Showa Women's University facts for kids
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昭和女子大学
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 |
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| Motto | 世の光となろう |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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"Be a Light to the World" |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1920 |
| Chancellor | Mariko Bando |
| President | Natsuko Kohara |
| Undergraduates | 6,098 |
| Postgraduates | 87 |
| Location |
Setagaya
,
Tokyo
,
Japan
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| Campus | Urban |
| Member of | Setagaya 6 Universities consortium |
Showa Women's University (昭和女子大学, Shōwa Joshi Daigaku) is a private university for women in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. It offers programs for students who are just starting college, those working on advanced degrees, and even doctoral studies. The university also has five research centers.
You'll find schools from kindergarten all the way up to high school connected to the university. Besides its main campus in Setagaya, the university has two smaller campuses in Kanagawa and Chiba. There's even an international campus in Boston, USA! The main campus in Setagaya is also home to The British School in Tokyo Showa Campus.
The university's ideas are greatly inspired by the Tolstoyan movement. This means it follows the teachings of Leo Tolstoy, a famous Russian writer. The university was built on ideas of "love, kindness, and peace." These ideas come from Tolstoy's teaching style at his home in Yasnaya Polyana.
Even though they sound similar, this university is not connected to Showa University or Showa Academia Musicae.
Contents
A Look at Showa Women's University History
The university's story began with a group called the Association of Cultural Exchange. This group was started by a poet named Enkichi Hitomi. It later became the Japanese Ladies' Society.
In September 1920, Enkichi Hitomi and his wife, Midori Hitomi, started the Japan Women's School of Higher Education. This school was in Bunkyō Ward, Tokyo. Their goal was to help create a new Japanese culture. They wanted to do this by educating young women. These women would then help society move forward.
Enkichi Hitomi told his first students to "be a Light to the World." This phrase later became the university's official motto. Soon after, in 1922, the Showa Senior High School was opened. It was a five-year program.
During World War II, the university's original buildings were destroyed by bombs. So, in 1945, the university moved to its current spot in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. In 1949, it was renamed Showa Women's University. A kindergarten opened in 1951, and an elementary school followed in 1953. The International Campus Boston was created in 1988.
How Leo Tolstoy Influenced the University
The university was founded based on the ideas of Leo Tolstoy. He was a famous Russian author and deep thinker. Tolstoy believed that education should include everything around a person. He thought schools at the time focused too much on just memorizing facts.
Tolstoy's way of teaching focused on practical skills. He believed in a "free state" for learning. He also thought teachers and students should work closely together. He strongly supported the idea that everyone should have the right to free education. His ideas also promoted a balance between people and nature. He encouraged learning about and loving nature.
Midori Hitomi, one of the founders, really wanted the university to follow Tolstoy's ideas. She said she wanted it to be "a university of love as Tolstoy might have founded." Enkichi Hitomi also wrote about how much he liked Tolstoy's education ideas. He said, "How happy it would be if there were such a school that strived for the perfect balance between love and reason." This idea of "perfect balance" became a core principle for the university.
Today, Tolstoy's ideas are still very important at the university. For example, the university tries to be eco-friendly. They work to protect the environment locally and globally. This shows Tolstoy's teachings about balancing humans and nature.
The university also teaches in small groups called seminars. This has been happening since 1920. It's based on the close relationships between teachers and students at Tolstoy's home. The university encourages students to be active and involved in their learning. This matches Tolstoy's belief that education should help students think for themselves. They also encourage students to get real-world experience. This reflects Tolstoy's focus on practical skills.
You can find a statue of Tolstoy in front of the university's auditorium. For Tolstoy's 190th birthday, the University Museum held a special art show. It featured artwork by Natalya Tolstaya, who is a descendant of Tolstoy. The exhibit was held in December 2018.
What You Can Study at Showa Women's University
College Programs
- Faculty of International Humanities
- Faculty of Humanities and Culture
- Faculty of Food and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Global Business
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Design
Advanced Degree Programs
- Letters
- Human Life Sciences
Other Important Parts of the University
- Research Institutes
- Institute of Modern Culture
- Institute of Women's Culture
- Institute of International Culture
- Institute of Psychological Studies
- Institute of Women's Health Sciences
- Center for General Education
- Junior College
Hitomi Memorial Hall
The Hitomi Kinen Kōdō was finished in 1980. It is on the university campus in Setagaya. This hall is known for its amazing sound quality. Many famous classical concerts have been held there. While fewer big concerts happen now, it is still used for public events sometimes.
Schools on Campus
These schools are connected to the university:
- Showa Women's University Junior-Senior High School (昭和女子大学附属昭和中学校・高等学校)
- Showa Women's University Primary School (昭和女子大学附属昭和小学校)
- Showa Women's University Kindergarten (昭和女子大学附属昭和こども園)
The British School in Tokyo Showa Campus opened in 2006. It is located in Building 5 on the university grounds.
Famous People Who Attended Showa Women's University
- Mitsu Dan – an actress, model, and writer
- Keiko Fukuda – the highest-ranked female judo expert ever
- Satoko Kitahara – a Catholic saint (The Venerable)
- Emi Machida – a master sake brewer
- Yui Ogura – a voice actress (graduated in 2018)
- Junko Tabei – the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest
- Yuko Nagayama - an architect and professor
