Gakushuin' s origins go back to the closing years of the Tokugawa shogunate in the mid-19th century. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868 Gakushuin became the "The Peers' School", under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Imperial Household. The school has had a long and distinguished history, and many of its graduates have achieved positions of prominence in politics and academia, as well as in a variety of cultural and artistic fields.

Gakushuin University opened its doors in 1949 as a private university and place of learning for people of all ideologies and aspirations. The first president, Yoshishige Abe, philosopher and pupil of the famous novelist Soseki Natsume , lectured his students on the importance of remaining conscious at all times of the history of Gakushuin, and of possessing a sense of responsibility and pride as those chosen "for their spirit".

The university values this tradition, but also offers a practical education responsive to the reality of the times. Since its foundation Gakushuin has produced many graduates of outstanding talent, a legacy of which we are extremely proud. We are equally proud of our excellent faculty, respected both in Japan and internationally for accomplishments in the fields of education and research.

Gakushuin University has established close ties with other universities in Japan and overseas. For example, our undergraduates can take courses in various subjects at Japan Women's University, Rikkyo University, Waseda University and Gakushuin Women's College. Of course, many students from these institutions also attend classes at Gakushuin University.

We have also signed agreements with a number of graduate schools, allowing our students to take classes in a range of specialist fields. We are currently working to offer an even greater array of study programmes in response to the growing sophistication and specialization across all academic fields.

Gakushuin has established relationships with over 20 leading overseas universities, and the number of our students choosing to spend time at these universities as part of their studies, as well as the number of students from these institutions who choose to study at Gakushuin, continues to increase.

Our Mejiro campus in central Tokyo offers a wide range of facilities for extracurricular activity, located in leafy surroundings much admired by students and visitors alike.