Cardinal-elect Kikuchi: Migrants and dialogue are Japan’s path to stability

By LiCAS News

In an interview with the Vatican Fides news agencyThe 66-year-old Archbishop of Tokyo, who is also president of Caritas Internationalis, shared his views on the challenges and opportunities facing Japan and the Catholic Church.

“Dialogue is the key to stability. There is no doubt about it. We need to talk to each other. Dialogue is not just talking; it’s also about building relationships. And synodality is also necessary in this area,” said Cardinal-elect Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi.

Cardinal-elect Kikuchi, a member of the Society of Missionaries of the Divine Word, drew on his experiences, including his time as a missionary in Ghana, to address pressing issues in Japan, such as the aging population, youth struggles and the role of migrants in sustainable society.

Aging society and the role of migrants

“Without migrants, an aging society like Japan will not be able to survive. The government knows the situation but is reluctant to fully accept the migrants, for fear of entering a new ‘world’ that Japan has never experienced before,” he noted.

Highlighting the bureaucratic challenges migrants face, he added: “Migrants are not a problem but a hope for the Church. They offer the Catholic community the opportunity to grow with young people and announce the Gospel even in areas where there is no Church.

Japan’s hesitance to welcome migrants, coupled with economic challenges, has left younger generations vulnerable, he noted.

“Young Japanese today need communities to which they feel they belong. The Church could be one of these communities, to support them and make them feel that they belong to a much larger reality that can accompany them in their lives,” said the cardinal-elect.

Nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding

Amid rising defense spending in Japan, including a 16.5% increase in 2024, Cardinal-elect Kikuchi called for abandoning the reliance on military solutions.

“They don’t offer any real protection, so you’re just throwing money in a trash can,” he said of nuclear weapons.

He welcomed the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to a Japanese anti-nuclear organization, stressing that “dialogue is the key to stability, not the threat of weapons.” These weapons were created to destroy this world, not to solve problems. »

Inculturation and the role of the Church

Reflecting on the Pope’s observation that the Church is often viewed through a Western lens, Cardinal-elect Kikuchi recognized the need for greater integration of local cultures.

“The Church itself was trying to be more Western rather than based on local culture. Our inculturation efforts have not been sufficient,” he said.

Yet, he noted, in contemporary Japan, the Church is increasingly seen as “an oasis to take refuge from everyday problems.”

As he prepares to assume his new role, Cardinal-elect Kikuchi highlighted his approach to leadership.

“To be a good cardinal, I must also be able to listen to everyone, not only the members of the Catholic Church, but also the broader community of society.”

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