St. Mary's Cathedral — Attraction in Tokyo

I am writing to share our deeply disappointing and distressing experience at your cathedral on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025. My wife and I (a baptized chatolic) visited, hoping to participate in the Eucharist on this significant day before Easter. Instead, we were met with unexpected and upsetting behavior from one of your priests. When I approached to receive communion, the priest refused to give it to me. What was even more troubling was that he questioned the validity of my baptism in public in a manner that I found to be rude and dismissive. This occurred in front of my wife, who witnessed the entire interaction. To be denied participation in such a central sacrament, especially during Holy Week, was deeply hurtful for me. To have my baptism questioned so abruptly and discourteously by a representative of the church was incredibly unwelcoming. This experience was so upsetting that my wife was brought to tears, feeling deeply disappointed and unwelcome in a place we had hoped would offer spiritual connection. Our intention in visiting was to partake in a moment of spiritual reflection and connection during this holy time. Instead, we were met with judgment and exclusion, which caused significant distress to both of us. This experience was far from the welcoming and compassionate environment one would hope for in a place of worship, particularly on such a solemn occasion. Please understand that my intention in sharing this is not to harm your church. Rather, it is my sincere hope that you will reconsider how visitors are treated. In the name of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all, I believe your church should strive to be a place of genuine friendliness, understanding, and acceptance. The way we were treated was the opposite of this, and I hope that by bringing this to your attention, future visitors will encounter a more compassionate and Christ-like welcome. We sincerely hope that the cathedral takes this feedback seriously and addresses the way visitors are treated, especially regarding participation in the Eucharist and the manner in which personal faith matters like baptism are discussed. Our experience was profoundly negative and left us both feeling very unwelcome and deeply...

Amazing Cathedral Church built after the initial Cathedral was destroyed in WW2. The design lifts one's vision up to God in heaven. The design by world reknowned Kenzo Tange (1913-2005). On his architecture, Kenzo verbalized that 'Architecture must have something that appeals to the human heart, but even then, basic forms, spaces and appearances must be logical. Creative work is expressed in our time as a union of technology and humanity. The role of tradition is that of a catalyst, which furthers a chemical reaction, but is no longer detectable in the end result. Tradition can, to be sure, participate in a creation, but it can no longer be creative itself."

It certainly rings true in this church design that encapsulates a traditional Cruciform Church that he brings forth the modern design in it that is absolutely breathtaking.

Being Catholic or not, there is an added dimension of the relic of St Faustina Kowalska (bone) and St John Paul II (blood) that can be venerated. Of note is also a gifted bone relic of the Biblical Magi from the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

An outstanding replica of Michangelo's Pieta can also be admired without needing to go to Rome.

The grounds have a large grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

The is a bell that is almost 150 years old that was donated to the Tsukiji Catholic Church after the ban on Christianity was lifted in Japan.

As always, the House of the Lord is always...

St. Mary's Cathedral's structure is impressive.it has 8 curved walls which are almost perpendicular and form a large cross in an aerial view. The brightness of the stainless supports on the outside symbolizes the light that Christ makes shine upon the world and in the heart of men. The hard walls of pre-cast concrete evoke the words of the Bible: "The Lord is my rock and my salvation, my deliver is my God" (Psalm 18:3). They show how God is the pillar and the foundation of all men. "Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11:28).

The bell tower outside has four sides that appear flat at first glance but in fact hyperbolic, and stretch up into the sky in a single line. The four bells were imported from Germany. The designer, through studies of different bells in Japan, has made a real effort to bring out a sound adapted to the Japanese sentiments.

The pipe organ is the largest pipe organ in a Japanese church. It is made in Italy by Mascioni Organs and installed in 2004. It was especially designed to match the cathedral interior. It has 3 manual keyboards with 58 keys.

The Grotto of Lourdes resembles closely the one in Lourdes. It was built by the French missionaries to show their faith to the...