Samurai Takayama:
should he become Japan’s first samurai saint, or was he more sinner?
The mysterious vetting process takes at least five years and
is one of the Catholic Church’s best kept secrets. But, somewhere in the
Vatican’s vast echoing halls and chambers, officials are believed to be close
to ruling whether a Japanese warrior is a saint.
If confirmed, samurai Justo Takayama Ukon would become the first of Japan’s
feared fighters to achieve Christianity’s greatest glory.
A romantic notion? Well, quite possibly it is, especially for a Samuri to not
have some dark secrets – indeed, there are those in Japan who claim he was more
sinner than saint.
Tokyo-based samurai expert Tamura Ryo said: “Takayama may have protected
Christians but he was a killer too, motivated by self interest and by no means
entirely a good man.”
Those in favour of Takayama’s elevation to sainthood vehemently disagree.
Takayama supporter Cardinal Thomas Maeda insists: “This brave man offered his
life to Christ and should definitely be made a saint.”
Before we consider the intrigue behind samurai Takayama’s path to sainthood,
his life history is well documented and broadly uncontested.
He was born around 1552 into a noble family during the tumultuous Sengoku
period when Japan’s countryside was ravaged almost continuously by wars and
social unrest.
He was initially raised as a Buddhist. His conversion to Catholicism came at
age 11 after a debate between his father and a Christian missionary led to
their baptism.
Takayama and his father were responsible for the conversion of tens of
thousands of Japanese and throughout his life, Takayama became a protector of
Christians, using his influence to support missionary efforts despite facing
severe persecution.
But, in 1587, chief imperial minister Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the expulsion
of missionaries and demanded that Catholic feudal lords, like Takayama renounce
their faith.
Twice Takayama refused to abandon his beliefs and for this he was stripped of
his rank and authority.
He was exiled from Japan and fled with 300 other Christians to the Philippines,
where he died in 1615 allegedly as a result of earlier ill treatment in his
homeland.
It’s said that in his last breath he called on his grandchildren to stand firm
with their Catholic faith.
Supporters claim Takayama’s legacy continues to inspire many as a symbol of
unwavering faith and resilience in the face of adversity.
However, those who question his passage to sainthood point out there is
undisputed evidence Tamayaka led raiding parties to smash Buddhist and Shinto
shrines and temples.
Worse still: a high-ranking Japanese Catholic source, who asked not to be
named, says:”Takayama definitely killed at least one person – not the actions
of a saint.”
Tamura Ryo, of the Tokyo Samurai Museum, has similar concerns, and claims
Takayama was a mere opportunist hungry for power.
Starting in the 16th century, hundreds of thousands of
Japanese peasants were converted by Christian missionaries from Spain and
Portugal.
“Christianity was the new big thing,” said Ryo.
“Takayama saw joining them and protecting them was a cynical means of gaining
power in turbulent times.”
Asked about efforts to promote Takayama to sainthood, Ryo adds: “We consider
the process just a part of history, not a bad thing, but not good either.”
In Osaka, Cardinal Maeda, who is one of those leading the movement to make Tamayaka
a saint, strongly disagreed.
“Takayama should be made a saint because he offered all his life to Christ,
even during the days of persecution,” he says.
“He was asked to renounce his faith not once, but twice and he refused. As a
result he lost everything and was exiled.
“But, for sure, Christ was the centre of his life. Christ was his Lord.”
Samurai Takayama clearly doesn’t fall within the same category of goodness and
wholesomeness as say John Paul II (already a saint) and Mother Theresa (sainthood
pending). But in 2016, Pope Francis approved a decree designating Takayama’s
death as a martyrdom, and he was officially beatified in February 2017.
To be canonised as the Church’s first samurai saint, the Vatican must approve
at least one verified miracle attributed to Takayama’s intercession.
Until now the Vatican has never revealed the miracle it’s considering, but the
unnamed senior Catholic source in Japan, says: “The tribunal is considering the
reported healing by Takayama of a Japanese person sometime in 2017, or later.
” I can’t tell you whether the healed person was a man or a woman or what
sickness they suffered from, that’s still a secret.”
The source went on: “There are people within the Catholic Church in Japan
pushing very hard for Takayama to be made a saint.”
Asked about the potential timeframe and Vatican tribunal decision, the source
added: “The Vatican will decide in early 2025 and I predict the answer will be
yes.”
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