Vatican City (Fides Service - The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has appointed, 29 November 2004, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Tokyo (Japan) Rev. Father James Kazuo Koda, Director of Pastoral in Tokyo archdiocese, assigning to him the titular see of Sinnada di Mauritania.
The Bishop elect was born in the prefecture of Chiba, Tokyo, 11 March 1955. He was baptised at the age of 21 in 1976. Before entering the seminary he studied for a degree in Law at Gakushu-In University, Taukuba. He studied for the priesthood in Japan and was ordained a priest on 3 March 1985 for the archdiocese of Tokyo. He has since been: assistant priest; parish priest; Moderator at Tokyo Major Seminary; head of pastoral in the archdiocese; diocesan Consultor; member of the council of priests ; head of the Committee for the reorganisation of the archdiocese.
Tokyo Archdiocese (1891), has an area of 7,316 sq. km, a population of 18,290,000 including 89,300 Catholics gathered in 77 parishes, assisted by 397 priests (79 diocesan, 318 religious), 1,494 Sisters, 14 major seminarians, 62 women members of secular institutes. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2004; Righe 13; Parole 160)