| YEAR |
DATE |
JAPANESE CATHOLIC
CHURCH HISTORY |
| 1543 |
Sept. |
Portuguese land on Tanegashima
Island. |
| 1547 |
Dec. |
Jesuit Francis
Xavier meets a Japanese named Yajiro in Malacca. |
| 1549 |
Aug.15 |
Xavier lands in Kagoshima. |
| Sept.29 |
Xavier meets Shimazu Takahisa
at Ijuin and receives permission to preach Christianity. |
| 1550 |
|
Xavier translates the Catechism
and the "Explanation of the Creed". Xavier travels
with Br. J. Fernandez to Kyoto by way of Sakai (Winter 1550-51).
Failing to have an audience with the Emperor (Tenno), they return
to Hirado.
|
| 1551 |
Spring |
Xavier goes to Yamaguchi with
Br. Fernandez and the Japanese layman Bernard and presents a
personal letter from the Portuguese governor and a bishop to
the local feudal lord [daimyo] and receives permission to evangelize.
Some 500 receive baptism in a two-month period. |
| Nov.15 |
Xavier leaves for India with
an envoy from Otomo Yoshishige, lord of Bungo. |
| 1552 |
Apr.17 |
Otomo's envoy returns to Bungo. |
| Dec.3 |
Xavier dies on Sancian Island
off the coast of China. |
| 1553 |
|
The Japanese layman Bernard
admitted to the Jesuit novitiate in Portugal. |
| 1556 |
Spring |
Japanese brother Lorenzo visits
Hieizan [a Buddhist monastery in Kyoto] to prepare the way for
preaching Christianity in Kyoto. |
| Jul. |
Fr. G. Vilela and companions
arrive in Japan at Funai [Oita]. |
| 1557 |
|
Br. Luis d'Almeida opens the
first hospital in Japan at Funai. |
| 1558 |
|
Vilela forced to leave Hirado. |
| 1559 |
Nov. |
Vilela and Br. Lorenzo open
a church at Shijo in Kyoto. |
| 1560 |
Jan. |
Vilela has an audience with
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru and receives permission to preach
Christianity. |
| 1563 |
May
20 |
Omura Sumitada of Hizen baptized
as the first Christian daimyo. |
| Jul.6 |
Portuguese ship enters Yokoseura
Bay, Nagasaki, bringing Fr. Luis Frois. About this time, Yamada
Sozaemon, Takayama (lord of Hida), Yuki (lord of Yamashiro),
Kiyohara Geki and others are baptized. |
| 1565 |
Jun.17 |
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, protector
of the missionaries, assassinated. Matsunaga Hisahide promulgates
their banishment. |
| 1569 |
|
First church in Nagasaki opened. |
| 1570 |
Jul. |
Jesuits assemble at Shiki, Amakusa,
and choose Fr. F. Cabral as mission superior. Christians in
Japan number 20,000 - 30,000 at this time. |
| 1576 |
Aug.15 |
The large church of the Assumption ["Namban-dera"]
dedicated in Kyoto.
|
| 1578 |
Aug.28 |
Otomo Yoshishige, retired lord
of Bungo (and known as Sorin since becoming a Buddhist lay monk
in 1562), converted. |
| 1579 |
Jul.25 |
Fr. A. Valignano arrives in
Japan as official visitor. |
| 1580 |
|
Seminary built in Azuchi with
Fr. G. Organtino as rector. |
| 1582 |
Feb.20 |
Delegation of four young envoys
representing three Christian Daimyo of Kyushu sets out for Europe
[Tensho Shonen Shisetsu]. |
| 1585 |
Mar.23 |
Pope Gregory XIII receives the
young envoys in audience. |
| 1587 |
Jul.24 |
Toyotomi Hideyoshi issues the
edict forbidding Christianity and orders all missionaries to
leave Japan. Takayama Ukon deprived of fief and status. |
| 1588 |
Apr. |
Hideyoshi takes direct control
of Nagasaki, and confiscates church property. |
| 1591 |
Mar.3 |
Valignano and the four recently
returned envoys have an audience with Hideyoshi. |
| 1593 |
Aug.27 |
Franciscan Fr. Pedro Bautista
arrives in Japan, and is given an audience by Hideyoshi. |
| 1596 |
Aug.14 |
Japan's first bishop, P. Martinez,
arrives in Nagasaki. |
| Nov. |
"San Felipe" Incident.
