World Church · October 15, 2026
Honorary Bishop of Saitama Diocese Dies at 73
Marcelino Tani Daiji, the honorary bishop of the Saitama Diocese, passed away on October 10 at Saitama Red Cross Hospital. He was 73 years old and had been receiving medical treatment for some time. The wake is scheduled for October 16 at 6 PM, and the funeral mass will take place on October 17 at 11 AM, both at the Catholic Urawa Church in Urawa Ward, Saitama City. The service will be officiated by Bishop Mario Yamanochi of the Saitama Diocese. In accordance with the deceased's wishes, flowers and offerings are declined.
Tani was born in 1953 in Hyogo Prefecture. He was ordained as a priest in 1986 and appointed as the bishop of the Urawa Diocese, now known as the Saitama Diocese, in May 2000, receiving his episcopal ordination in September of the same year. He served as the diocesan head for approximately 13 years until July 2013.
During his tenure, he promoted pastoral care for foreign nationals, immigrants, and refugees, as well as fostering multicultural coexistence within the church. He held positions such as the chairperson of the Japan Catholic Refugee and Migrant Committee and the president of the Japan Catholic Justice and Peace Council, actively advocating for the rights of marginalized individuals and participating in peace movements. He was involved in support activities in disaster-stricken areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
After retiring as bishop in 2013, he moved to Okinawa, where he continued pastoral work and spiritual guidance in the Naha Diocese while engaging with issues surrounding U.S. military bases and the history of the Okinawa War, including participating in opposition movements against the construction of the new Henoko base. Even after relocating to Saitama for cancer treatment, he maintained an interest in Okinawa.