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History of Dokkyo University

History of Dokkyo University

Since the foundation of the Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Gakkō (German Association School) over 130 years ago, Dokkyo University has maintained its tradition and history as a hub for foreign language education and international exchange that can rival any on the world stage.

A university is an institution where character is developed through learning

Under the principle of nurturing internationally minded individuals by providing them with an opportunity to study the language and culture of Germany, Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Gakkō (German Association School) was founded in 1883. This year marked the opening of Rokumeikan, a building that served as a symbol of the civilization and enlightenment of the Meiji period, and Japan's first steps toward internationalization. The following year, a vocational school specializing in law was established to add specialist subject courses in law and politics to the 5-year junior high school. Since then, this educational establishment has produced many outstanding human resources - mainly in the medical world - as the only junior high school in Japan to teach German.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of this educational institute, Dokkyo University was established in 1964 with Dr. Teiyu Amano as its first president under the founding philosophy of "A university is an institution where character is developed through learning." Based on the spirit of German educational doctrines, the university places great importance on teaching smaller groups of students in settings such as seminars, thereby creating numerous opportunities for interaction between the teaching staff and students. More than 130 years since the foundation of the Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Gakkō, our tradition and history of foreign language education and international exchange remains alive and well as it continues to be passed on to this day.

Founding philosophy

"A university is an institution where character is developed through learning"

Monument to the founding of Dokkyo UniversityMonument to the founding of Dokkyo UniversityTeiyu Amano, the university's founder, said the following to mark the founding of the university. Character development is inherently a lifelong task and it can be carried out in various ways...At a university, however, character must be developed through learning. One must immerse oneself in one's studies. Maintaining concentration and focus is the best way to discipline one's mind and build character. Academic efforts are sure to develop one's character and discipline one's will.
This will must be pure, as academic pursuit is not possible without honesty.
The words "character must be developed through learning" continue to encourage us to think about the essence of learning and they serve as the starting point for all those studying at Dokkyo University.

Teiyu Amano (1884-1980)

Founder of Dokkyo University and leading authority on Kant's philosophy

Teiyu Amano (1884-1980)Graduate of Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Junior High School, founder of Dokkyo University, and philosopher.
Minister of Education during the third Yoshida Cabinet.
Amano was also known as a leading authority on Immanuel Kant's philosophy, having been the first to complete a Japanese translation of Kant's Kritik der reinen Vernunft (Critique of Pure Reason).

Amane Nishi (1829-1897)

Philosopher who created the term tetsugaku

Amane Nishi (1829-1897)First principal of Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Gakkō (German Association School), philosopher, and enlightenment thinker.
After studying abroad in Holland, Nishi joined the Meirokusha (Meiji 6 Society) together with Yukichi Fukuzawa and various others and devoted himself to enlightenment activities. Having introduced Western philosophy to Japan, he was later referred to as the "Father of Modern Japanese Philosophy."

Jintaro Omura (1863-1907)

Father of Dokkyo's education

Jintaro Omura (1863-1907)Fourth principal of Doitsu-gaku Kyōkai Gakkō.
While making great efforts to popularize German studies, Omura introduced the academic and social educational practices of Germany and other European countries to Dokkyo, establishing an all-round education system that includes intellectual, moral, and physical education.

