Takayama Ukon
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Blessed Iustus Takayama Ukon 高山右近 |
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Statue in Shiroato Park.
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| Layman | |
| Born | c. 1552 Haibara, Sengoku Japan |
| Died | 3 or 5 February 1615 (aged 62–63) Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 7 February 2017, Osaka-jō Hall, Kyōbashi, Osaka, Japan by Cardinal Angelo Amato (in his capacity as papal legate for Pope Francis) |
| Feast | 3 February |
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| Patronage |
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Blessed Iustus Takayama Ukon (高山右近?) or Dom Justo Takayama (born Hikogorō Shigetomo) (1552 – 3 or 5 February 1615) was a Japanese Roman Catholic kirishitan daimyō and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period that witnessed anti-religious sentiment. He abandoned his status to devote himself to his faith and was exiled to Manila where he lived a life of holiness until his death. Ukon had been baptized into the faith in 1564 when he was twelve though over time neglected his faith due to his actions as a samurai, though later rekindled his faith just after his coming-of-age ritual.
His cause for sainthood began when he was declared a Servant of God. Reports in 2014 indicated that he would be beatified sometime in 2015 but Pope Francis later approved it on 21 January 2016; the beatification celebration occurred on 7 February 2017 in Osaka with Cardinal Angelo Amato presiding over the beatification on the pope's behalf.
Hikogorō Shigetomo was born as the eldest (thus the heir) of six children to Takayama Tomoteru who was the lord of the Sawa Castle in the Yamato Province. He had one sister and two brothers. His name as a child was Hikogorō (彦五郎). In 1564 his father converted to Roman Catholicism and Hikogorō was baptized as Justo (or Iustus). After his coming-of-age celebration he was named as Shigetomo (重友). However he is better known as Takayama Ukon (高山右近).
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