Province of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Japan
Mother Province: Province of the Immaculate Mother of God in Poland (Warsaw)
On April 24, 1930, St. Maximilian M. KOLBE, Friar Zeno ŻEBROWSKI and Friar Ilario ŁYSAKOWSKI arrived in Nagasaki, in the land of the rising sun. The local bishop, the Most Reverend Januarius HAYASAKA, Bishop of Nagasaki, benevolently welcomed the missionaries and gave them permission to publish a Marian magazine in the Japanese language. St. Maximilian took a position teaching philosophy at the diocesan seminary. The friars rented a house near the Cathedral of Nagasaki. St. Maximilian remained in Japan for six years and greatly boosted the promotion of Marian devotion while facing innumerable difficulties. In 1931, St. Maximilian built his City of the Immaculate on the slopes of Mount Hiko, near Nagasaki. In 1936, he was forced to return to Poland due to the Second World War. After the war, vocations began to flourish in Japan and various communities were opened. In 1969, the mission in Japan was erected as a Province. By then, the benevolent works started by Friar Zeno ŻEBROWSKI had become a sign of charity for all of Japan. After the enormous disaster of the atomic bomb, Friar Zeno, with help from the Servant of God Elisabetta Maria SATOKO KITAHARA, created a hospice for war orphans. Soon, they were caring for three hundred children. The government of Japan admired Friar Zeno’s work and he was held up as a model for all Japan. Today the friars of the Province of Japan minister in various parishes. They manage a printing press and serve at two high schools, three middle schools, a number of kindergartens, a retirement home and an orphanage.
The Jurisdiction currently has fifty-six solemnly professed friars, one simply professed friar, sixteen friaries and one filial house.
Nagasaki, Hongochi: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Friary
This friary was founded by St. Maximilian in 1931. The Seibo no Kishi site is one of the pilgrimage destinations in Nagasaki. Many students visit there to find heartfelt peace and to remember the figure of St. Maximilian.
Nagasaki, Konagai: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Friary
The friars continue to take in orphans there. The motto of the orphanage is “What We Do for the Lesser Ones, We Do for Christ.”
Nagasaki, Konagai: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Filial House
The friars minister to the nuns.
Tokyo, Honbu: Immaculate Conception Friary of the B.V.M. Friary
The Provincial Curia
Tokyo, Sekimachi: St. Bonaventure Friary
This friary functions as a house of formation for aspirants, postulants and post-novices.
Tokyo, Akabane: Assumption of the B.V.M. Friary
Tokyo, Kameari: St. Francis Friary
Aichi, Seto: St. Joseph Friary
Aichi, Kasugai St. Anthony of Padua Friary
Hyogo, Nigawa: B.V.M. Mediatrix of Grace Friary
Otia, Yufuin: Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Friary
Nagasaki, Yue: St. Francis of Assisi Friary
Kagoshima, Kasari: St. Michael the Archangel Friary
Kagoshima, Koniya: St. Gregory Friary
Kagoshima, Naze: B.V.M. Queen of the World Friary
Nagasaki, Higashinagasaki: Holy Martyrs of Japan Friary
Tokyo, Higashimurayama: St. Bonaventure Friary
Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation