Japan
The Latest
Japanese dioceses suspend Masses amid coronavirus epidemic
Several Japanese dioceses have suspended Masses for several weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus scare across the country. Read more
Japanese Catholic youth: 'We want to reach people'
“Most of Japanese people don’t know we exist,” Minori Takeuchi told CNA last week. Read more
From the Philippines, a missionary in Tokyo
On Sundays, Fr. Raniel Berdos can be found strolling the aisles of St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo. Read more
At papal Mass, the Marian image that survived Nagasaki's atom bomb
The image used at a papal Mass in Nagasaki had an additional significance: It is a sculpture of Mary that... Read more
Pope Francis meets the Japanese Emperor, who, like the pope, came after an unexpected resignation
Pope Francis met Monday with Emperor Naruhito of Japan. It was the first meeting of the two less, less than... Read more
Lack of prayer creates spiritual ‘zombies,’ pope tells Japanese youth
If people neglect prayer and the interior life, they are at risk of becoming spiritual zombies, who seem fine on... Read more
Meeting with disaster victims, pope says human suffering demands a response
In a meeting Monday with people affected by Japan’s 2011 “triple disaster,” Pope Francis criticized society’s indifference toward the suffering... Read more
Pope Francis honors heroism of Japanese martyrs of Nagasaki
Pope Francis Sunday honored the many martyrs who died in Japan during two centuries of persecution, encouraging Catholics in the... Read more
At Nagasaki ground zero, pope denounces 'unspeakable horror' of nuclear weapons
At the ground zero site of the 1945 nuclear attack on Nagasaki, Pope Francis said the threat of using nuclear... Read more
What does it mean to be Japanese and Catholic? Pope Francis in Japan raises the question
For centuries, Japanese intellectuals, emperors, and missionaries have asked the same question: What does it mean to be both Japanese... Read more
Japanese Catholic youth: Pope Francis 'like a grandfather to us'
Wearing a t-shirt with a cartoon image of Pope Francis, Minori Takeuchi energetically bounces while she walks outside Joseph Hall,... Read more
Tokyo archbishop: Japanese Shinto celebrations a chance for evangelization
Though it is mostly an irreligious country, seemingly untroubled by matters of the hereafter, Japan is over-run with festivals and... Read more
Archbishop of Tokyo: ‘Collapse of traditional family system’ a challenge for irreligious Japan
The Archbishop of Tokyo, Isao Kikuchi, spoke with CNA about the challenge for Japanese Catholic churches to keep Catholics engaged,... Read more
Tokyo archbishop: It is 'difficult to find success' on evangelization in Japan
Efforts by the Catholic Church to evangelize the Japanese population have frequently collided with roadblocks, according to Archbishop of Tokyo... Read more
Pope Francis to meet victims of Japan's 2011 'triple disaster'
Pope Francis’ three-day visit to Japan in November will include a meeting with people affected by the country’s “triple disaster,”... Read more
Online Japanese Catholics are looking for a digital shepherd
In the age of mass communication, the Catholic Church is finding previously unimagined opportunities for evangelization – namely, over the... Read more
Pope Francis to visit Thailand and Japan in November
The Vatican confirmed Friday that Pope Francis will travel to Thailand and Japan in November with stops scheduled in Tokyo,... Read more
The Japanese treasure of Sakitsu Church
My traveling companion and I could see the steeple of Sakitsu Church from more than a mile and a half... Read more
Japan awards priest for promoting friendship in Africa through judo
A Capuchin Franciscan priest from Northern Ireland who spent 50 years on mission in Zambia has been awarded one of... Read more
Major Japanese convenience stores ban pornography
Thousands of convenience stores in Japan will stop selling pornographic magazines, a move they say will help create an environment... Read more
