SHOKEI GAKUIN ACADEMIC JURIDICAL PERSON

COMING INTO FULL BLOOM

Shokei Gakuin was founded in 1892 by women missionaries from the American Baptist Churches in the United States. They valued the spirit of "Ikin shokei" (rich on the inside, modest on the outside) and placed a great emphasis on the idea that everyone was created equal before God. These missionaries strived to educate Japanese women who would be able to make a positive contribution to society and other people in the spirit of love and devotion.

In April 1950, when a new education system was implemented in Japan, Shokei Gakuin established a junior college as a higher-educational institution for women. Since then, we have educated and sent countless young able women into society with many cultural accomplishments, practical skills and ample knowledge.

We have brought up many responsible members of our society for over 110 years. And in 2003, a four-year coeducational university was established as a Faculty of Comprehensive Human Science. In 2007, this institution was enlarged to be an academy consisting of five different departments and a graduate school. Since 2008 our junior and senior high schools have also become a co-educational institution. Shokei Gakuin has now grown into a well-established school which contains all levels from kindergarten, junior and senior high school, and university to graduate school.

The Bible says, "Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (First Corinthians 13:13) At Shokei Gakuin, we have taught our students to understand that "one being who is larger than our selves exists in the universe," and to know that "humans have to cooperate with each other to live harmoniously in a society." These things can be realized by looking deeply into our own hearts and those of others with a spirit of love. In the Faculty of Comprehensive Human Science at our university, we are fostering a young generation which will make a great contribution to both Japan and the world in the 21^st century. Under the tutelage of these outstanding faculty members who are continuing in this significant tradition of human studies, our students are studying on the cutting edge of new knowledge about human beings, societies, cities, nature and environments. Also, we are now promoting cooperative activities among our junior and senior high school teachers and the university staff. The results of our efforts are demonstrated in the establishment of a special academic program which can provide high school students with the opportunity to attend some university courses. This kind of consciousness toward society and enthusiasm for learning at an earlier age will enable them to apply their experience to studying at the university.

At present, we are taking our first step to the new history of Shokei Gakuin. We will surely continue to make a progress based on our founding spirit and tradition to create a new age for the future generations.

MASANA KATO, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CHANCELLOR