Hideyoshi sentences to death 24 Christians on a list of Kyoto
Christians drawn up by Ishida Mitsunari. |
| 1597 |
Feb.5 |
26 Christians martyred at Nishizaka
in Nagasaki. |
| 1601 |
Mar. |
Valignano begins writing his
"History of the Church in Japan". |
| Sept.21 |
Sebastian Kimura and Luis Niabara
ordained in Nagasaki as Japan's first native priests. |
| 1602 |
|
Augustinians and Dominicans
arrive in Japan. |
| 1612 |
Apr. |
Tokugawa government outlaws
Christianity in the district immediately under its control.
Martyrdoms begin in Edo. |
| 1613 |
Oct.28 |
Date Masamune (Sendai) sends
Hasekura Tsunenaga and companions as envoys to Europe. Christians
in Japan number about 220,000. |
| 1614 |
Apr. |
Great Easter procession through
the streets of Nagasaki. |
| Nov. |
Takayama Ukon banished to the
Philippines.
All churches in Kyoto and Nagasaki destroyed. |
| 1615 |
Nov.3 |
Hasekura delegation received
in audience by Pope Paul V in Rome. |
| 1620 |
Sept.22 |
Hasekura delegation returns
to Japan. |
| 1622 |
Sept.10 |
55 Christians (priests and laity)
martyred in Nagasaki (The Great Genna Martyrdom). |
| 1623 |
Dec.4 |
Franciscans and other Christians
martyred in Edo. |
| 1626 |
|
Frs. Pacheco (Jesuit Provincial),
B. Torres and others martyred in Nagasaki. |
| 1629 |
|
Introduction of the "fumie"
(forced trampling of Christian images). |
| 1637 |
Dec.11 |
Shimabara Uprising: insurrection
of Christians and peasants in Shimabara and Amakusa (Hara castle
falls AApr. 12, 1638). |
| 1642 |
Aug. |
Jesuit Fr. A. Rubino and companions
captured soon after arrival in Japan. |
| 1643 |
Mar. |
Fr. Rubino and companions martyred
in Nagasaki. |
| 1646 |
|
Villa of Inoue Masashige (ex-Christian
now holding post of inquisitor) in Kobinata, Edo, made into
a prison for missionaries [Kirishitan Yashiki]. |
| 1708 |
Oct.11 |
Jesuit Fr. G. Sidotti captured
on arrival on Yakushima Island, Kagoshima. |
| 1714 |
Nov.27 |
Fr. Sidotti martyred at the
Kobinata prison. |
| 1790 |
Sept.1 |
First Urakami Persecution [Kuzure]:
Christians in hiding in Urakami, Nagasaki, discovered and arrested. |
| 1797 |
|
Christians hiding in Nishi Sonogi,
Nagasaki, flee to Goto Islands. |
| 1839 |
|
Second Urakami Persecution. |
| 1844 |
May
4 |
Paris Foreign Missioner Fr.
T. Forcade and Chinese catechist Augustine Ko arrive in Naha,
Ryukyu Kingdom, to prepare for evangelization in Japan. |
| 1846 |
Mar.26 |
Fr. Forcade appointed first
vicar apostolic of Japan. |
| May 1 |
Vicariate apostolic of Japan
established. |
| 1852 |
|
Fr. C. Collin made second vicar
apostolic of Japan. |
| 1855 |
Mar.2 |
Paris Foreign Missioners Frs.
P. Girard, L. Furet, and E. Mermet de Cachon arrive in Naha.
Fr. Furet visits Hirado and Nagasaki but is refused permission
to land. He returns to Hong Kong. |
| 1856 |
|
Third Urakami Persecution: 80
Christians of Urakami interned. |
| Oct. |
Frs. L. Furet and P. Mounicou
arrive again in Naha. |
| 1858 |
Feb.12 |
Nagasaki commissioner [bugyo]
announces discontinuation of "fumie" practice. |
| Oct.25 |
Fr. Girard appointed vice-vicar
apostolic of Japan.
