ARCHDIOCESE OF TOKYO (Tokyo, Chiba)

Archbishop

Auxiliary Bishop

Predecessors

• Most Rev. Pierre Osouf, M.E.P. 1891-1906
• Most. Rev. Pierre Xavier Mugabure, M.E.P. 1906-1910
• Most. Rev. Francis Bonne, M.E.P. 1910-1912
• Most Rev. Jean Pierre Rey, M.E.P. 1912-1927
• Most Rev. Jean Alexis Chambon, M.E.P. 1927-1937
• Most Rev. Peter Tatsuo Doi 1937-1970
• Most Rev. Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi 1970-2000
• Most Rev. Peter Takeo Okada 2000-2017

History

In 1846, the Apostolic Vicariate of Japan for the evangelization of Japan was established and entrusted to the Paris Foreign Mission Society. However, due to the proscription of Christianity at that time, missionaries were unable to enter the country. The residence of the vicariate was placed in Hong Kong at first. From 1858, after the port cities of Nagasaki, Yokohama, Hakodate and others opened, the first members of the Paris Foreign Mission Society entered Japan and began missionary work. The residence of the vicariate was placed in Yokohama in 1863 and transferred to Nagasaki in 1866.
On May 22, 1876, the Apostolic Vicariate of Japan was divided into the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Japan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Japan. The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Japan, with Yokohama as center, had the jurisdiction of the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto and Chubu districts.
On April 17, 1891, the Hokkaido and Tohoku districts were separated and established the Apostolic Vicariate of Hakodate. The jurisdiction of Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Japan was reduced to include the Kanto and Chubu districts. On June 15, 1891, it was elevated to the status of an Archdiocese. Archbishop Pierre Osouf, M.E.P. became the first ordinary of the Tokyo Archdiocese. On August 13, 1912, the three prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui were incorporated into the newly established Apostolic Prefecture of Niigata. On February 18, 1922, the Aichi and Gifu prefectures were incorporated into the newly established Apostolic Prefecture of Nagoya.
On November 9, 1937, with the transferral of the Tokyo Archdiocese from the care of the Paris Foreign Mission Society to the care of Japanese clergy, all the other regions, except for Tokyo and Chiba, were transferred to the Yokohama Diocese. Fr. Tatsuo Doi was consecrated the first native Archbishop of Tokyo. On March 28, 1960, Archbishop Doi became the first Japanese cardinal.
Fr. Seiichi Shirayanagi was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo in 1966. On November 15, 1969, Bishop Shirayanagi was appointed coadjutor with right of succession. When Cardinal Doi died in Office on February 21, 1970, Bishop Shirayanagi succeeded him as Archbishop of Tokyo. On February 5, 1970, Fr. Fumio Hamao was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo. On January 15, 1980, Bishop Hamao became Bishop of Yokohama, and on December 3, 1984, Fr. Kazuhiro Mori was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo. He was consecrated on February 23 of the following year. Pope John Paul II named Archbishop Shirayanagi a Cardinal on November 26, 1994.
Cardinal Shirayanagi retired for health reasons on June 12, 2000. Bishop Mori also tendered his resignation, which was accepted. Bishop Takeo Okada of Urawa was named as the cardinal’s successor and became archbishop. He was installed as the head of the archdiocese on September 3, 2000.
In June 2001, Archbishop Okada announced the message “One Step Forward-The Reorganization of Parishes for Evangelization in the 21st Century” and started to examine concrete measures. With the establishment of the Reorganization Project Team as the starting point in April 2003, the efforts for reorganization of parishes continue.
On November 29, 2004, Fr. Kazuo Koda was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo and was consecrated on February 19,2005.
On October 25,2017,the resignation of Archbishop Okada was accepted and Bishop Isao Kikuchi, who had been Bishop of Niigata, was appointed Archbishop of Tokyo.Bishop Kikuchi was installed on December 16 of the same year.
On June 23,2018,the resignation of Bishop Koda was accepted.
On November 16,2023,Fr.Andrea Lembo,P.I.M.E.was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo and was consecrated on December 16,2023.