Bunka Fashion Graduate University

The biggest problems that Japan’s fashion business has faced are that designers do not have enough understanding of business management, while business managers lack an adequate understanding of design. When one considers fashion as a global business, multiple perspectives in management, finance, production control, and other areas are required, in addition to originality in designs and superb technical skills. To nurture new leaders for the next generation of the fashion industry, BFGU was established in 2006 by Educational Foundation Bunka Gakuen, a leading institution of fashion education in Japan, based on its ninety year track record and expertise. By combining theory and practice, we will be nurturing “new creators,” helping them establish their own brands or business models on the global fashion business scene.

As Japan’s only graduate university that aims to nurture fashion professionals, the BFGU offers unique and excellent features. First, it integrates the field of fashion creation with fashion management to learn the practical skills required to manage creative and design skills. With the unprecedented combination of these two divisions, the graduate school implements high-level education to foster the growth of professionals. Second, the graduate students can make extensive use of the world-leading premises and facilities that Educational Foundation Bunka Gakuen has developed and accumulated over the years. Third, the graduate university organizes various industry-academia collaborative projects to offer students opportunities to gain practical business experience. We hope you will display your abilities in this well-developed educational and research environment.
Message from the President

BFGU came into existence by accumulating the expertise and achievements of Bunka Gakuen Educational Foundation which has had a leading role in fashion education in Japan for over ninety years. Bunka Gakuen has produced new leaders who hold two perspectives namely creation and management. Since its foundation in 1923, Bunka Gakuen has created a variety of collaborative activities with various cities around the world through fashion, joint research with industries, publications, cultural and research activities in connection with fashion. At the same time, Bunka has been developing advanced fashion education and forming many prominent designers. BFGU was established from this historical background as the first graduate fashion university in Japan that values both strong “expertise” and “skills”. Our aim is to educate new professionals in the fashion industry who can create Japanese brands on the global fashion business scene.

At BFGU, we provide two divisions of specialization, Fashion Creation and Fashion Management within the Graduate School of Fashion Business. The aim is to educate talented people who have the intellect and skills to prevail in the world’s fashion market. In agreement with the previously mentioned three fields of study in fashion business, we have established three courses: Fashion Design Course, Fashion Technology Course, and Fashion Business Administration Course.

In accordance with the purpose of each course, we have structured the curriculum in the Graduate School of Fashion Business in agreement with the Design field of study, Technology flied of study, and Management field of study. Moreover, graduate students must initiate their own subject of study. We have organized for each course a Project to investigate, to study, to create, and to present with the aim of putting the theories of fashion business into practice.

In addition to our curriculums focusing on real case studies, our professors are also businesspersons who have played an active part in leading positions in the fashion industry. Graduate students will also study the latest and advanced business skills from, and achieve motivation through, visiting professors and visiting special lecturers, including designers such as Mr. Atsuro Tayama.