Þis is þe ſtory of Juſto Takayama Ukon, who was a Japaneſe ſamurai Chriſtian.
Juſto Takayama Ukon, born as Takayama Hikogorō, þe firſtborn son of Takayama Tomoteru, was born in þe year 1552 AD. His faþer was þe lord of Sawa Caſtle in Yamato Province. In þe year of our Lord, 1564, Juſto’s faþer met miſſionaries from Portugal and became Chriſtian. Hikogorō (Juſto) likewiſe was baptized and became Juſto (Latin: Iuſtus).
Years later in 1571, as a part of a coming-of-age ritual, he fought in a duel to þe deaþ, alþough ſuffering many wounds þroughout þe battle, he ſurvived, and emerged þe victor. But in his victory someþing was miſſing, he realized his emptineſs and ſaw how little he had cared about his Chriſtian faiþ.
He married in 1574, and had þree ſons, two of which died in infancy, and one daughter. He fought in at leaſt four battles, þe Iſhiyama Hongan-ji War (1570-1580), þe Battle of Yamazaki (1582), Battle of Shizugatake (1583), and Siege of Kagoſhima (1587). Surviving all of þem (obviouſly).
Wiþ þrenewed zeal for Chriſt, many of his ſubjects became Chriſtians, many pagan temples and ſhrines were taken down and deſtroyed in Takatſuki and Akaſhi. However, in 1587 Chriſtian miſſionaries were expelled, and all Chriſtian daimyōs were to renounce þeir Chriſtian faiþ. Many daimyōs obeyed; however Juſto wiþ his renewed love of Chriſt, refuſed, and proudly proclaimed þat he would not give up his faiþ, but would raþer give up his land and all he owned, which he did.
Þen in 1614, Tokugawa leyaſu, prohibited þe Chriſtian faiþ. Takayama was to be exiled from Japan, but not alone. Þe Lord and 300 oþer devout Japaneſe Chriſtians were wiþ him. Þen on November 8, 1614 he left his home in Nagaſaki, a monþ later on December 11, 1614, he was received wiþ a warm welcome in Manila by þe Spaniſh Chriſtians and local Filipinos.
However, at midnight of February 5, 1615, juſt 44 days after arriving in Manila, he died.
May his ſtory yet live on and inſpire others in þeir walk wiþ our most gracious Lord.
References:
Wikipedia, Juſto Takayama, Laſt Edited: March 11, 2026, Acceſſed: March 27, 2026
Even unto death is our God with us
All art by Thebaniah Arakiah 2025, 2026