Background
Ruson Sukezaemon was born in a rich family in Sakai, Izumi Province (Osaka Prefecture). He was the son of Sakai merchant Naya Saisuke. Originally known as Naya Sukezaemon (納屋助左衛門).
呂宋助 左衛門
Ruson Sukezaemon was born in a rich family in Sakai, Izumi Province (Osaka Prefecture). He was the son of Sakai merchant Naya Saisuke. Originally known as Naya Sukezaemon (納屋助左衛門).
He became successful and wealthy in the South Seas trade, particularly from selling shimamono pottery from Luzon to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and other powerful lords. He changed his family name to Ruson after Luzon. He went over to Luzon (1593) via the Ryiikyus (Loochoo Islands). He changed his family name to Ruson after Luzon. He went over to Luzon (1593) via the Ryiikyus (Loochoo Islands).
Sukezaemon built himself a lavish Western-style house in Sakai and lived a rather luxurious lifestyle for several years before attracting the attention and the ire of Hideyoshi.
In 1598, the warlord accused the merchant on bogus charges, and confiscated all his possessions, Sukezaemon entrusted his home to his family's temple, the Daian-ji, and fled Japan for Cambodia.
He is buried at the Daian-ji in Sakai, and bronze statues of him can be seen in that city, and in Manila as well.