Vol. XVI #2August, 2004

NSKK NEWSLETTER
日本聖公会管区事務所だより
NIPPON SEI KO KAI Provincial Office

Editor : E. Hajime Suzuki

65 Yarai-cho, Shinjuku-ku,

Tel. +81-3-5228-3171

Tokyo 162-0805 JAPANFax +81-3-5228-3175

Tasks of NSKK (Anglican Church in Japan)
The 55th Synod of NSKK was held at St. Barnabas’ Church, Ushigome in Tokyo fromMay 25 to 27, 2004.
During the Synod we discussed several important issues that confront us and we focused
mainly on two issues: (1) establishing a system to further the reformation of Provincial
Dioceses and (2) how to maintain our pension system for clergy, both men and women.
The purpose of setting up a Committee for the reformation of the Dioceses is toimplement more mission activities and a more effective organization to operate moresmoothly. Therefore, we propose a plan to reform the diocesan boundaries and personnel
among the clergy (personnel placement, pay system and welfare, etc) at the Synod of2008. Concerning these issues, we have to ask ourselves first what is the aim of ourmission work and its extension in each Diocese. We must seriously consider and resolve
the issues of the sharp decrease of clergy in Japan, the separation of young people fromthe church, and the problem of aging in our parish churches.
It is an increasing phenomenon in contemporary Japan that people easily leave theirestablished political parties or organizations and this applies also to religions. Bothpolitics and religion emphasize that people should work for others, but in fact people tend
to lean toward self-preservation and are concerned primarily with how to get better andlonger lives for themselves.
Our churches exist not only for ourselves. We also have to be aware of those who are introuble, suffering, and asking for help with a heartrending cry. We need to walk together
with them, telling them the way shown us through Christ our Lord, His Love, and theGospel.
We often say that our church doors should be open to the community and that we should
devote ourselves to all of society. However, how can we make this a reality? How can weserve people proclaiming the love of God? Where should we seek our mission work?
To accomplish these basic mission tasks, prayer and earnest dedication to others aredesirable for us all. Do we shift our responsibility toward our organization or system
when our mission tasks are not successful?

We must resolve through hard work issues such as diocesan boundaries, personnel
placement (pay system, and welfare-related issues concerning the clergy), anddifferentials of finances among the different Dioceses. Every Diocese within the NSKK
shares these same common issues. Thus, they can be worked out once solutions in theDioceses are resolved. Concerning the pension problem, which is the same as the nationalone, a drastic countermeasure is needed to determine whether we can maintain thepension scheme or not ﾐ whether we can find a way of maintaining it.
Stepping ahead in a better direction might bring us pain, yet our decision-making shouldbe implemented soon, without fail. I will take a step forward by carefully listening to yourvoices and hoping for your cooperation.
The Most Rev. James Toru UnoPrimate, NSKK

