| Type: | Episcopal conference, Non-governmental organisation |
| Status: | Religious corporation |
| Headquarters: | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo |
| Leader Title2: | Vice-President |
| Leader Name2: | Masahiro Umemura |
| Main Organ: | Standing Committee |
| Parent Organization: | Catholic Church |
| Subsidiaries: | Japan Catholic News (Katorikku Shimbun) |
| Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan | |
| Native Name: | カトリック |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Abbreviation: | CBCJ |
| Formerly: | Nippon Tenshu Kokyo Kyodan (Japanese Catholic Religious Body) |
| Region: | Japan |
| Membership: | Active and retired Catholic bishops of Japan (diocesan, auxiliary, coadjutor, honorary) |
| Website: | https://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/ |
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan (Japanese: カトリック中央協議会, Hepburn: Katorikku Chūo Kyōgikai), also abbreviated as the CBCJ, is the Catholic episcopal conference of Japan, representing predominantly the members of the Latin Japanese Catholic Church. It was founded as the Nippon Tenshu Kokyo Kyodan (The Japanese Catholic Religious Body). After the implementation and execution of the Religious Corporations Act,[1] the body was renamed the CBCJ, becoming a religious corporation as classified under Japanese law.
As specified in Canons 447 - 459 of the Code of Canon Law, the main purpose of the organisation is to deliberate on matters concerning the Japanese Catholic Church and to encourage active practice of the Catholic faith and ministries.
The head office of the corporation is located in Kōtō, Tokyo.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan is composed of multiple types of bishops: the diocesan bishops as well as their auxiliary and coadjutor bishops. It also includes of honorary bishops appointed by the Holy See or the organisation for specific tasks.[2]
The Conference is further divided into various groups, each with their functions and level of seniority within the organisation. They consist of the Standing Committee, Plenary Assemblies, Special Committees, and Sections directly under the Standing Committees.
The Standing Committee is the central executive organ of the corporation, which represents the Conference when the Plenary Assembly is not in session. the Committee consists of several individuals:[3]
The duties of the Committee include the administration of the Conference, the agenda preparation for the Plenary Assemblies, the annual budget, the presentation of the statement of accounts, directions of the General Secretariat, etc.[4]
The current chair of the Standing Committee is Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo.
The role of the Episcopal Commission for Social Issues is to contribute to evangelisation of the Catholic faith and actively participate in solving current social issues in Japan and its Catholic Church. Members of the Commission include:[5]
The current chair of the Commission is Taiji Katsuya.
| Permanent committees | Committee for Church Administration and Legislation | |
| Committee for Finance | ||
| Committee for the Formation of Permanent Deacons in Japan | ||
| Committee for the Liturgy | ||
| Committee for School Education | ||
| Committee for New Evangelisation | ||
| Committee for Promoting Canonisation | ||
| Sections | Combined Committee for Bishops and Religious | |
| Section for the Ongoing Formation of Priests | ||
| Section for Scripture and Doctrine | ||
| Section for Inter-religious Dialogue | ||
| Section for Ecumenism | ||
| Section for the Catholic Church in China | ||
| Section of the Pastoral Care of Youth | ||
| Special committees | Special Committee for the Vocabulary Concerning Faith |