Gakushuin University
Encyclopedia
Mejiro
Mejiro may refer to:* Mejiro, a neighbourhood in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan* Mejiro Station, a railway station in Tokyo, Japan* Japanese White-eye, a bird also known as the mejiro...
, Toshima
Toshima, Tokyo (ward)
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Toshima is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area, including Chiyoda, Minato, Shibuya, Chuo, Shinjuku, Taito, and Bunkyo surrounding the Imperial Palace...
Ward, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. It was re-established after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an affiliate of the Gakushūin
Gakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
School Corporation, the privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University or "Peers School" set up during the Meiji era to educate the children of the Japanese nobility
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
. The Gakushūin University is still one of the most prestigious universities in Japan, having most of the members of the present Imperial Family
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
as former and present students. The average number of students has been kept low so that each one can receive personal attention from the staff.
The research standard is considered as one of the highest in Japan.
Although the outlook of Gakushūin is traditional, the education given there is liberal, and the prevailing atmosphere is one of comradeship, toleration and broad-mindedness. This freedom of thought, combined with a lack of competition between students, has resulted in the fact that there are many well-known literary figures, artists, and diplomats among the alumni. However, despite the high academic level, research work conducted at the University has not brought to public attention and therefore the institution is not well known outside Japan. Also, as virtually all the instruction is conducted in Japanese, there are relatively few foreigners studying at Gakushūin.
Faculties
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Science
- Professional School of Law
Additionally, a range of Japanese language classes are provided for the foreign students and though designed for Japanese students approximately 60 classes are held in English. Each year the University admits approximately 80 foreign students (including short-term exchange students) of high academic and social standing to study in each faculty and graduate school.
General Rankings
The university was ranked 72nd in 2010 (63rd in 2009, 78th in 2008) in the ranking Truly Strong UniversitiesTruly Strong Universities
The Truly Strong Universities is a ranking of the Japan’s top 100 universities by Toyo Keizai, released annually in October on its business magazine "Toyo Keizai"....
by Toyo Keizai
Toyo Keizai
is a book and magazine publisher specializing in politics, economics and business, based in Tokyo, Japan.The company is famous for established in 1895, one of three Japanese leading business magazines ranked with published by Nikkei Business Publications and published by DIAMOND.- External...
. However, it has to be noted that Gakushuin focuses on the Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
education rather than Natural Sciences, therefore it has a tendency to be ranked weaker.
QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
also ranked Gakushuin University as 161st in Asia in 2010.
Research Performance
Generally speaking, National Universities in Japan have better research standards. However Gakushuin is one of the few Private Universities which compete with top National Universities. According to Quacquarelli SymondsQuacquarelli Symonds
Quacquarelli Symonds is a company specializing in education and study abroad. The company was founded in 1990 by Wharton School MBA graduate Nunzio Quacquarelli...
, Gakushuin is the 6th best research university in Japan and 9th best in Asia in terms of citations per paper.
Graduate school Rankings
Gakushuin Law School's number of successful candidates for bar examination was 24th in 2009 and 25th in2010 in Japan.Alumni Rankings
Alumni of Gakushuin enjoy their good success in Japanese industries such as shown below.According to the Yomiuri Weekly
Yomiuri Shimbun
The is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...
's 2008 rankings, Alumni of Gakushuin have the 3rd best graduate prospectives among Japanese universities. Especially in Finance and Tourism industries, Gakushuin was top in the rankings.
École des Mines de Paris ranks Gakushuin University as 92nd in the world in 2010 in terms of the number of alumni listed among CEOs in the 500 largest worldwide companies.
Popularity and Selectivity
Gakushuin is a popular university in Japan. The number of applicants per place was 7.58(13,765/1,815) in the 2011 undergraduate admissions. Its entrance exams are also selective.Nikkei BP
Nikkei Business Publications
, commonly known as , is a book and magazine publisher based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was established as "Nikkei McGraw-Hill, Inc", a joint venture of Nihon Keizai Shimbun and McGraw-Hill in 1969, and later it became to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Nikkei.Nikkei BP is known well for its...
has been publishing a ranking system "Brand rankings of Japanese universities
Brand rankings of Japanese universities
The Brand rankings of Japanese universities is a ranking of the Japanese universities by Nikkei Business Publications, released annually in November....
" every year, composed by the various indications related to the power of brand, and Gakushuin was 10th in Greater Tokyo Area
Greater Tokyo Area
The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan, consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo . In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the , , and others....
in 2009.
Notable alumni
Imperial House of JapanImperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
- AkihitoAkihitois the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...
, the current Emperor of JapanEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
. Attended but did not graduate. - Prince NaruhitoNaruhito, Crown Prince of Japanis the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, which makes him the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.-Early life and education:...
- Prince HitachiPrince Hitachiis a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of current Emperor Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of HIM Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun and is fourth in line to the Chrysanthemum throne...
- Prince AkishinoPrince AkishinoFumihito, The Prince Akishino is a member of the Japanese imperial family...
- Prince KatsuraPrince Katsurais a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the second son of HIH Prince Mikasa and HIH Princess Mikasa. He is a first cousin of Emperor Akihito...
- Prince Tomohito of MikasaPrince Tomohito of Mikasa, is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the eldest son of the current HIH Prince Mikasa and HIH Princess Mikasa. He is a first cousin of Emperor Akihito, and is the heir apparent to the princely house of Mikasa-no-miya...
