Blessed Takayama Ukon - The Holy Daimyo of Christ
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| Blessed Takayama Ukon Monument in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila |
Life of a Daimyo
Takayama Ukonwas born to be the heir of Takayama Tomoteru, the lord of Sawa Castle in the Yamato Province. He had one sister and two brothers. His name as a child was Hikogorō (彦五郎). At the age of 12 in 1564, his father converted to Catholicism and Hikogorō was also baptized as 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). At some point, he married and went on to have three sons and one daughter.
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 the warlord Oda Nobunaga and also under daimyo 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.
The Japanese Christian Persecution and his expulsion
However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi grew against Christianity and, in 1587, he ordered the expulsion of missionaries. While many daimyo obeyed this order and discarded Catholicism, Justo proclaimed that he would maintain his religion and rather give up his land and property. Takayama lived under the 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 8 November 1614, together with 300 Japanese Christians he peacefully left his home country from Nagasaki.
His arrival in Manila and death
He arrived at Manila on December 21, 1614 and was greeted warmly by the Spanish Jesuits and the local Filipinos there. The colonial government of Spanish Philippines offered their assistance in overthrowing the Japanese government by an invasion to protect Japanese Catholics. Justo declined to participate and he opposed the plan, but he died of illness on February 4, 1615, just 40 days after his arrival.
When he died in 1615, the Spanish government gave him with a Christian burial, replete with full military honors befitting a Daimyo. Upon his death the Spanish government gave him a Christian burial replete with full military honors befitting a daimyō. His remains were buried at San Ignacio Church in Intramuros and this made him the only daimyō to be buried on Philippine soil.
The Plaza Dilao Monument
At that time there were more than 3,000 Japanese migrants living in the area that the Spaniards referred to the Paco area as Plaza Dilao (from the Tagalog diláw, "yellow") because because of the Amarillos plants that were once plentiful on this district at the same time the complexion of the Japanese. The square, now a public park beside Quirino Avenue in the City of Manila, is the last vestige of the old town of Paco. There is a statue of Takayama in the square, depicting him in traditional samurai garb and a topknot. He is carrying a sheathed katana that is pointed downward, upon which hangs a figure of a crucified Jesus.
His Road to Sainthood
Takayama is in consideration for sainthood in the Catholic Church and his cause of sainthood started at a diocesan level which resulted in the validation of the process on 10 June 1994. There had been failed attempts to start the cause in the past. The first attempt came in the 17th century by the Manila clergy, but failed due to the isolationist policy of Japan which prevented the collection of the necessary documentation. The second attempt in 1965 failed due to several errors being made.
His title at the onset of the cause was Servant of God – the first stage in the process – and the Positio was submitted in August 2013. Despite this his beatification has been approved and it was stated that it would have occurred in 2015 according to Cardinal Angelo Amato on October 21, 2014 to Japanese pilgrims; 2015 marks four centenaries after his death.
Historical consultants met to discuss the cause in December 2013 and the cardinal and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints met on 18 June 2015 to make a final decision on the cause before could go to Pope Francis for papal approval and the Pontiff gave his approval of the decree of his beatification on January 21, 2016 as being that of martyrdom. After centuries of waiting, he was finally beatified on February 7, 2017 at Osaka, Japan.
The life of Takayama is a beautiful lesson for all of us Catholics at this present time, he gave up his prestige and accepted every humiliation that is thrown at him for the sake of God's Kingdom and he his faithful until the end of his life and forgave his persecutors, just like what Christ did. May we follow the example of this holy Samurai. And as for the Monument-tomb of Takayama in Plaza Dilao, maybe we could just pause for a while, pay the respect he is due, or better, ask for his intercession so that he will be exalted to by the whole Church as the Great and Holy Daimyo of Christ.
Blessed Takayama Ukon, Pray for us and for the Church who are persecuted in modern times.
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| A tapestry depicting Takayama Ukon |
The Japanese Christian Persecution and his expulsion
However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi grew against Christianity and, in 1587, he ordered the expulsion of missionaries. While many daimyo obeyed this order and discarded Catholicism, Justo proclaimed that he would maintain his religion and rather give up his land and property. Takayama lived under the 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 8 November 1614, together with 300 Japanese Christians he peacefully left his home country from Nagasaki.
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| Exile in Manila |
He arrived at Manila on December 21, 1614 and was greeted warmly by the Spanish Jesuits and the local Filipinos there. The colonial government of Spanish Philippines offered their assistance in overthrowing the Japanese government by an invasion to protect Japanese Catholics. Justo declined to participate and he opposed the plan, but he died of illness on February 4, 1615, just 40 days after his arrival.
When he died in 1615, the Spanish government gave him with a Christian burial, replete with full military honors befitting a Daimyo. Upon his death the Spanish government gave him a Christian burial replete with full military honors befitting a daimyō. His remains were buried at San Ignacio Church in Intramuros and this made him the only daimyō to be buried on Philippine soil.
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| Takayama Ukon;'s Monument and apparently his tombstone at Plaza Dilao |
At that time there were more than 3,000 Japanese migrants living in the area that the Spaniards referred to the Paco area as Plaza Dilao (from the Tagalog diláw, "yellow") because because of the Amarillos plants that were once plentiful on this district at the same time the complexion of the Japanese. The square, now a public park beside Quirino Avenue in the City of Manila, is the last vestige of the old town of Paco. There is a statue of Takayama in the square, depicting him in traditional samurai garb and a topknot. He is carrying a sheathed katana that is pointed downward, upon which hangs a figure of a crucified Jesus.
His Road to Sainthood
 |
| Blessed Takayama Ukon's monument in Japan |
Takayama is in consideration for sainthood in the Catholic Church and his cause of sainthood started at a diocesan level which resulted in the validation of the process on 10 June 1994. There had been failed attempts to start the cause in the past. The first attempt came in the 17th century by the Manila clergy, but failed due to the isolationist policy of Japan which prevented the collection of the necessary documentation. The second attempt in 1965 failed due to several errors being made.
His title at the onset of the cause was Servant of God – the first stage in the process – and the Positio was submitted in August 2013. Despite this his beatification has been approved and it was stated that it would have occurred in 2015 according to Cardinal Angelo Amato on October 21, 2014 to Japanese pilgrims; 2015 marks four centenaries after his death.
Historical consultants met to discuss the cause in December 2013 and the cardinal and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints met on 18 June 2015 to make a final decision on the cause before could go to Pope Francis for papal approval and the Pontiff gave his approval of the decree of his beatification on January 21, 2016 as being that of martyrdom. After centuries of waiting, he was finally beatified on February 7, 2017 at Osaka, Japan.The life of Takayama is a beautiful lesson for all of us Catholics at this present time, he gave up his prestige and accepted every humiliation that is thrown at him for the sake of God's Kingdom and he his faithful until the end of his life and forgave his persecutors, just like what Christ did. May we follow the example of this holy Samurai. And as for the Monument-tomb of Takayama in Plaza Dilao, maybe we could just pause for a while, pay the respect he is due, or better, ask for his intercession so that he will be exalted to by the whole Church as the Great and Holy Daimyo of Christ.
Blessed Takayama Ukon, Pray for us and for the Church who are persecuted in modern times.
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