Hitotsubashi University, Kunitachi Campus

Hitotsubashi University is a national university corporation, and is the only university in Japan to specialize exclusively in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation, Hitotsubashi has been at the forefront of Japan's innovation. It has been a powerhouse for generations of Japan’s globally active business leaders as well as a research hub producing cutting-edge research in the global academic network of the social sciences

Our main teaching and research activities take place at Kunitachi Campus in western Tokyo. Kodaira Kokusai (International) Campus has residence halls for both domestic and international students along with excellent sports facilities. Chiyoda Campus is located in the birthplace of Hitotsubashi, Kanda-Hitotsubashi in central Tokyo, and offers courses for the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy.

Hitotsubashi University Library holds 2 million volumes and 16,900 serial titles. The collections in the Center for Historical Social Science Research are of outstanding international significance with more than 76,100 volumes of rare materials in the social sciences including the Carl Menger collection, the Schumpeter Collection, and the Soda Kiichiro collection, to name but a few. The library has been rated as the top university library in Japan in the University Library Rankings conducted by the Asahi Shimbun, a leading Japanese newspaper.

During the course of its long history, Hitotsubashi University has developed into a leading research university in Japan specializing in the social sciences. In Japan and around the world, Hitotsubashi has demonstrated its particular strength in academic research that makes practical contributions to improving society. For example, Hitotsubashi has been a leader in research on systemic reforms in public policy, the economy, and law, as well as in business management innovation. It places equal importance on basic and applied research, aiming to establish a suitable theoretical foundation that leads to effective problem resolution.

All of Hitotsubashi University’s educational programs have been meticulously prepared to cultivate each student individually, and the University has consequently prepared many promising, talented graduates for society. The faculty is not only deeply involved in cutting-edge research but also closely works with students in small-group seminars of about seven or eight students. The greatest feature of our University is the richness of its high-quality education. Students emerge from this favorable environment with the ability to identify and solve issues on the basis of their in-depth, specialized knowledge and contribute to social, economic, academic, and cultural advancement in Japan and around the world. Hitotsubashi University aims to be a worldclass education and research center in the social sciences, continuing its esteemed tradition and history while advancing toward further sophistication and internationalization of research and education.

Hitotsubashi was the first Japanese university to adopt a seminar system. Japan's education system unavoidably emphasizes mass education, but all Hitotsubashi students are required to participate in small-group seminars. Such a system not only cultivates their individual abilities and personalities, but also provides them with the opportunity to develop close and often life-long relationships with their fellow students and teachers. The seminars also foster a high standard of study and research, and underpin the University's creative and liberal character.

Hitotsubashi University was established as a center of education and research embracing every field of the social sciences, which make up the learning of civil society. The University has contributed to the development of Japan’s political and economic society and the nurturing of its creative driving force through its liberal academic traditions. Its standards of education and research, including those in the humanities, are extremely high, and since its establishment it has produced many highly talented graduates who have been active not only in Japan but also internationally.

Based on this history and record of achievement, our continuing mission is to create intellectual and cultural property which will contribute to the building of free and peaceful political and economic societies in Japan and the world and to train those who will assume positions of leadership. In order to accomplish this mission, Hitotsubashi University lays down the following principles and policies for the active promotion of pioneering and interdisciplinary education and research in the social sciences, with the aim of helping to solve, as a center for Japan and the world, the important problems common to human societies.