Diocese of Niigata

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Bishop(s) Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 16 April 1962 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tokyo Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Japan Square Kilometers: 33,517 (12,945 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.niigata.catholic.jp/ Mailing Address: 656 Ichiban-cho, Higashi Ohata-dori, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken 951-8106, Japan Telephone: (025)222-7457 Fax: 222-7467

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata
  • Latin Name: Niigataensis
  • Erected: 13 August 1912
  • Country: Japan

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Joseph Reiners, S.V.D. † (19 Nov 1912 Appointed - 28 Jun 1926 Appointed, Prefect of Nagoya)
• Anton Ceska, S.V.D. † (28 Jun 1926 Appointed - 1941 Died)
• Peter Magoshiro Matsuoka † ( 1941 Appointed - 1953 Resigned)
• John Baptist Tokisuke Noda † (13 Mar 1953 Appointed - 11 Oct 1961 Died)
• John Shojiro Ito † (16 Apr 1962 Appointed - 9 Mar 1985 Retired)
• Francis Keiichi Sato, O.F.M. † (9 Mar 1985 Appointed - 14 May 2004 Retired)
• Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D. (29 Apr 2004 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata
13 August 1912	Erected	Diocese of Hakodate	Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata (erected)
18 February 1922	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata Archdiocese of Tokyo	Prefecture Apostolic of Nagoya (erected)
Diocese of Niigata
16 April 1962	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata	Diocese of Niigata

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata
1950	2,613	5,070,000	.1%	3	17	20	130			57		ap1951
Diocese of Niigata
1970	6,762	4,908,821	.1%	13	34	47	143		35	115		ap1971
1980	7,092	4,929,000	.1%	15	30	45	157		30	134	28	ap1981
1990	7,246	4,974,487	.1%	14	22	36	201		22	125	35	ap1991
1999	7,570	4,945,803	.2%	14	19	33	229		19	99	35	ap2000
2000	7,502	4,932,156	.2%	15	18	33	227		18	97	34	ap2001
2001	7,567	4,908,788	.2%	15	18	33	229	1	19	101	34	ap2002
2002	7,674	4,893,401	.2%	15	19	34	225	1	20	98	36	ap2003
2003	7,549	4,893,401	.2%	15	19	34	222	1	20	99	37	ap2004
2004	7,711	4,850,802	.2%	15	20	35	220	1	21	96	37	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Anton Ceska, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 28 Jun 1926 to 1941)
• John Shojiro Ito † (Priest: 21 Mar 1938; Bishop: 16 Apr 1962 to 9 Mar 1985)
• Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D. (Bishop: 29 Apr 2004 - )
• Peter Magoshiro Matsuoka † (Prefect: 1941 to 1953)
• John Baptist Tokisuke Noda † (Prefect: 13 Mar 1953 to 11 Oct 1961)
• Joseph Reiners, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 19 Nov 1912 to 28 Jun 1926)
• Francis Keiichi Sato, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 9 Mar 1985 to 14 May 2004)