History of Dokkyo University

For over 120 years since the foundation of the Doitsu-gaku Kyokai (German Association), Dokkyo University has kept an unbroken and living history of foreign language education and international exchange that can rival any on the world stage.

The Doitsu-gaku Kyokai (German Association), which was the predecessor to Dokkyo University, was founded in 1883, when Japan had just started to move toward internationalization under the phrase of &civilization and enlightenment,&with the principle of nurturing internationally-minded people through learning the language and culture of Germany. It was led by people who left great marks during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), including Chairperson Yajiro Shinagawa and the first Principal of the university, Amane Nishi. A year later, a professional-producing school of law, which the added specialized subjects of law and politics to the five-year program junior high school, was established. Ever since then, it has produced many brilliant human resources to the medical world as the only junior high school in the nation to teach German. Then, in 1964, the year of the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the educational institute, Dokkyo University was established with Amano Teiyu as the first President. Since then, while inheriting the principle of school establishment that originates from the German spirit of multiculturalism, and a tradition of learning foreign language and international exchange which started in the time of German Association, the school has been developing as a university with unique characteristics.

Amano Teiyu　(1884-1980)

Graduate of Doitsu-gaku Kyokai, founder of Dokkyo University, and Philosopher. Minister of Education during the third Yoshida cabinet. Also famous for being an authority on Kant’s philosophy, as he was the first person to complete the Japanese translation of Kant’s Kritik der reinen Vernunft (Critique of Pure Reason).

Amane Nishi　(1829-1897)

First Principal of Doitsu-gaku Kyokai, philosopher and pursuer of enlightenment. After studying abroad in Holland, he joined the Meiroku (Meiji 6th Year) Society with Yukichi Fukuzawa, and made great efforts in enlightenment activities. He introduced western philosophy to Japan, and was later referred to as the &Father of Modern Japanese Philosophy.&

Jintaro Omura　(1863-1907)

Fourth Principal of Doitsu-gaku Kyokai. While making great efforts toward the popularization of German Studies, he introduced the scholastic education and social education of Germany and other European countries to Dokkyo’s education. He laid out a so-called "all-round education," which includes intellectual, moral, and physical education.

1883: Doitsu-gaku Kyokai (German Association) founded

1884: Specialized subject courses (Law & Politics) established

1948: Dokkyo Junior and Senior High Schools launched under new school system

1964: Dokkyo University founded in Soka City, Saitama Faculty of Foreign Languages (Department of German & English) and Faculty of Economics (Department of Economics) established Dr. Amano Teiyu assumed position of first President

1966: Department of Management Science Added to Faculty of Economics

1967: Faculty of Law, Department of Law established, Department of French Added to Faculty of Foreign Languages

1977: Graduate School of Law, Postgraduate Program established

1981: Foreign Language Educational Research Center established, Information Center established

1983: 100th Anniversary of Dokkyo Gakuen (Dokkyo Educational Foundation)

1984: 20th Anniversary of Dokkyo University / International Center established

1986: Graduate School of Foreign Languages, Postgraduate Program established (in German & English)

1989: Graduate School of Law, Doctoral Program added

1990: Graduate School of Foreign Language, Doctoral Program added (in German & English)
Graduate School of Foreign Language, Master’s Program added (in French)
Graduate School of Economics, Postgraduate Program established

1992: Graduate School of Economics, Doctoral Program added

1994: Graduate School of Foreign Language, Doctorate Program added (in French)

1999: Department of Languages and Culture added to Faculty of Foreign Languages, Department of International Legal Studies added to Faculty of Law, Completion of 35th Anniversary Center

2003: 120th Anniversary of Dokkyo Gakuen Graduate School of Foreign Language, One-year Master’s Program in English (with specialty in English Teaching) established Graduate School of Economics, One-year Master’s Program in Economics and Management Science (with specialty in Information) established

2004: 40th Anniversary of Dokkyo University, Ko Kajiyama assumed position as President, Dokkyo Law School (Graduate School of Law) established

2005: Graduate School of Foreign Language, One-year Postgraduate Program in Japanese Teaching added

2007: Faculty of International Liberal Arts established, Institute of Regional Research, Dokkyo University established, Institute of Human and Environmental Symbiosis Research,Dokkyo University established, Legal Service Center for Children and Local Community, Dokkyo University established

2008: Department of Policy Studies added to Faculty of Law

2009: Department of Tourism and Transnational Studies added to Faculty of Foreign Languages

Establishment of Doitsu-gaku Kyokai in 1883

The first school president, Amano Teiyu, gives a speech at the opening ceremony of the University’s celebration in establishing a four-year program in 1967.

Full view of the university just after completion of Buildings No. 1 through 5.

View of the University’s main street in 1972

History of Dokkyo University

About Dokkyo University

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