Freedom of religion of foreigners recognized by the government
and permission given to construct churches within the restricted
areas for foreign residents. |
| 1859 |
Aug.10 |
Fr. Girard returns to Japan
as chaplain to the French consulate. |
| Aug.11 |
Fr. Mermet de Cachon arrives
in Hakodate. |
| 1862 |
Jan.12 |
Fr. Girard builds a church in
Yokohama. |
| Jun.8 |
The 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki canonized
in Rome. |
| 1863 |
Jul. |
Paris Foreign Missioners Frs.
B. Petitjean and L. Furet arrive in Nagasaki. |
| 1865 |
Feb.19 |
Construction of Oura Church
in Nagasaki completed. |
| Mar.17 |
Descendants of old Catholics
meet Fr. Petitjean at Oura. |
| 1866 |
Oct.21 |
Fr. Petitjean ordained bishop
in Hong Kong, and appointed third vicar apostolic. |
| 1867 |
Jul.7 |
205 Japanese Martyrs beatified
in Rome. |
| Jul.15 |
Fourth Urakami Persecution:
Nagasaki commissioner imprisons more than 100 Catholics. They
are eventually released because of protests by foreign consuls. |
| 1868 |
Apr.-May |
Signboards reappear proscribing
the "Kirishitan" religion as heathen. Suppression
of Urakami Christians recurs; 13 executed. Representatives of
foreign governments present joint letter of protest. Signboards
are ordered rewritten so as not to include Christianity among
heathen religions. |
| Jul.10 |
114 Christians are exiled to
three different domains. |
| 1870 |
Jan. |
More than 3000 Urakami Christians
arrested and exiled to 21 different domains. |
| 1872 |
Jun.28 |
Five St. Maur Sisters arrive
in Yokohama. |
| 1873 |
Feb.24 |
Abolition of signboards proscribing
Christianity (tacit approval of Christian evangelization). |
|
Mar.14 |
Urakami Christians released. |
| 1874 |
Nov.22 |
St. Joseph's Church (with orphanage)
dedicated in Tsukiji, Tokyo. |
| 1875 |
Aug.15 |
St. Maur Sisters acquire 500
tsubo of land in the Tokyo foreign concession and build an orphanage
for some 70 orphans. |
| 1876 |
May
22 |
Vicariate apostolic of Japan
divided into Northern and Southern vicariates. Bp. P. Osouf
made vicar apostolic of the North, Bp. Petitjean put in charge
of the South with Auxiliary Bp. J. Laucaigne.
Yamagami Takuju baptized. |
| 1877 |
Jul. |
Seat of the Northern vicariate
transferred from Yokohama to Tsukiji, Tokyo. |
| 1879 |
|
Translations of the Bible and
a daily prayerbook published. |
| 1880 |
|
Bp. Petitjean transfers seat
of the Southern vicariate from Osaka to Nagasaki.
Publication of "Compendium of the Words and Deeds of Jesus,"
"Summary of Catholic Apologetics," "Examination
for Baptism," and "Summary of Christian Doctrine."
|
| 1881 |
May
1 |
First issue of the first Japanese
Catholic monthly "Kokyo Mampo" [Catholic Bulletin]
published (continues until AApr. 1885). |
| 1882 |
Dec.31 |
Three Japanese priests ordained:
the first since the re-opening of Japan. |
| 1884 |
Oct.7 |
Bp. Petitjean dies and is succeeded
by Bp. J. Cousin. |
| 1885 |
Apr.11 |
Pope Leo XIII sends a personal
letter to Emperor Meiji through Bp. Osouf. |
| 1887 |
Dec.21 |
Two Marianist Brothers arrive
in Yokohama. |
| 1888 |
Mar.20 |
The Southern vicariate divided
into Central (Osaka) and Southern (Nagasaki) vicariates. Fr.
F. Midon ordained bishop for Osaka. |
| 1889 |
Feb.10 |
New Constitution guarantees
freedom of religion in Japan. Masses ofthanksgiving offered
in churches throughout in Japan. |
| 1890 |
Mar.2 |
First Synod of the church in
Japan opens at Oura, Nagasaki (ends MMar. 29).