- Sayako KurodaSayako Kuroda, formerly , is the third child and only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. She held the childhood appellation "Nori no miya" . She married Yoshiki Kuroda on 15 November 2005...
- Takako ShimazuTakako Shimazu-Notes:...
- Princess AkishinoPrincess Akishino, formerly is the wife of Prince Akishino, the second son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko of Japan. The daughter of a university professor, she became the second commoner to marry into the imperial family; her mother-in-law, the Empress, was the first in 1959...
- Princess Noriko of TakamadoPrincess Noriko of Takamadois a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the daughter of the late Prince Takamado and Princess Takamado.In April 2007, Princess Noriko enrolled in the Gakushuin University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Psychology, and has expressed her intent to pursue studies in the field of clinical...
- Princess Akiko of MikasaPrincess Akiko of Mikasais a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the eldest daughter of HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa .-Biography:Princess Akiko graduated from Gakushuin University in Tokyo with a bachelor's degree in history...
Others
- HuishengHuishengAisin-Gioro Huisheng was a Princess of the Manchu ruling family. She was the elder daughter of Pujie and his Japanese wife, the noblewoman Hiro Saga. Her uncle, Puyi, was the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty....
- Hayao MiyazakiHayao Miyazakiis a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
, Director - Yoko OnoYoko Onois a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
- Tarō AsōTaro Asowas the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
, former Prime Minister of JapanPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office... - Shiono NanamiShiono NanamiNanami Shiono , is a Japanese author and novelist known for her works on the history of Italy, especially those dealing with ancient Rome and the Renaissance period.- Biography :...
, Author - Marina InoueMarina Inoueis a voice actress and singer. She is signed onto Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex division. As for voice acting career, she's employed by Sigma Seven...
- Yoshinobu ShimamuraYoshinobu Shimamurais a Japanese politician and current Leader of the Opposition.Born in Edogawa, Tokyo in Tokyo, he graduated from the Faculty of Politics & Economics at Gakushuin University in 1956 and then entered ENEOS, a Japanese oil company...
- Hisaoki KameiHisaoki Kameiis a Japanese politician of People's New Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kanoashi District, Shimane and graduate of Gakushuin University, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1971 as an independent...
- Akiko KameiAkiko Kameiis a female Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet . A native of Tokyo and graduate of Gakushuin University and Carleton University in Canada, she was elected for the first time in 2007 in the constituency of Shimane Prefecture...
- Keiko NagaokaKeiko Nagaokais a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Tokyo and graduate of Gakushuin University she was elected for the first time in 2005. Her husband was politician Yoji Nagaoka, who committed suicide on August 1,...
- Yasuko IkenoboYasuko Ikenobois a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Tokyo and dropout of Gakushuin University , she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 as a member of the New Frontier Party, which later split into...
- Yoshiki Kuroda
- Tokugawa TsunenariTokugawa TsunenariPresent head of the main Tokugawa house. His great-grandfather by his birth family was the famed Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu...
- Hiroyuki NambaHiroyuki Nambais a Japanese musician. He has composed for and arranged songs from Japanese anime, OVA and video games. Notably, Hiroyuki Namba composed for Dallos, the first anime Original video animation. However, in the United States, he is known for composing the soundtrack to the Armitage III film...
- Akiko KobayashiAkiko Kobayashi (singer), also known by her alias Holi, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, composer and arranger.Kobayashi collaborated with Brian Eno and U2 on their 1995 project, the Passengers...
- Akira YoshimuraAkira Yoshimurawas a prize winning Japanese writer.He was the president of the Japanese writers' union and a PEN member. He published over 20 novels, of which On Parole and Shipwrecks are internationally known and have been translated into several languages...
, Author - Yoshiki TanakaYoshiki TanakaDr. Yoshiki Tanaka is a Japanese novelist. He was born in Kumamoto Prefecture and took his doctorate degree in Japanese Language and Literature in the Graduate School of Gakushūin University in Tokyo....
, Author - Yoshihiko FunazakiYoshihiko Funazakiis a Japanese novelist, poet, illustrator, manga artist, songwriter, and assistant professor of Shirayuri College. He has written more than 300 books.-Biography:...
, Author - Kuniko AsagiKuniko Asagiis a Japanese actress and television presenter. Her real name is .- Early career :She attended Kokubunji High School in Tokyo, and Gakushuin University. Her resume includes Tokyo Disney Resort advertising, shown widely when the park opened.- Personal Life :...
- Mona YamamotoMona Yamamotois a Norwegian-Japanese TV announcer and presenter. Her father is Norwegian and she became a naturalized Japanese citizen at the age of 6.After graduating from Gakushuin University, Mona joined the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as an announcer. She introduces Jackass in Japan...
- Satomi TonSatomi Tonis the pen-name for a Japanese author known for the craftsmanship of his dialogue and command of the Japanese language. His two elder brothers, Ikuma Arishima and Takeo Arishima , were also authors...
- Toshiyuki HosokawaToshiyuki Hosokawawas a Japanese actor and disc jockey, whose credits included roles in television, film, stage and musical theater. He reached prominence in Japan for his starring role in the 1970 film Eros Plus Massacre, which was directed by Yoshishige Yoshida.Hosokawa was a raised in Fukuoka Prefecture...
- Masakazu MotokiMasakazu Motokiis a Chinese businessman who resides in Japan. He is the founder of Searchina Co., Ltd. and the chairman of . Masakazu Motoki is his popular name, and his real name is not revealed.-Background:...
External links
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