1. Msgr. REINERS, Joseph S.V.D. 1922-1941 (Prefect Apostolic)
2. Most Rev. MATSUOKA, Peter Magoshiro 1941-1969
   (1941-1945 Administrator Apostolic)
   (1945-1962 Prefect Apostolic)
3. Most Rev. SOMA, Aloysius Nobuo 1969-1993

The Prefecture Apostolic of Nagoya was established on February 19, 1922 when the two prefectures of Aichi and Gifu were separated from the Archdiocese of Tokyo and the three prefectures of Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama were separated from the Prefecture Apostolic of Niigata. The new prefecture apostolic was entrusted to the German Fathers of the Society of the Divine Word, and Monsignor Joseph Reiners, S.V.D., who was also Prefect Apostolic of Niigata, was appointed concomitantly Prefect Apostolic of Nagoya. In 1926 Monsignor Reiners resigned as Prefect Apostolic of Niigata and became Prefect Apostolic of Nagoya alone. In 1941, with the resignation of Monsignor Reiners, Father Matsuoka Magoshiro took over responsibility for both Niigata and Nagoya as administrator apostolic. In 1945 Monsignor Matsuoka became prefect apostolic of both Niigata and Nagoya. In 1953 he resigned as Prefect Apostolic of Niigata. On April 16, 1962, the Prefecture Apostolic of Nagoya was raised to the status of a diocese, and Monsignor Matsuoka was consecrated as the first bishop. In 1969 Bishop Matsuoka resigned, and in the same year Father Soma Nobuo was consecrated bishop.

On April 5, 1993, Bishop Soma resigned and Father Nomura Jun'ichi was appointed his successor. He was consecrated on July 4 of the same year and still serves as the Bishop of Nagoya.