Decision made to reorganize the Japanese Church into 4 episcopal
sees, thus establishing a national hierarchy. |
| 1891 |
Feb. |
First edition of the magazine
"Koe" published.v |
| Apr.17 |
Hakodate Diocese established. |
| Jun.15 |
Four dioceses established, Bp.
Osouf made archbishop of Tokyo, Bp. Cousin bishop of Nagasaki,
Bp. Midon bishop of Osaka, and Fr. A Berlioz made bishop of
Hakodate. |
| 1895 |
Apr.28 |
Second Synod opens in Tokyo
at Tsukiji church (ends May 12). |
| 1896 |
|
"Prayerbook" and "Catholic
Catechism" published.
Christianity receives official government approval. |
| 1904 |
Jan.27 |
Shikoku separated from Osaka
Diocese and made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. J. Alvarez
(Dominican) as first prefect apostolic. |
| 1910 |
Jul.2 |
Raguet translation of New Testament
published in Kagoshima and circulated as the semi-official Catholic
translation. |
| 1912 |
Aug.13 |
Niigata separated from Hakodate
Diocese and made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. J. Reiners
(Society of the Divine Word) as first prefect apostolic. |
| 1914 |
Mar.17 |
Dedication of the new Urakami
church. |
| 1915 |
Feb.12 |
Sapporo separated from Hakodate
Diocese and made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. W. Kinold
(Franciscan) as first prefect apostolic. |
| 1919 |
Sept.6 |
Agreement reached to establish
formal relations between Japan and the Vatican. |
| 1920 |
Mar.11 |
Archbp. P. Fumasoni-Biondi takes
office as apostolic delegate to Japan. |
| 1921 |
Mar. |
First edition of "Kokyo
Seinen-Kai Kaiho" [Catholic Youth Society Bulletin] published. |
| 1922 |
Feb.18 |
Nagoya separated from Tokyo
Archdiocese and made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. Reiners
as first prefect apostolic. |
| Mar.18 |
Archbp. M. Giardini takes office
as apostolic delegate. |
| 1923 |
Jan.1 |
"Kokyo Seinen-Kai Kaiho"
renamed "Kokyo Seinen Jiho" [Catholic YouthReview]. |
| May 1 |
"Kokyo Seinen Jiho"
becomes "The Catholic Times" (later "The Japan
Catholic Newspaper"). |
| May
4 |
Hiroshima separated from Osaka
Diocese and made into a prefecture apostolic, with Archbp. H.
Doering as the first prefect apostolic. |
| Aug. |
Fr. Nakamura Chohachi arrives
in Brazil for the pastoral care of Japanese immigrants living
there. |
| 1924 |
Oct.5 |
The Bishops and Superiors of
Religious Orders and Congregations hold a National Assembly
to discuss the need for a native religious order or congregation. |
| Oct.19 |
The First National Catholic
Lay Conference held. (The Association of Catholic Laity launched) |
| 1925 |
May
4 |
The Sisters of the Visitation
officially recognized by the Archbishop of Tokyo as a native
religious congregation of women. |
| 1926 |
Apr. |
The Tokyo Seminary opens. |
| 1927 |
Mar.18 |
Kagoshima separated from Nagasaki
Diocese and made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. E. Roy as
the first prefect apostolic. |
| Jul.16 |
Fukuoka separated from Nagasaki
Diocese and made into a diocese, with Bp. F. Thiry as the first
ordinary. |
| Oct.30 |
Hayasaka Kyunosuke, the first
native Japanese bishop, ordained in Rome. |
| 1928 |
Jan.1 |
Archbp. J. A. Chambon installed
as ordinary of Tokyo. |
| Apr.4 |
The Catholic Youth Organization
transfers its office to Kojimachi Church.The publishing office
of "The Catholic Times" also moved. |
| Apr.25 |
Bp. Hayasaka Kyunosuke installed
as ordinary of Nagasaki. |
| Apr. |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Jun.3 |
The opening ceremony held for
the newly constructed Catholic Youth Meeting Hall (Tokyo). |
| 1929 |
Mar.30 |
The prefecture apostolic of
Sapporo becomes a vicariate apostolic. |
| Oct.17 |
Opening of the Major Seminary
in Tokyo. |
| 1930 |
Apr.24 |
Fr. M. Kolbe arrives in Japan. |
| Dec.4 |
The Catholic Youth Conference
disbands and its office turned over to the archdiocese of Tokyo.
