A Japanese man dubbed the 'Samurai of Christ' is to be made a saint on February 7, it's been announced.
Justo Takayama Ukon gave up his status, property and land as a samurai in feudal Japan to follow Jesus in 1564 after he met Jesuit missionaries.
When Christianity was banned by samurai shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585 Ukon refused to comply and was forced into exile.
He and 300 other Christians fled Japan for Manila in the Philippines in 1615; he died from an illness 40 days later.
Pope Francis approved Ukon's beatification in January last year.
The ceremony in Osaka in February will broadcast live on Japanese television.
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
