Anglican Communion News Service

Today the Primate of the Anglican Church in Japan chose the Eucharist, during which Christians remember that they are part of the one body of Christ, to offer a prayer for reconciliation between Japan and Korea.

The Primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai & Bishop of Hokkaido, Most Revd Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, took part in the intercessory prayers during the Eucharist which was led by the Korean Church.

“Japan and Korea have shared a very sad and tragic history,” he said, acknowledging that the occupation and colonisation of Korea until the end of the second World War had seen many in Korea suffer atrocities at the hands of the occupiers.  

 “In those years since, there has been a dividing wall of hostility and mistrust between two peoples in these two countries.”

The Presiding Bishop of Seuol, The Most Revd Francis Kyung Jo Park, who invited Archbishop Uematsu to pray in today’s service, said that the process of reconciliation between the two churches had taken place over the last twenty years.

“We have met together, and studied our history together,” he said. “We have sat down to discuss and rebuild our broken relationship. The bishops and priests have visited our churches, and confessed, and we have accepted it.”

Archbishop Uematsu gave thanks in his prayer today for the reconciliation, forgiveness and love towards which the churches in both Japan and Korea had been able to work for the last twenty years. 

“Now we pray that those two churches commit ourselves to be the instruments of your peace, especially in the region of North East Asia, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, the people, the peace and the reunification of the Korean peninsula will be realised.”

Archbishop Park will be succeeded as Presiding Bishop next year by Bishop Paul Keun Sang Kim, coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Seoul, who has been heavily involved in peace, democratisation and reunification work in Korea. He has also been dedicated to developing understanding and cooperation between the churches in Korea and Japan.

 Written by Jane Still.