Japanese Woman Says Archbishop of Tokyo Ignored Her Pleas After She Raped by a Priest

In a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, Tokie Tanaka, 64, details her allegations of sexual abuse against a Catholic priest.

A 64-year-old Tokyo-based nurse, Tokie Tanaka, who filed a civil lawsuit against the Catholic Society of the Divine Word in Japan over sexual abuse allegations, has publicly condemned Archbishop of Tokyo, Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, for failing to act against the accused priest despite her repeated appeals. Kikuchi currently serves as the head of the congregation and is among the 130 cardinals eligible to participate in the next papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis last month.

Tanaka and her attorney, Kazue Akita, spoke at a press conference in Tokyo, questioning Kikuchi’s integrity and accountability. Akita asserted that Kikuchi, who was affiliated with the same congregation as the alleged abuser, should have been aware of the case and bore responsibility for the lack of institutional response.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, seeks ¥30 million in damages. Tanaka alleges that she was sexually abused by Chilean priest Father Vargas Flos Osvaldo Javier over a 4½-year period beginning in 2012. The abuse reportedly began after she confided in him during confession about her childhood trauma from a previous sexual assault. She claims the priest used the pretext of "spiritual guidance" to coerce her into sexual acts, during which he also filmed her without consent.

Tanaka stated that she repeatedly asked the priest to stop recording her, but he threatened to expose the videos, leaving her with no choice but to comply. Psychological treatment in 2017 helped her recognize the coercive and abusive nature of the relationship. Despite reporting the case to the police, authorities declined to pursue it after the church allowed the priest to return to Chile and reportedly paid him ¥1 million without explanation.

In 2019, the congregation suspended Father Vargas following Tanaka's disclosure in 2018, acknowledging the breach of chastity but issuing no apology. Tanaka said she never received any form of remorse or outreach from church leadership.

Tanaka publicly revealed her identity in 2024, inspired by other survivors such as Rina Gonoi, a former member of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force who successfully sued over sexual abuse within the military.

A legal brief submitted to the court by the Catholic Society of the Divine Word in March stated that the church does not consider itself responsible for the private conduct of its priests, arguing that clergy are not performing religious duties around the clock. However, the same brief affirmed that priests are expected to live a consecrated life at all times.

Tanaka’s lawyer had previously reached out directly to Pope Francis in hopes of intervention, but no response was received.

The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of sexual abuse within religious institutions and raises questions about the accountability of clergy members and church leaders in Japan.