"The Catholic Times" becomes a publication of the
Central Publishing Dept.
This year "The 26 Martyrs of Japan", an oil painting
by Okayama Seikyo, exhibited at the Religious Art Festival.
Later donated to the Vatican. |
| 1931 |
Jan.4 |
"The Catholic Times"
becomes "The Japan Catholic Newspaper" issued as a
weekly (Sunday edition). |
| Mar.27 |
Archbp. E. Mooney becomes the
new apostolic delegate. |
| Jul.5 |
"The Japan Catholic Newspaper"
becomes a four-page edition, costing 3 sen. |
| Sept.13 |
Japan's first Catholic Boy Scout
troop formed.
During this year, at the Nikkatsu Theater, Ikeda Tomiyasu's
film about the 26 martyrs ("I Overcome the World")
shown.
|
| 1932 |
Mar.31-Apr.1 |
Assembly of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| May 5 |
Students of Sophia University
refuse to offer reverence at Yasukuni Shrine. |
| Jun.11 |
The Congregation of the Propagation
of the Faith (now the Congr. for theEvangelization of Peoples)
gives official recognition to the Catholic Major Seminary of
Tokyo as a regional seminary. |
| Sept.22 |
Archbp. Chambon submits a query
to the minister of education as to whether the reverence at
Shinto shrines is a religious act or not. |
| 1933 |
Apr.19 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Dec.20 |
Archbp. P. Marella installed
as the fourth apostolic delegate to Japan. |
| 1935 |
Jan.28 |
The Independent Mission of Miyazaki
made a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. V. Cimatti as the first
prefect apostolic. |
| Apr.25-26 |
It is decided at a Meeting of
the Japanese Hierarchy that Christians may show reverence at
Shinto shrines. This decision based on a reply from the Ministry
of Education stating that such reverence is merely an expression
of patriotism and loyalty. |
| Sept. |
A revised version of the Catholic
Catechism published. |
| 1936 |
Mar.9 |
The diocese of Hakodate renamed
the diocese of Sendai, with Bp. M. Lemieux as ordinary. |
| Apr.15-16 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Nov.
9 |
Msgr. Yamaguchi Aijiro made
administrator apostolic of Kagoshima. In September of the following
year appointed ordinary of Nagasaki. |
| 1937 |
Apr.7-8 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Jun.17 |
Kyoto separated from Osaka Diocese
and becomes a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. P. Byrne as the
first prefect apostolic.v |
| Jul. |
"The Japan Catholic Newspaper"
established as a public company. |
| Sept.15 |
Msgr. Yamaguchi Aijiro appointed
ordinary of Nagasaki. He is consecrated on Nov. 7 and also serves
as ordinary of Kagoshima. |
| Nov.9 |
Yokohama separated from Tokyo
Archdiocese and made into a diocese, with Archbp. J. A. Chambon
as the first ordinary. The archdiocese of Tokyo committedto
a Japanese. |
| 1938 |
Feb.3 |
Msgr. Doi Tatsuo ordained archbishop
of Tokyo. |
| Apr.26-28 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| May |
"The Japan Catholic Newspaper"
printing office closed. |
| 1939 |
Jan.
4 |
Urawa separated from Yokohama
Diocese and made into a prefecture apostolic, with Msgr. A.
Leblanc as the first prefect apostolic. |
| Apr.18-20 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| 1940 |
Jan.24-25 |
Meeting of the Committee of
the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Apr.16-18 |
Meeting of the Japanese Hierarchy. |
| Apr. |
Rules governing the Federation
of Religious are approved and implemented. |
| Jul. |
Msgr. Ideguchi Ichitaro appointed
administrator apostolic of Kagoshima. (Concomitantly appointed
administrator apostolic of Miyazaki Nov. 28.) |
| Sept.11-12 |
Autumn meeting of the Japanese
Hierarchy. |
| Oct.8 |
Msgr. Ogihara Akira appointed
administrator apostolic of Hiroshima. |
| Nov.25 |
Revised editions of the catechism
and the prayer book are completed. |
| Dec.5 |
Msgr. Ideguchi Miyoichi appointed
administrator apostolic of Yokohama.
