Justo Takayama
Justo Takayama Ukon, born Takayama Hikogorō and also known as Dom Justo Takayama (c. 1552/1553 - 5 February 1615) was a Japanese Catholic daimyō and samurai during the Sengoku period that saw rampant anti-Catholic sentiment.
Takayama was baptized into the Catholic Church in 1564 when he was twelve, though he later became disenfranchised from his religion due to his actions as a samurai. He eventually renewed his faith after a coming-of-age ritual near the age of 20. He renounced his samurai status to devote himself to Christianity and was exiled to Manila in 1614, where he lived until his death two months later.
At the beginning of his beatification process he was declared a Servant of God. Pope Francis beatified him on 21 January 2016; the celebration was held on 7 February 2017 in Osaka with Cardinal Angelo Amato presiding on the pope's behalf.
In the Martyrology
- February 3 Blessed Iustus Takayama Ukon (ユスト 高山右近), layperson and martyr