Interview: Cardinal Kikuchi sharply critical of Japanese rearmament

The Catholic Church in Japan is observing its annual Ten Days of Prayer for Peace from August 6 to 15, commemorating the period during which the country suffered two nuclear attacks and eventually surrendered, ending World War II.

The Archbishop of Tokyo, Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, told Crux Now the prayer initiative is a legacy of Pope St. John Paul II, who visited the country early in his pontificate.

“Speaking out for peace at this time of the year has become tradition since the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to Hiroshima in 1981,” Kikuchi said.

The cardinal also told Crux Now it has become tradition for the Catholic bishops to issue a message during the summer calling Catholics and all people of goodwill to renew their commitment to peace through prayer, solidarity, and concrete action.

Issued July 10, the 2026 message is from Kikuchi himself – as president of the bishops’ conference of Japan – and forcefully expresses grave concerns about recent changes in Japan’s own defense policy.

“With the excuse of changes in the security environment, defense spending has been rapidly increased,” Kikuchi noted in his message.

Those changes include the deployment of long-range missiles, the strengthened