Msgr. Toda Tatewaki appointed administrator apostolic of Sapporo.
|
| Dec.8 |
Msgr. Furuya Yoshiyuki made
prefect apostolic of Kyoto. |
| 1941 |
Jan.14 |
Msgr. Matsuoka Magoshiro made
prefect apostolic of Nagoya and serves concurrently as administrator
apostolic of Niigata, becoming prefect apostolic in 1945. |
| Jan.20 |
Msgr. Urakawa Wasaburo made
ordinary of Sendai and ordained bishop Jan. 18, 1942. |
| Jan.25 |
Msgr. Fukahori Sen'emon made
ordinary of Fukuoka and ordained bishop May 28, 1944. |
| Mar.20 |
Fire destroys the Tokyo Major
Seminary. |
| May
3 |
Based on the law on Religious
Bodies, official approval given to Catholic Church as the "Nippon
Tenshu Kokyo Kyodan" (The Japanese Catholic Religious Body)
[hereafter, Nippon Katorikku Kyodan]. Its Secretariat to be
known as the "General Administration Bureau" of the
Nippon Katorikku Kyodan and located in the chancery office of
the archdiocese of Tokyo. Archbp. Doi Tatsuo is the first president. |
| Jun.3-5 |
The first general meeting of
the new church organization. |
| Jun.11 |
First general business meeting
of the new church organization. |
| Jul.20 |
Reduction in the size of "The
Japan Catholic Newspaper" published onthe last Sunday of
the month. |
| Jul.22-24 |
Study meeting concerning business
procedures relating to the new church structure in Japan. |
| Aug.10 |
The Army General Staff Headquarters
makes a request for a pacification delegation to the South Pacific,
to be made up of 50 priests and 150 lay people. |
| Aug.11 |
Emergency meeting of the church
organization to deal with the army's request for a pacification
delegation. |
| Aug.11 |
The Ministry of Education holds
a meeting for the Organization Chairmen of all Religious Bodies
(Proclamation of a joint resolution by the Shinto, Buddhist,
and Christian Religious Bodies). |
| Aug.13 |
Emergency meeting of the councillors
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. A Social Service Bureau established
to deal with the new situation. |
| Aug.19 |
The Nippon Katorikku Kyodan,
in keeping with the directives of the Ministry of Education,
requests the laity to manifest their membership in the Church.
In accordance with the position of the Catholic Church in Japan
within the framework of the state of emergency, buildings belonging
to the Church and religious orders made available for the use
of the military. |
| Oct.19 |
The centralization of the Catholic
publishing activities. "The Japan Catholic Newspaper"
publishing office discontinued and an entity called the "Publishing
Bureau of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan" established under
the direct control of the Church Religious Body. |
| Nov.
25 |
Msgr. Taguchi Yoshigoro appointed
bishop of Osaka and ordained on Dec. 14. Simultaneously appointed
administrator apostolic of Shikoku. |
| Dec.23 |
Meeting of the Wartime Emergency
Council of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. Dec. 23 The Nippon Katorikku
Kyodan holds a meeting of its Social Service Bureau, which is
responsible for the immediate needs arising in the emergency
period. |
| Dec.24 |
The Social Service Bureau requests
that Christmas Midnight Mass be cancelled in all churches. |
| Dec.25 |
A prayer of petition for victory
included in all Christmas Masses.