Report on the 55th Regular General Synod of NSKKThe 55th Regular General Synod of NSKK was held at St. Barnabas’ Church, Ushigomein Tokyo for three days from 25th to 27th May 2004. The Synod was attended by 11bishops (one absent), 22 clergy and 22 lay delegates from 11 dioceses of NSKK, for a
total of 55 members. (Chaired by Bishop James Toru Uno, co-chaired by Bishop David
Shoji Tani, and Rev. Nobuaki Suzuki as General Secretary).
The following major issues were focused upon in the discussions and deliberations during
the Synod:
1. Reform of NSKK Organization. The question was raised as to whether the reform of
the organization may cause a certain recession in the activities of each committee.
The outcome of the activities should be evaluated before the reform of NSKKorganization is materialized.
2. Issues concerning the Retirement Pension Scheme. At the 1999 Bishop’s Conference,
it was stated that the retirement pension should be maintained for all bishops andpriests after their retirement. However, under the very low rate of interest (so called“zero interest”), it is necessary for us to consider how to keep the current pension plan.
There still have been a number of issues in the current pension plan which must be
radically deliberated for the future NSKK pension plan, such as the redemption ofbonds that we have invested (especially bonds that will reach maturity at the end of
this year); how to handle the pension trust that we currently have entrusted to somebanks and how to make up the shortage of revenue and expenditure of the pension
trust.
3. Reform of the NSKK Diocese System: Establishment of a “Committee to study thereconstruction of the current division boundaries of NSKK dioceses” (tentative name)was proposed by the delegates from Chubu Diocese. This topic was first proposed inthe 1970’s and has been left unresolved until now. It was agreed that the matter should
be reconsidered based on a concrete plan, in which the present situation must be taken
into consideration. It was decided that an “Organization which promotes thereconstruction of the NSKK Diocese System” should be established as a practicalcommittee. (This proposal was agreed by 9 Bishops and 31 Clergy/Lay
Representatives).
4. “Prayer for eliminating discrimination against people who have suffered fromHansen’s Disease”: Establishment of “a day to enlighten the discrimination againstpeople with Hansen’s Disease (patients and their relatives), and to understandHansen’s Disease more deeply” was agreed (proposed by the lay delegates fromKyushu Diocese). It was decided that every 6th Sunday after Epiphany will be a “Dayto Enlighten the Discriminatory Issues on Hansen’s Disease”, and all the churches of
NSKK should offer a prayer for this purpose. The presenter (Kyushu Diocese) will beentrusted to work out the proper wording and finalize the prayer for the Day.
5. Other Resolutions: The following resolutions were approved:“Resolution to keep praying for the activities of NSKK Ikuno Center, and to continue
contributing donations for its activities and to maintain the current system in which
NSKK participates in the administration of Ikuno Center”; “Resolution to protest theofficial visit to Yasukuni Shrine for worship by Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi,
and to address a petition to the Japanese Government”; “Resolution to oppose theanticipated amendment of Article 9 of the National Constitution”; and “Resolution toappeal for an immediate withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan from Iraq”.
6. Matter concerning the Sayama Case:On the first evening of the Synod, a workshop was organized “to study several issues
concerning the violation of human rights”. During the seminar, Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa,aged 65 years old, made a touching speech. Mr. Ishikawa has been fighting against hisfalse charge in the Sayama Case. He expressed his life as “32 of the 65th” of his life
in prison, and told the audience how he was finally able to submit a Letter of Appeal.
In order to clear the false charge and to claim his innocence he learnt how to write andread Japanese characters from a kind-hearted warden. (Mr. Ishikawa was illiterate
when he was first arrested). He has been facing several hardships and difficulties witha strong belief that he is not guilty in the Sayama Case. His touching story greatly
moved the audience. On the 2nd day of General Synod a resolution was approved“that a Letter of Appeal should be submitted to the Supreme Court and to the Public
Prosecutor’s Office concerning the Sayama Case”.
7. Election of Primate and members of the Executive Committee:
The Most Rev. Toru Uno(Bishop of Osaka Diocese) was elected as Primate of NSKK;The Rt. Rev. Peter Jintaro Ueda (Bishop of Tokyo Diocese), The Rt. Rev. Nathaniel
Makoto Uematsu (Bishop of Hokkaido Diocese), Rev. Koichi Uraji (Kyoto Diocese),
Rev. Masakatsu Seki (Tokyo Diocese), Rev. Isamu Koshiishi (Kita-Kanto Diocese),
Mr. Masuo Yamada (Tokyo Diocese), Mr. Kei Ikezumi (Chubu Diocese) and Mr.
Noboru Kuraishi (Yokohama Diocese) were appointed as members of the Executive

