Daniel (Nushiro) of Japan

His Eminence Daniel (Nushiro) of Japan (1938–2023) was Archbishop of Tokyo, Metropolitan of All Japan, and primate of the Church of Japan from 2000 until his repose in 2023. Prior to his election as Archbishop of Tokyo, Daniel was Bishop of Kyoto.

Life

His Eminence Daniel was born Ikuo Yoshihara in Toyohashi, Aichi, in mid-Japan on September 5, 1938. He became Orthodox and was baptized in 1956 with the name Jude. He graduated with a degree in French literature from Aichi University in 1962. He studied at Tokyo Orthodox Seminary from 1962 to 1965 and then at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1968. During this time he married.

In November 1969, he was ordained a deacon. From 1970, he served as deacon at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kanda, Tokyo. In January 1972, he was ordained a priest and appointed to the parish of St. Matthew in Toyohashi, his birthplace, which he served until 1999. Following the death of his wife, he adopted her last name (Nushiro) according to Japanese custom.

On August 20, 1999, Fr. Jude was tonsured a monk with the name Daniel. On November 14, 1999, Hieromonk Daniel was consecrated a bishop and enthroned as the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Kyoto and Western Japan.

Metropolitan Theodosius (Nagashima), the ruling bishop of Japan, had reposed on May 9, 1999. In March 2000 a council of the Church of Japan elected Bp. Peter (Arihara) of Yokohama as his successor, but Bp. Peter fell gravely ill and resigned before his enthronement. On May 6, 2000, the council elected Bp. Daniel instead. He was enthroned in Tokyo on May 14, 2000 as Archbishop of Tokyo and Metropolitan of All Japan by Patriarch Alexei II of Russia, the first Russian Patriarch ever to visit Japan.

His Eminence was a devout student of the Church Fathers, especially Greek and Russian writers. For believers he wrote several brochures about their teachings in Japanese, as well as publications that focused on daily reading and theological issues. In 2005, Metr. Daniel blessed the founding of a monastery for men near the Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo.

On January 27, 2009, Metr. Daniel participated in the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church that elected Metr. Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad the successor to the late Patr. Alexei II. Metr. Daniel was a member of the Presidium of the Local Council.

In September 2012, during his visit to Japan for the centenary of the repose of St. Nicholas of Japan, Patr. Kirill served the Divine Liturgy with Metr. Daniel at Holy Resurrection Cathedral and announced a new Order of St. Nicholas of Japan, whose first award went to Metr. Daniel. In September 2020, Metr. Daniel led the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Russian mission in Japan, the 50th anniversary of the Church's autonomy, and the 50th anniversary of the glorification of St. Nicholas.

Repose

Metr. Daniel reposed on August 10, 2023, at the age of 84, after 23 years as primate. A panikhida was served at Holy Resurrection Cathedral on August 16, and on August 17 the Divine Liturgy and his funeral were served there by Abp. Seraphim (Tsujie) of Sendai. He was buried in the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery. Abp. Seraphim, the only remaining bishop of the Church of Japan, was chosen locum tenens on August 11 and elected Metr. Daniel's successor on September 28, 2023.

External links

• Daniel, Archbishop of Tokyo, Metropolitan of All Japan (Ikuo Nushiro) (Japanese)
• Interview with the Metropolitan of Tokyo and all Japan Daniel
• Wikipedia:Daniel Nushiro
• Metropolitan Daniel, SVS Alumnus, Visits Campus

Succession box: Daniel (Nushiro) of Japan
Preceded by: Theodosius (Nagashima)	Bishop of Kyoto 1999-2000	Succeeded by: —
Preceded by: Theodosius (Nagashima)	Archbishop of Tokyo and Metropolitan of All Japan 2000-2023	Succeeded by: Seraphim (Tsujie)

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