YOKOHAMA, Diocese of. – Located in the central-eastern part of the large island of Hondo (Japan), it comprises four civil prefectures: Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Nagano, with a total area of 28,225 sq. km.
It was erected on 9 Nov. 1937 by separation from the archdiocese of Tokyo, of which it is a suffragan see. On 5 Jan. 1939 the apostolic prefecture of Urawa was detached from II. On 30 Nov. 1940 the diocese was transferred from the Paris Foreign Missions Society to the Japanese secular clergy.
The principal city is Y., with about 950,000 inhabitants, and it is one of the most important commercial ports in Japan. Among other notable cities is Kamakura, famous for its history and antiquity: once it was the center of civil government and a hub of popular and religious culture, both Buddhist and Shinto. It is a destination for many visitors who come to admire the remains of that ancient culture. Near the city of Shizuoka lies the famous site of Toro, which is like the Pompeii of Japan.
Out of a population of 7,736,000, Catholics number 11,217, with 2,917 catechumens; there are 18 native priests; 9 foreign missionary institutes collaborating; 330 sisters; 13 major seminaries; 33 catechists; 327 teachers; 3 physicians and 119 nurses; 2 hospitals; 3 pharmacies; 3 orphanages; 1 old-age home; 1 leper colony; 7 elementary schools; 11 middle schools; 11 high schools; and 1 vocational school.