The 80th meeting of the Diocese of Hokkaido’s synod has elected the first woman bishop for the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK). On 3 November 2021 the Rev. Maria Grace Tazu Sasamori of the Diocese of Tokyo was elected on the tenth ballot, achieving a two thirds vote amongst the clergy and lay delegates. On 26 November 2021 she formally accepted the invitation from the synod to be their bishop.
Bishop-elect Sasamori succeeds the Most Rev. Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu as Bishop of Hokkaido. The date of her consecration and installation will be set by the church’s house of bishops. She will become the first woman bishop in Japan and only the second woman bishop in Asia. The Rt Rev Puspha Lalitha, Bishop in Nyandal of the Church of South India was elected in 2013.
