Dokkyo University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dokkyo University

獨協大学
Motto	A University is an institution where character is developed through learning
Type	Private
Established	1883
President	Tadashi Inui
Academic staff	215
Administrative staff	153
Undergraduates	8892
Postgraduates	143
Doctoral students	15
Location	Sōka, Saitama , Japan
Colors	Blue

The East Building at Dokkyo University

Dokkyo University (獨協大学, Dokkyō Daigaku) is a private university located in Sōka, Saitama, Japan. It's known for its strong programs in language education and its many international exchange opportunities. The university officially opened in 1964, but its history goes back much further, to 1881. It's a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls can attend. Getting in can be a bit competitive, with about 30–40% of applicants being accepted.

Discovering Dokkyo University's History

The name "Dokkyo" comes from a Japanese abbreviation of "German Studies Society." This society was formed on September 18, 1881, by several important people. These included scholars like Nishi Amane, diplomats such as Inoue Kaoru, and leaders like Shinagawa Yajirō. Their goal was to promote the study of German culture and language in Japan.

How the School Grew

In 1883, the society opened a school called the German Studies Society School. At first, it was only for boys, which was common at the time. They even had a special law school to study Japan's first constitution, which was based on Germany's. However, this elite law program later joined the Imperial University of Tokyo in 1895.

The school faced some challenges during World War I (1914-1918). Even though Japan was allied with Britain against Germany, many Japanese people still liked German culture. In the 1920s, the school became very popular. Many of its students went on to attend "Ichikō," a top high school in Tokyo that is now part of the University of Tokyo. After World War II ended in 1945, the school became a regular boys' high school.

Founding the University

In the early 1960s, a former student and education minister named Amano Teiyū (天野貞祐, Amano Teiyū) helped create Dokkyo University. With money from the school and local governments, the university started its first classes in April 1964.

Key Moments in Dokkyo's Journey

Here's a quick look at some important dates in Dokkyo University's history:

Exploring the Campus and Facilities

The university is located in Sōka, Saitama, which is about a 30-minute trip from the big city of Tokyo. The campus has many buildings, including the Central, East, and West buildings, a Student Center, a Library, and a Research Center. There's also a Sports Ground and pretty gardens.

The East Gate of Dokkyo University

The Central building at Dokkyo University

The campus is right next to the Denu river. You can enter through the East, West, South, or Ground Gates.

The South Gate, Sports Grounds, and campus of Dokkyo University

The university's baseball team plays at the Teiyu Amano Memorial Stadium, which is located nearby in Koshigaya.

What You Can Study: Academics

Dokkyo University offers many different subjects for students to learn.

Schools and Departments

• Dokkyo Medical University (a separate but related university)

For Undergraduate Students (First Degree)

• Faculty of Foreign languages
  • Department of German
  • Department of English
  • Department of French
• Faculty of International Liberal Arts
  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (where you can study many different subjects)
• Faculty of Economics
  • Department of Economics
  • Department of Management science (learning how to manage businesses)
• Faculty of Law
  • Department of Law
  • Department of International Legal Studies (studying laws that apply across countries)
  • Department of Policy studies (since 2008, looking at how policies are made)

For Postgraduate Students (After First Degree)

• Graduate Schools
  • Graduate School of Law
  • Graduate School of Foreign Languages
  • Graduate School of Economics
• Dokkyo Law School (a special school for becoming a lawyer)

Connecting with the World: International Exchanges

Dokkyo University has an International Center that helps students study abroad. It also offers a special program for international students to learn Japanese language and culture.

The university has many agreements with universities all over the world. These agreements allow students and teachers to exchange places and learn from each other. For example, Dokkyo University has partnerships with schools in countries like the United States, Germany, France, China, and Korea. This means students can experience different cultures and ways of learning.

University Rankings

In 2018, Dokkyo University was recognized as one of the top 100 universities in Japan. It was ranked 86th by Times Higher Education (THE), a well-known organization that ranks universities globally.

Student Life

Sports and Athletics

Dokkyo University has many sports programs for students. Their baseball team is quite active and has been playing in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area University Baseball League since 1967.

People from Dokkyo University

Famous Alumni

Many talented people have graduated from Dokkyo University, including:

• Jun Enomoto, a Japanese football player
• Hiroki Kamemoto, a Japanese musician
• Rie Furuse, a Japanese singer
• Katsuko Nishimoto, a Japanese politician
• Atsuko Okamoto, a Japanese actress
• Koichiro Okuma, a Japanese martial artist
• Tomorowo Taguchi, a Japanese actor
• Sōichirō Takashima, a Japanese politician
• Toru Toida, a Japanese politician
• Yumi Yoshiyuki, a Japanese film director

See also

• Dokkyodaigakumae Station (a train station near the university)
• Dokkyo Medical University
• Himeji Dokkyo University