History

>Prof. Tadashi Inui assumes position of tenth president (until 2020)
  • Student Center Annex completed
  • Student Center completed
  • 1883
  • Doitsu-gaku Kyokai Gakko (German Association School) founded
  • 1885
  • Specialist subject courses (Law & Politics) established
  • 1900
  • Specialist German language course established
  • 1924
  • English language course established
  • 1948
  • Dokkyo Junior and Senior High Schools launched under new school system
  • 1963
  • Dokkyo University Establishment Committee launched
  • 1964
  • Dokkyo University founded in Soka City, Saitama
  • Dr. Teiyu Amano assumes position of first president (until 1969)
  • Faculty of Foreign Languages (Department of German & English) and Faculty of Economics (Department of Economics) established
  • 1966
  • Department of Management Science added to Faculty of Economics
  • 1967
  • Department of Law established in Faculty of Law
  • Department of French added to Faculty of Foreign Languages
  • 1969
  • Prof. Kiyoshi Kurosawa assumes position of second president (until 1976)
  • 1976
  • Prof. Shin Shirahata assumes position of third president (until 1988)
  • 1977
  • Postgraduate Program established for Graduate School of Law
  • 1981
  • Foreign Language Educational Research Center established
  • Information Center established
  • 1983
  • 100th Anniversary of Dokkyo Gakuen (Dokkyo Group of Academic Institutions)
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Essex (UK)
  • 1984
  • 20th anniversary of foundation of Dokkyo University
  • International Center established
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Duisburg (Germany)
  • 1985
  • Exchange agreement signed with University of Burgundy (France)
  • 1986
  • Postgraduate Programs (German & English) established for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • 1988
  • Prof. Yukio Yasumoto assumes position of fourth president (until 1992)
  • 1989
  • Doctoral Program added for Graduate School of Law
  • 1990
  • Doctoral Programs (German & English) added for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • Master's Program (French) added for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • Postgraduate Program established for Graduate School of Economics
  • 1992
  • Prof. Seiji Tunematsu assumes position of fifth president (until 1993)
  • Doctoral Program added for Graduate School of Economics
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Alabama (US)
  • 1993
  • Prof. Osamu Sakai assumes position of sixth president (until 1996)
  • 1994
  • Doctoral Program (French) added for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • 1996
  • Prof. Koichi Kinoshita assumes position of seventh president (until 2000)
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Wollongong (Australia)
  • 1997
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Catholic University of the West (France)
  • 1998
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with York University (Canada) and University of Illinois (US)
  • 1999
  • Department of Languages and Culture added to Faculty of Foreign Languages
  • Department of International Legal Studies added to Faculty of Law
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with University of Wales (Cardiff, UK) and Fudan University (China)
  • Completion of 35th Anniversary Center
  • 2000
  • Prof. Yasuo Kuwahara assumes position of eighth president (until 2004)
  • 2001
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Anyang University (China)
  • 2002
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (US)
  • 2003
  • 120th Anniversary of Dokkyo Gakuen (Dokkyo Group of Academic Institutions)
  • One-year Master's Program in English (with specialty in English Teaching) established for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • One-year Master's Program in Economics and Management Science (with specialty in Information) established for Graduate School of Economics
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with Catholic University of Daegu (S. Korea) and University of Vienna (Austria)
  • 2004
  • Prof. Ko Kajiyama assumes position of ninth president (until 2012)
  • 40th Anniversary of Dokkyo University
  • Dokkyo Law School (Graduate School of Law) established
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with Institute of Japanese Studies (CASS) (China), University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia), and University of Münster (Germany)
  • 2005
  • One-year Postgraduate Program in Japanese Teaching added for Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Marburg (Germany)
  • 2006
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with Inha University (S. Korea) and Hochschule Bremen (Germany)
  • 2007
  • Faculty of International Liberal Arts established
  • Amano Teiyu Hall completed
  • Artificial turf pitch completed
  • Institute of Regional Research established
  • Institute of Human and Environmental Symbiosis Research established
  • Legal Service Center for Children and Local Community established
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Leicester (UK)
  • 2008
  • Department of Policy Studies added to Faculty of Law
  • Dokkyo University Parents' Association established
  • Exchange agreement signed with University of Basel (Switzerland)
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Konkuk University (S. Korea)
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Kyung Hee University (S. Korea)
  • 2009
  • 45th Anniversary of Dokkyo University
  • Department of Tourism and Transnational Studies added to Faculty of Foreign Languages
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with University of the Fraser Valley (Canada), and Newcastle University (UK)
  • "CO2 Reduction Eco-campus Project at Dokkyo University" adopted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as its "Housing and Building CO2 Reduction Promotion Model Project" for 2009 (1st)
  • "Enhancement of EGAP English Education in Support of the Development of Graduate Attributes" adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as its "Program for Promoting University Education and Student Support, Theme A: Program for Promoting University Education Reform" for 2009
  • 2010
  • Dokkyo University Keiwa-kaikan completed
  • East Building completed
  • Academic Support Center established
  • Career Center initiative entitled "Career Counseling Enhancement and Employment Support with Community Cooperation" adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as its "Program for Promoting University Education and Student Support (Employment Support Promotion Program)" for 2009 Recommendation by Dokkyo University's Institute of Human and Environmental Symbiosis Research adopted by Saitama Prefecture for its "100 Plans for Waterside Regeneration Project"
  • 2011
  • Institute for Research in Foreign Language Teaching established (following reorganization of former Institute for Research in Foreign Language Teaching)
  • Institute of Informatics established (following reorganization of former Information Center)
  • East Garden completed on Building No. 3 site
  • East Building receives Award of Excellence at 2nd Saitama Environmental Architecture/Housing Awards (General Architecture category)
  • 2012
    2013
  • Department of Economics on Sustainability established in Faculty of Economics
  • Student Center receives Good Design Award
  • Legal Service Center for Children and Local Community (Dokkyo University) receives Cabinet Office's "Distinguished Service Award for Development of Children/Young People and Child Care Support"
  • 2014
  • 50th Anniversary of Dokkyo University
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Southern Cross University (Australia)
  • 2015
  • Accreditation results received from Japan University Accreditation Association certifying that Dokkyo University "meets Japan University Accreditation Association's University Standards" Academic exchange agreement signed with University of Hildesheim (Germany)
  • 2016
  • Academic exchange agreement signed with Bogazici University (Turkey)
  • 2017
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with University of Malaga (Spain) and Sungshin University (S. Korea)
  • 50th Anniversary Center (West Building) completed
  • Name of station closest to Dokkyo University changed from Matsubara-Danchi to Dokkyodaigakumae (Soka-Matsubara)
  • 2018
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with University of Regensburg (Germany), Dalian University of Technology (China), and University of Franche-Comté (France)
  • 2019
  • Academic exchange agreements signed with Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) and Leuphana University Lüneburg (Germany)
  • 2020
  • Asahiko Yamaji assumes position of eleventh president