Being at the forefront of innovation
Under the educational philosophy cited by our founder Jinzo Naruse, “to improve your own character, identify your mission and move forward,” since being establishment in 1901 the University has evolved along with the day and age in order to cultivate powers of thought and practical skills enabling women to be active in society. We live in an era of tremendous change and diversifying sets of values. The flexible sensibility of women has become a necessity, and we are entering an era in which women will truly light up the world. As a pioneer of women's education, Japan Women's University has always stood on the frontline, and produced a huge number of women who are active in every field. We will continue to innovate in order to bring out the latent possibilities of each and every student, and engender in them the skills to live as themselves.
Our founder, Jinzo Naruse
During the Meiji era in which the word 'people' meant 'men,' Jinzo Naruse, one of the pioneers of higher education for women in Japan, was the subject of much criticism for advancing above all the “education of women as human beings (hito).” However, Naruse encouraged the awakening and independence of women, put every effort into the reform of education in general, and spread the philosophy of “lifetime learning” in which every woman devotes her life to improving herself and developing as an individual. The educational philosophy that Naruse continued to espouse is still handed down through the generations as a precious asset of the University.
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Pioneer of integrated education
The University is not only a pioneer in the field of women's education. A girls' high school was opened at the same time as the University, and even today it continues to be a pioneer in integrated education offering a path from the Homei Kindergarten affiliated with J.W.U. all the way through to the Graduate Schools.
