1. Msgr. Joseph Reiners, S.V.D. 1922-1941
2. Most Rev. Peter Magoshiro Matsuoka 1941-1969
3. Most Rev. Aloysius Nobuo Soma 1969-1993

The Apostolic Prefecture of Nagoya was established on February 18, 1922 when the two prefectures of Aichi and Gifu were separated from the Archdiocese of Tokyo and the three prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui were separated from the Apostolic Prefecture of Niigata. The new Apostolic Prefecture was entrusted to the German Fathers of the Society of the Divine Word, and Msgr. Joseph Reiners, S.V.D., who was also Apostolic Prefect of Niigata, was appointed concomitantly Apostolic Prefect of Nagoya. In 1926 Msgr. Reiners resigned as Apostolic Prefect of Niigata and became Apostolic Prefect of Nagoya alone. In 1941, with the resignation of Msgr. Reiners, Fr. Magoshiro Matsuoka took over responsibility for both Niigata and Nagoya as Apostolic Administrator. In 1945 Msgr. Matsuoka became Apostolic Prefect of both Niigata and Nagoya. In 1953 he resigned as Apostolic Prefect of Niigata.
On April 16, 1962, the Apostolic Prefecture of Nagoya was raised to the status of a diocese, and Msgr. Matsuoka was consecrated as the first bishop. On June 26, 1969, Bishop Matsuoka resigned, and Fr. Nobuo Soma was appointed his successor. He was consecrated bishop on September 15 of the same year. On April 5, 1993, Bishop Soma resigned and Fr. Jun’ichi Nomura was appointed his successor. He was consecrated on July 4 of the same year and still serves as the Bishop of Nagoya.