Dom Justo Takayama

Takayama Hikogorō

“ Do you have any idea who I am? I am the cruelest samurai in the world. I can cut your throat and not blink an eye. ”

– himself

Background and Character Information

Full Name: Justo Takayama Ukon (ジュスト高山右近)

Other Names: 

Born: 1552 AD at Haibara, Nara, Japan (formerly Sengoku Period, Ashikaga Shogunate)

Died: 3 or 5 February 1615 (aged 62–63) at Manila, Philippines (formerly Captaincy General of the Philippines, Viceroyalty of New Spain)

Species: Terran Human

Nationality: 

Age: 62

Gender: Male

Occupation: 

Language Spoken: Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog

Alignment: Good

Paraphernalia: 

Powers and Abilities: ???

Feast: 3 February

Major Shrine: Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Partner(s): Takayama Justa (wife)

Relative(s): Takayama Luciya (daughter); Takayama Tomoteru (father); unnamed mother

Affiliate(s): 

Attributes: Sword, crucifix, Samurai robes, martyr's palm, Japanese people and other inhabitants, Daimyo, Persecuted Christians, Japanese immigrants, University of Santo Tomas Graduate School

Likes: ???

Dislikes: ???

Inspiration: itself

Dom Justo Takayama or Takayama Hikogorō, was a Japanese Catholic Kirishitan daimyo and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period that witnessed anti-religious sentiment. He was introduced as a minor tritagonist in Weather Dragons: Persistence of Sengoku.

Etymology

Coming soon

Physical Appearance

Coming soon

Abilities

Takayama was adept with both his katana and spear by virtue of his holiness as influenced by Enn or Terran Deities.

Personality

Twelve-year-old Takayama had been baptized into the church in 1564, but over time, as a result of his samurai activities, he had abandoned his faith.

Background

Dom Justo Takayama was the eldest son (thus the heir) of Takayama Tomoteru who was the lord of the Sawa Castle in the Yamato Province.


His name as a child was Hikogorō (彦五郎). In 1564 his father converted to Roman Catholicism after meeting with Portuguese missionaries and Hikogorō was baptized as Justo (Latin: Iustus; Japanese: ジュスト or ユスト, based on Portuguese or Latin pronunciation). 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), "Ukon" being a title. Europeans also referred to him as Dom Justo "Ucondono" (from 右近殿, Ukon-dono).


The family’s exalted position in feudal Japan gave them control over vast lands and armies—indeed, Dom Justo served as feudal governor of Takatsuki from age 21, and later as governor of Akashi—and also made it possible for them to give assistance to Jesuit missionaries as they expanded their reach into the country. Conversions brought about through the help of Dom Justo are believed to number in the tens of thousands during an era in which the oppressive regime of the chancellor Toyotomi Hideyoshi was bearing down on Catholic Christians. The chancellor crucified Catholic men and women, hoping to make an example of them, and called on all Catholic citizens to abandon the faith or face destruction.


Takayama 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. He would eventually rekindle his faith just after his coming-of-age ritual near the age of 20. 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 two months later. He was persecuted like Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod from their country.

Quotes

Gallery

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JPG render

Courtesy: Wikimedia 

Trivia