Japan

The Latest

Firefighters inspect collapsed wooden houses in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2024, a day after a major 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Pope sends message of condolence to victims of deadly earthquake in Japan

Jan 2, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The reported 7.6-magnitude quake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the western part of the country, killing more than 50. Read more

Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda of Osaka, Japan.

Catholic Church reportedly closer to getting its first samurai saint

Dec 23, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The Vatican is currently investigating miracles associated with the intercession of Blessed Justus Ukon Takayama. Read more

Oura Church in Nagasaki, Japan.

Catholicism and martyrdom in Japan: Church marks 400 years since Edo massacre

Dec 17, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The small but devout Catholic community in Japan is built upon the witness of untold numbers of martyrs. Read more

A 17th-century Japanese depiction of St. Francis Xavier from the Kobe City Museum collection.

The unlikely hero of India: St. Francis Xavier 

Dec 3, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

St. Francis Xavier is a patron saint of missionaries and missions and led an unlikely life of adventure and heroism. Read more

The Seto Inland Sea is the body of water separating Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū, three of the four main islands of Japan.

Pope Francis merges two dioceses in Japan

Aug 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda was named on Aug. 15 as the first archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu. Read more

A Catholic Church in Nagasaki, destroyed by the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing of the city. Public domain

Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki killed two-thirds of the city’s Catholics 78 years ago

Aug 9, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

Since the 16th century, Nagasaki has been an important center of Catholicism in Japan, initially evangelized by Jesuit and Franciscan... Read more

The Church of Foreign Missions in Paris.

Investigation opened into alleged abuse by Paris Foreign Mission Society priests

Jun 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The French bishops’ conference said the official investigation has come at the request of the superior general of the Paris... Read more

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Japanese governmental panel backs abortion pill amid small pro-life protests

Apr 25, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Japan is now one step closer to legalizing an abortion pill despite some pushback from a small but dedicated pro-life... Read more

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Japanese government to investigate forced sterilization of intellectually disabled people

Jan 27, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

At least eight couples have reportedly undergone sterilization at the behest of Asunaro Social Welfare Service Corp. Read more

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Japanese prime minister vows to take action on declining birthrate

Jan 25, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently warned that Japan’s birthrate — one of the lowest in the world — is... Read more

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Pope Francis sends condolences to Japan after Shinzo Abe shot

Jul 9, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

“In the wake of this senseless act, [Pope Francis] prays that Japanese society will be strengthened in its historic commitment... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Vatican, May 4, 2022.

Japan’s PM tells Vatican of concern about human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang

May 4, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Fumio Kishida discussed nuclear weapons with Pope Francis during a 25-minute meeting. Read more

Iran and Poland compete in the volleyball tournament of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Pope Francis offers blessing to athletes at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Jul 26, 2021

By CNA Staff

“In this time of pandemic, may these Games be a sign of hope,” the pope said. Read more

Japanese district court: Failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

Mar 17, 2021

By CNA Staff

A district court in Japan has ruled that the government’s failure to acknowledge same-sex marriage is a violation of the... Read more

A radiation hotspot in Kashiwa, a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in February 2012

Japan's Catholic bishops mark 10th anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster

Mar 11, 2021

Ten years ago on March 11, a magnitude-9 earthquake under the ocean off the coast of Japan triggered a disaster... Read more

The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. Credit: Oilstreet via Wikimedia (CC BY 2.5).

Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hail nuclear weapons ban treaty

Jan 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki welcomed the United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons that came into force Friday,... Read more

Osamu Giovanni Micico

This Japanese painter found the faith through sacred art

Apr 12, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Osamu Giovanni Micico had never read the Bible, knew nothing of the stories of Christ in the gospels, and had... Read more

Cemetery outside the Amakusa Christian Museum in Amakusa, Japan.

Amid coronavirus, public Masses suspended in most Japanese dioceses

Mar 11, 2020

More dioceses in Japan have shut down Mass for the coming weeks in response to the ongoing outbreak of the... Read more

Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo. CNA file photo.

Japanese dioceses suspend Masses amid coronavirus epidemic

Mar 4, 2020

Several Japanese dioceses have suspended Masses for several weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus scare across the country.  Read more