During this year, because the financial assets of Japan held
in the U.S. are frozen, the number of foreign missionaries returning
to their home countries from Japan increases. |
| 1942 |
Feb.11 |
Second General Meeting of the
Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. |
| Feb.22 |
General Administration Bureau
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan instructs the parishes to send
in a copy of their Church prospectus which will include particulars
of registration of property and buildings. |
| Mar.24 |
The Cabinet nominates Harada
Ken, councilor of the Japanese Embassy in France, as the first
minister plenipotentiary to the Vatican. |
| Mar.25 |
Inauguration of the Medical
Doctors Association of the Catholic Church in Japan. |
| Aug.10 |
First exchange of British and
Japanese civilians carried out on ships at sea. A number of
missionaries and women religious from countries involved in
the war returned to their home countries. |
| Aug.28 |
Third meeting of the central
committee of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. During this year,
the Department of the Navy requests the Church to dispatch Japanese
priests to the islands of Indonesia. |
| 1943 |
Apr.27-30 |
Plenary meeting of the Nippon
Katorikku Kyodan held to deal with the issues of evangelization
and religious attire. |
| Apr.30 |
Archbp. Doi Tatsuo, head of
the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan, the ordinaries of each diocese,
and the superiors of religious congregations pay their respects
at Meiji Shrine and Yasukuni Shrine. |
| Jun.1 |
Opening of the first training
session for priests of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. |
| Aug.10 |
Again the Army requests a religious
pacification delegation to be sent to Indonesia. (The delegation
includes Bp. Yamaguchi Aijiro of Nagasaki, and Msgr. Ogihara
Akira of Hiroshima.) |
| Sept.15 |
The second exchange of civilians
at sea (Japanese and Americans). |
| Sept.26 |
The distribution of the "Wartime
Policy on the Activity of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan". |
| Nov.18-19 |
Extraordinary plenary meeting
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan. |
| Nov.20 |
In keeping with the edict on
the amalgamation of enterprises, the Kyosei Co., the Komyo Co.,
the Seiko Co., the Ou-a Shobo Co., and the Seibo no Kishi Co.,
Tenshu-Kokyo Shuppan Co. combined under the newly established
Chuo Shuppan Co.
From this time on, bread and wine for the celebration of Mass
become scarce. Altar breads made from cassava flour and wine
comes from the S.V.D. winery in Tajimi. |
| 1944 |
Jan.2 |
"The Japan Catholic Newspaper"
reduced to publication on alternate Sundays. |
| Apr.19-21 |
Plenary session of the Nippon
Katorikku Kyodan general administration to discuss the government
order mobilizing priests and monks of all denominations into
the work force. |
| Apr. |
Priests and monks under forty-five
years of age drafted into the work force. |
| Jun.1 |
The appointment of Fr. Shimura
Tatsuya as head of the General Affairs Office of the Nippon
Katorikku Kyodan. |
| Jun.15 |
The General Administration Bureau
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan sends out a circular dealing
with the way priests and religious may dress. |
| Jul. |
The transfer of the offices
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan to Ichigaya Tamachi (Ushigome-Ku,
Tokyo). |
| Jul.8 |
Representatives of the Nippon
Katorikku Kyodan visit Ise Shrine, Meiji Shrine, and Yasukuni
Shrine to pay their respects. |
| Jul.16 |
Petitions for ultimate victory
made in churches, monasteries, and convents of the Nippon Katorikku
Kyodan. |
| Aug.3 |
Msgr. Toda Tatewaki appointed
administrator apostolic of Yokohama. |
| Aug.5 |
Archbp. Doi Tatsuo broadcasts
an announcement concerning the desecration of the bodies of
the war dead. |
| Aug.12 |
The General Administration Bureau
of the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan holds an emergency meeting to
discuss the desecration of the bodies of the American war dead. |
| Oct.
2 |
The Nippon Katorikku Kyodan
asks churches to cooperate in the collection of platinum articles. |
| Oct.
22 |
Msgr. Seno Isamu appointed administrator
apostolic of Sapporo and simultaneously appointed administrator
apostolic of Sakhalin. |
| Oct.
22 |
Notification from the Vice-Minister
of Education to the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan that there is to
be a special and thorough collection of platinum articles. |
| Nov.3 |
Meetings of the Nippon Katorikku
Kyodan Central and Regional Councils. |
| Nov.17 |
Notification from the Vice-Minister
of Education to the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan concerning the method
of collecting silver articles. |
| Nov.26 |
Archbp. Doi Tatsuo, head of
the Nippon Katorikku Kyodan, visits the imperial palace to inquire
after the emperor's health (following the first bombing of Tokyo).
This year the General Administration Bureau of the Nippon Katorikku
Kyodan draws up a formula to be used when petitioning exemption
from compulsory labor. Members of the Bureau are also sent to
console and encourage those working in the factories. |
