Yoshikatsu Ishihara

*His Excellency the Reverend* **Yoshikatsu Ishihara**  OC LVO  (Japanese: 石原 好克; born October 10, 1961) is a church reverend and member of the Anglican community church in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

## Background Information

### Born

October 10, 1961Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

## Early Life and Career

Yoshikatsu Ishihara was born as ***Shunsuke Kimura*** (木村 俊輔) on October 10, 1961 in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, to *Masaharu Kimura* and *Miyu El Camino* (Miyū Kamino; 神野 実結). He studied the art of Christianity at age 10, while living abroad in Miramichi, New Brunswick. On December 4, 1986, Shunsuke was christened as a friar at the Roman Catholic church near Mimico, Ontario. He was given an honorific title of *His Excellency the Honorable Friar.* At the same time around October 10, 1998, Shunsuke was named the officer of the Order of Canada and a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, proceeding Canadian musician and singer *Burton Cummings*and preceding Japanese-Scottish math teacher *Sir Shoichi Kimura*(died on April 26, 1964). Shunsuke went back to his native Yamaguchi Prefecture on July 6, 2005.

## Shunsuke's Transition to Church Reverend and Name Change

### **Transition to Church Reverend begins**

While attending ministry at the St Andrew's Church near the locality of Kiyosato, Hokuto (Yamanashi Prefecture), Japan, his pastor Keita Tsuchida (born March 28, 1946 in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan) began transitioning Shunsuke from friar to the church reverend on September 4, 2008. A note following his progression ceremony were as follows:

> ***"Your Excellency the Honorable Friar Shunsuke Kimura,***
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> ***It gives me great honor and privilege to congratulate you on behalf of the entire church community, the Staff of the church, and members of the St. Andrew's Church in Hokuto, Japan --***
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> ***to award you with a title of: Your Excellency the Reverend, a symbol of the Christian community and respect to all pupils of every race.***
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> ***May God protect you and your family, your hometown, and your relatives, may God protect His Name, and may you be ever be envisaged in your job as the Reverend."***
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Shunsuke provided a name change starting on May 4, 2017.

### **Baptism of Shunsuke Kimura**

Shunsuke was being baptized by Brother Itaru Tsuji (born August 16, 1986 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) as ***Yoshikatsu Ishihara*** (baptism name) on January 12, 2019. He proceeded willingly with a note:

> ***"It is my honor to address the baptism of Your Excellency the Reverend Shunsuke Kimura, a member of the St. Andrew's Church community in Hokuto, Japan. His name will therefore take place as Your Excellency the Reverend Yoshikatsu Ishihara, under the accounts of the Kimura family, our pastor, and our whole staff. This thorough name will bear the markings of your guiding light to the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.***
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> ***May you be ever accounted for as God's holy Reverend, bringing faith to all of human mankind."***
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His name (Shunsuke Kimura) will be remained thoroughly as a pseudonym in honor of the Kimura family. It will be otherwise tested by the Supreme Court of Japan to be given to someone else.