The Rt Revd Dr Renta Nishihara, Bishop of the Diocese of Chubu and Administrator Bishop of the Kyoto Diocese, has been elected as the 21st Primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK: The Anglican Church in Japan). The election took place at the 71st General Synod of the NSKK, held from August 31 to September 2, 2026, at the Cathedral Church of St Andrew in Tokyo.

Under the electoral system of the NSKK, a Primate is elected by securing a majority of votes from both the episcopal college and the houses of clergy and laity; Bishop Renta was elected on the first ballot.

On Wednesday, September 2, the final day of the General Synod, a Service of Installation was held for the new Primate, now titled the Most Revd Dr Renta Nishihara.

The newly installed Archbishop shared with Anglican News that he sees the ministries of the primate as, in essence, the same as those of a bishop. 'I am committed to continuing to carry out my duties from the dimensions of personal, collegial and communal engagement', he said.

'Together with the laity and clergy of the NSKK, the College of Bishops of the NSKK and all the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion, I hope to devote my utmost efforts to advancing God’s mission as a Primate of the NSKK.'

To the worldwide Anglican Communion, Archbishop Renta said, 'Please pray that the NSKK, a precious branch of the Anglican Communion, may become an even richer instrument through God’s grace.'

Archbishop Renta was born in Kyoto in 1962. In 2020, he was installed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Chubu. He has served on several Anglican Communion committees, including the Inter-Anglican Standing Committee of the Ecumenical Relations (IASCER), the Anglican Lutheran International Commission (ALIC) and the International Reformed–Anglican Dialogue (IRAD). He also currently serves on the Anglican Communion Science Commission (ACSC) and the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC). 

The Most Revd Dr Renta Nishihara, Primate of Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Anglican Church in Japan), Bishop of the Diocese of Chubu and Administrator Bishop of the Kyoto Diocese at ACC-19 in Belfast.
Photo: Neil Turner

He has also made significant contributions to the global ecumenical movement, including serving as a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee from 2006 to 2022.

In addition to serving as President of Rikkyo University, he is also Chairman of the Board of the Association of Christian Schools in Japan.

See an article on the Nippon Sei Ko Kai church website about the new primate.