. He arrived at
Manila on December 21 and was greeted warmly by the
Jesuits and the local Filipinos there. The Spanish Philippines offered their assistance in overthrowing the Japanese government by invasion to protect Japanese Catholics. Justo declined to participate, and died of illness just 40 days afterwards.
At that time, the Spaniards referred to the Paco Area as the "Yellow Plaza" because of the more than 3,000 Japanese who resided there. Plaza Dilao is the last vestige of the old town of Paco.
There is a statue of Dom Justo Takayama in
Plaza Dilao, Manila. Justo appears in the statue wearing warrior robes with his hair tied in a knot. He is carrying a sword that is pointed downward, upon which hangs a figure of the crucified Christ.
*
Persecution of Christians in Japan*
Samurai archives*
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