Committee.
Editor-in-Chief
Hajime Suzuki

The Syllabus of the Items of Resolutions adopted at the 55th General Assembly ofNippon Sei Ko Kai held in May 2004
Resolution 26 : On the subject of making a protest against Prime Minister Koizumi
worshiping at Yasukuni Shrine and on the sending documents of our request.
Yasukuni Shrine was founded during the period when Japan started to walk its way as amodern state. Japan fought wars against China, Russia and finally dashed into World War
II. The soldiers who were killed in action during those wars and the leaders who led
World War II and were sentenced to death as war criminals have been enshrined togetherin Yasukuni Shrine as the “Guardian Deity (Gokoku no Kami)”. Yasukuni Shrine hasbecome a symbol of the moral support of Japanese militarism.
After World War II, Japan became a democratic state and established a new Constitutionin which the principle of the separation of religion and state was declared. However someconservative politicians have a strong nostalgia for the old form of government thatexisted before the war and have been promoting the movement of the nationalization ofYasukuni Shrine even after they became members of the Cabinet, and have continued toworship at Yasukuni Shrine.
Prime Minister Koizumi has repeatedly continued to worship at Yasukuni Shrine since he
was inaugurated as Prime Minister. These deeds are in breach of the principle of theseparation of religion and state declared in the Constitution. In the Fukuoka District Court,
the act of worshiping at Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Koizumi was judged as atransgression against the Constitution. Mr. Koizumi’s repeated going to worship at
Yasukuni Shrine has been severely criticised by South Korea, where Japan had once
established a colony, and China where Japanese Armed Forces victimized a significant
number of people during World War II. Critical and political tension with neighboring
North-East Asian countries continues as a consequence.
Nippon Sei Ko Kai has in the past yielded to militarism and took part in the war during
World War II. Reflecting on those awful incidents, we make a formal protest against thecontinuation of the Prime Minister’s worshiping at Yasukuni Shrine and we request him
to observe the principle of the separation of religion and state established in theConstitution and request him to endeavor to walk the path of peace and not the way tomilitarism.
Resolution 27 : On the subject of making protest against the amendment on Article 9 ofthe Constitution.
Recently, there has been a renewed tendency of nationalism prevailing inside Japan,
stating that as an economic power, Japan should make great contributions to the worldinternationally and militaristically. These opinions, of militaristic contributions to theworld, Mr. Koizumi’s continued worship at Yasukuni Shrine, and the dispatching of theSelf-Defense Forces to Iraq are deeply interconnected. These are part of the policy tochange Japan into a nation able to fight against any country, as was the case before WorldWar II. Recently Mr. Koizumi began to ask the people to amend the Constitution,
especially the amendment of Article 9 of the Constitution.
Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan declares the abandonment of war and repudiates any
armament and right of warfare. Nippon Sei Ko Kai opposes the amendment of Article 9of the Constitution. We oppose because Article 9 is completely in agreement with themessage that was issued at the Lambeth Conference in 1930 saying that “ war, as ameasure to solve international disputes is completely incompatible with the teachings andgood example given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
At the General Assembly in 1996, the Nippon Sei Ko Kai decided “the declaration byNippon Sei Ko Kai on the responsibility of taking part in World War II, and we confessed
before God our sins that we took part in the War and that we had not paid sufficientattention to the voices of the victims who lost their lives in the War.”At the Assembly, we were greatly concerned that public opinion concerning theamendment of Article 9 of the Constitution was increasing and we issued the statement toeach church member of Nippon Sei Ko Kai to oppose the amendment of Article 9.
Resolution 28 : On the subject of the request of prompt withdrawal of Self-Defense
Forces from Iraq.
Japan was defeated in World War II and established a new Constitution and became acountry of pacifism. Article 9 of the Constitution proclaims “Japan abandons war andthreat by force or use of force as a measure to solve international disputes forever”.
In March last year, the United States of America and the United Kingdom attacked Iraq
with supposedly plausible reasons that Iraq maintained a large quantity of weapons ofmass destruction and that it was supporting terrorism and occupied other countries. TheJapanese government sent the Self-Defense Forces in order to play a part in the USA’sand UK’s occupation policies in Iraq.
Nippon Sei Ko Kai has already issued a declaration to oppose the attacking of Iraq by theUK and American armed forces and also we oppose the detachment of the Self-Defense
Forces to Iraq. Nippon Sei Ko Kai requests the Government of Japan to withdraw theSelf-Defense Forces from Iraq and urges the UK and America to complete their unjust
military occupation and to carry out policies to restore the true sovereignty by Iraqi
people not by the nominal Iraqis who are greatly influenced by the UK and USA
governments.
Resolution 29 : On the subject of sending a request for the Sayama Case to the Supreme
Court and to the Super Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The Sayama Case occurred in Sayama City, Saitama prefecture in 1963. A kidnapper
murdered a high school girl and the matter was taken to court. The police had already
decided that the culprit was a “buraku-min” and they narrowed the target to theneighboring “buraku” without serious investigation. Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa is one ofburaku-min and the police arrested him on another charge, trumping up evidence andforcing him to confess his crime as the kidnapper of the high-school girl. At the first trial,
the judgment completed with discriminatory words that the “buraku was a hotbed ofcrime”, and Mr. Ishikawa was sentenced to the death penalty. But after repeated trials hissentence was reduced to imprisonment for an indefinite period.

During the investigation by police, Mr. Ishikawa admitted his crime as he misunderstoodthat one of his relatives had committed the crime and wanted to protect him. But after heknew that this relative was innocent, he started to insist upon his own innocence. With hisown endeavors and with his friends and supporters who believed in his innocence, newevidence and testimonies came to light. His innocence is readily accepted.
As a consequence Mr. Ishikawa and his supporters repeatedly tried to petition for a retrial
by the Court based on the new evidence and testimonies but the Court has repeatedly
rejected their appeal without investigating their new evidence and testimonies. It is also afact that the Tokyo Public Persecutor’s Office has not released any evidence concerning
the Sayama Case to counsel.
We Nippon Sei Ko Kai petition for the retrial of the Sayama Case and request all evidence
and testimony concerning this Case to be released.