Ritsumeikan traces its roots to Prince Saionji’s private academy of the same name, established in 1869. It was officially founded in 1900 by his protégé, Kojuro Nakagawa, as the Kyoto Hosei Gakko (Kyoto School of Law and Politics), later to take on the name "Ritsumeikan." The name is derived from a passage in the Jinxin chapter of the Discourses of Mencius, and means "a place to establish one's destiny through cultivating one's mind." Ritsumeikan’s founding ideals are "freedom and innovation" and reflecting upon its wartime experience, it committed itself to a core educational philosophy of "peace and democracy" after World War II. Ritsumeikan has faced the challenges of the times by pursuing an independent path to rise above adversity and has become the comprehensive private educational institution that it is today through extensive cooperation and support from both within and outside Japan.
Ritsumeikan, as a Japanese institution located in the Asia Pacific region, is committed to sincerely reflecting upon history and to building an institution where many cultures coexist in the spirit of international mutual understanding. Ritsumeikan will build relationships of trust, through research and education, as well as sports and cultural activities, and establish its roots in the local community, to create an academic institution open to international society. Ritsumeikan will strive to strengthen links with society and promote its institutional development by fully utilizing the characteristics of a private academic institution, the participation of its faculty, staff and students, and the support of alumni and parents, while respecting the principles of autonomy, democracy, transparency, non-violence and justice.
Ritsumeikan will pursue the creation of universal values based on academic freedom and search for solutions to the pressing issues facing humankind, with its educational endeavors based on its founding spirit and educational ideals, bearing in mind “to believe in the future, to live for the future.” Ritsumeikan will foster learning and the development of individual talents in order to nurture just and ethical global citizens. Ritsumeikan, as an institute of education and research, pledges to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development in Japan and throughout the world, in keeping with the spirit of this Charter.
The Ritsumeikan Academy is one of the private comprehensive educational institutions in Japan with rich history and tradition, and we celebrated the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Ritsumeikan private school and the 100th year of the establishment of the Academy in 2000. The Academy has now become a comprehensive educational institution with two universities, four high schools, four junior high schools and one primary school.
The history of Ritsumeikan dates back to 1869 when Prince Kinmochi Saionji, an eminent international statesman of modern Japan, founded “Ritsumeikan” as a private academy on the site of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. In 1900, Kojuro Nakagawa, former secretary of Prince Saionji, established Kyoto School of Law and Politics, an evening law school that was open to working people. This school formally adopted the name Ritsumeikan in 1913 and was finally given the status of a university in 1922.
The school spirit of liberalism and internationalism advocated by Prince Saionji was combined with the ideals of academic freedom and vivacity pursued by Nakagawa, and became a tradition of the Academy.
Today, the Ritsumeikan Academy is highly admired by society as the educational institution which actively promotes the university reform. Such spirit of innovation and inspiration is simply based on the Academy’s school spirit, “freedom and innovation.”
Following the end of World War II, Ritsumeikan Chancellor Hiroshi Suekawa proposed Ritsumeikan Academy's educational philosophy of "peace and democracy," based on the Constitution of Japan and the Fundamental Law of Education. Ritsumeikan has been taking various approaches in order to apply the School Spirit and Educational Philosophy in real-life education and research.
The history of Ritsumeikan dates back to 1869 when Prince Kinmochi Saionji, an eminent international statesman of modern Japan, founded "Ritsumeikan" as a private academy on the site of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. In 1900, Kojuro Nakagawa, former secretary of Prince Saionji, established Kyoto Hosei School, an evening law school that was open to working people. This school formally adopted the name Ritsumeikan in 1913 and was finally given the status of a university in 1922.
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Marvelous University!! I spent here my two years as a master student. School facilities are excellent for the students we want to explore knowledge here.
By Mukti Ram Rijal (Aug, 2018) |
One of the best Universities I have visited so far. We had been there for student exchange program to the Biwako Campus for 8 days and those days were memorable and wonderful. The campus is very vast and has all facilities. Labs are well equipped and and very useful. The cafeteria is also very big and provides tasty food. The Campus is heavenly beautiful.
By Rahul Pai (Jul, 2018) |
It became considerably beautiful compared with when I entered 40 years ago ❗ (^ O ^) ?
By Hiroo Mizuno (Jan, 2018) |
It is a very beautiful and good university. Especially the library is wonderful. Just bad access .... There is no station nearby, it takes more than 40 minutes by bus from Kyoto station. (If it is from Kyoto Station, Ibaraki campus or Kusatsu campus may be closer?)
By A. Hirayama (Jan, 2018) |
Exceptional buildings, such as the new temple is that of the library. Or only to the low birth rate and survive even that gather money prestigious private university in western Japan. The cafeteria's done in about about 500 yen with a dessert. So so delicious. However, after there is only one Western-style is the chance entered the toilet building Japanese style. Washlet did not even attached. The new building is not know what, this is a shame. If there is money, first will from here.
By k k (Oct, 2017) |
It is a wonderful university surrounded by a wonderful temple with history.
By T- pablow (Jan, 2015) |
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Studying in Kyoto has been a transformative experience; the dedication of the faculty and the brilliant environment truly empower students to flourish.
By Osman (May, 2024) |