Dom Justo Takayama

Dom Justo Takayama (* 1552, † February 4, 1615 ) was a daimyo and the son of Takayama Tomoteru, lord of the castle Sawa in the province of Yamato, Japan.

Name

In addition to his family name Takayama (高山) was his real first name Tomonaga (友 祥) Nagafusa (长 房), Shigetomo (重 友) or another. His nickname was Hikogorō (彦 五郎). However, it was known under the name Ukon (右 近), but which is an office place. He converted to Catholicism in 1564 and was given the Christian name Dom Justo.

Life

He was said to be a faithful Christian. After the ban of Christianity in Japan in 1614 he was expelled on 8 November of the same year along with 300 other Japanese Christians and left Japan in Nagasaki from. They came under his leadership on 21 December in Manila and were cordially received there by the Jesuits and the residents.

The Spanish Philippines offering support to an invasion of Japan for the protection of Japanese Catholics. Takayama refused to participate in such action and died of illness just 40 days later.

A statue of Dom Justo Takayama still stands today in Dilao, Manila. Ukon is on the statue in war clothing and illustrated with tied in a knot hair; he wears a with the tip downward sword, where a figure of the crucified Christ attached.

At this time, the Spaniards referred to the Paco Area as the " Yellow Square " because there lived more than 3,000 Japanese. At the old quarter today only remembers the name of this place.