Kikuchi, 66, who became Tokyo's archbishop in 2017, is the seventh Japanese to be elevated to the position that carries voting rights in future papal elections for cardinals under 80.
"It is our mission to contribute to the development of the world," he said after receiving the traditional red hat and ring, a ceremony known as a consistory, on Saturday.
The appointment of Kikuchi, a native of northeastern Japan's Iwate Prefecture, follows that of his predecessor Cardinal Manyo Maeda, who was named in 2018, strengthening Asian representation in the Church's highest ranks.
The latest appointments bring the total number of cardinals to about 250, according to Vatican sources, as Pope Francis continues to diversify the Church's leadership with selections from around the globe.
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