Japan
The Latest
Japanese governmental panel backs abortion pill amid small pro-life protests
Japan is now one step closer to legalizing an abortion pill despite some pushback from a small but dedicated pro-life... Read more
Japanese government to investigate forced sterilization of intellectually disabled people
At least eight couples have reportedly undergone sterilization at the behest of Asunaro Social Welfare Service Corp. Read more
Japanese prime minister vows to take action on declining birthrate
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently warned that Japan’s birthrate — one of the lowest in the world — is... Read more
The unlikely hero of India: St. Francis Xavier
Today’s feast celebrates the life of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of missionaries and missions, who led an unlikely... Read more
Pope Francis sends condolences to Japan after Shinzo Abe shot
“In the wake of this senseless act, [Pope Francis] prays that Japanese society will be strengthened in its historic commitment... Read more
Japan’s PM tells Vatican of concern about human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang
Fumio Kishida discussed nuclear weapons with Pope Francis during a 25-minute meeting. Read more
Pope Francis offers blessing to athletes at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
“In this time of pandemic, may these Games be a sign of hope,” the pope said. Read more
Tokyo archbishop asks Olympic athletes not to visit Catholic churches during games
The 2020 Summer Olympics begins on July 23. Read more
Japanese district court: Failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
A district court in Japan has ruled that the government’s failure to acknowledge same-sex marriage is a violation of the... Read more
Japan's Catholic bishops mark 10th anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster
Ten years ago on March 11, a magnitude-9 earthquake under the ocean off the coast of Japan triggered a disaster... Read more
Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hail nuclear weapons ban treaty
The Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki welcomed the United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons that came into force Friday,... Read more
This Japanese painter found the faith through sacred art
Osamu Giovanni Micico had never read the Bible, knew nothing of the stories of Christ in the gospels, and had... Read more
Amid coronavirus, public Masses suspended in most Japanese dioceses
More dioceses in Japan have shut down Mass for the coming weeks in response to the ongoing outbreak of the... Read more
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
