Research Centers and Institutes
Established in 2001 on the Shinanomachi Campus, the Center aims to provide a sophisticated environment for translational research and scientific work, bridging the gap between basic science, clinical research and patient care through the creation of clusters in academia and industry. The Shinanomachi Research Park is a major component of the Center. It provides laboratory space for researchers not only from Keio, but also from other research institutions and industries to collaborate on independently funded projects. The unique research results achieved at the Center contribute to the development of medical practice and to the advancement of society.
This Center provides students from around the world the opportunity to learn not only the Japanese language, but also Japanese customs and culture. For regular undergraduate and graduate students who are not native speakers of Japanese, a Japanese as a Foreign Language program is available. One of its important goals is to encourage and improve upon the teaching of Japanese by cultivating the next generation of Japanese language teachers.
Founded in 1983 as a commemorative project for the 125th anniversary of Keio University, the Center houses and maintains a considerable collection of documents and historical materials related to founder Yukichi Fukuzawa and Keio University. Other objectives are to conduct research on the activities and achievements of Keio alumni who were disciples of Fukuzawa, as well as to further the study of modern Japan and Keio University’s role in the development of Japan in the modern era. The center also focuses on educational activities; holds courses to the students, lectures and seminars to the public.
G-SEC established in 2004 on the Mita Campus. Its main purposes are to create a link between Keio University and the knowledge and insights of a society at large, to provide policy recommendations and objective assessment for various issues of modern society, and to contribute to the strategic design of society for the next generation. G-SEC's research work involves the broad area of global security with a focus on watch and warning, i.e. to continuously “watch” for issues in various fields, including policy-watch, market-watch, environment-watch, and international-situation watch, and to send “warnings” if necessary. G-SEC also aims to facilitate capacity building and human resource development in this new field called “global security.”
The Health Center performs researches concerning the support and improvement of health for Keio students from elementary school to postgraduate school, as well as for staff members. Regarding children under 15, the Center’s pediatricians are doing research into areas such as growth, obesity, anorexia nervosa, infectious diseases and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Regarding those over 15 and staff, the Center’s internists are doing researches on metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, bronchial asthma, nonsmoking instruction, and a new diagnostic method for tuberculosis. The Center also has psychiatrists who are investigating mental health and maladjustment problems.
The Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) is a full-fledged institute for biological research located at the Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio in Yamagata Prefecture. Having developed leading-edge biotechnologies, IAB researchers, among other things, measure and analyze the cellular and metabolic activities of human and other organisms including microbes, try to understand various cellular functions and physiological activities using computer simulations, and apply their findings to medical, environmental, and food sciences. The IAB is recognized as a world pioneer in integrated systems biology, a new approach to bioscience of the 21st century.
The Institute for Cultural and Linguistic Studies operates independently from the University faculties. As an institute for purely humanistic studies, it is unique in Japanese private universities. The central aim of the Institute is to meet contemporary academic demands connected with the study of human language, through studies of the languages and cultures of various parts of the world in different periods of history. Although the main focus of these studies is on linguistic problems, the Institute pursues its goals on an interdisciplinary level, independent from the language studies existing in other faculties.
The Institute for Media and Communications Research was established in 1946 for the purpose of research and education in connection with mass communication. The founders believed that the obvious malfunctioning of Japan's mass media prior to and during WWII was one of the major factors contributing to the country’s aggressiveness. They firmly believed that a "sound" flow of information was a prerequisite for a "sound" society. Researchers at the Institute have undertaken a wide range of projects, forming research teams with scholars from other Keio faculties and other institutions, and publishing their results in many books as well as journals.
Shido-Bunko is a research institute for bibliography of oriental classics. Based on a private library donated by Takakichi Aso, the institute holds about 163,000 books such as Japanese classics, Chinese classics, and basic studies. The insitute investigates Japanese and Chinese classical works stored in Japan and abroad, collects them by means of microfilming and digitizing, and inspects them using standard bibliographical methods.
The Institute of Physical Education was established in 1961, as an organization for research and education associated with physical education and sports. It promotes extensive research into the mechanisms whereby physical activities contribute to mental and physical development and health, teaching theories related to physical education and sport science, and factors determining successful sports performance. The Institute’s research results are made available to students, faculty and student-athletes, as well as to residents of the Hiyoshi community through lectures and extension courses.
The International Center is Keio’s hub for international cross-cultural activities. In addition to providing academic and daily life support for foreign exchange students at Keio, the Center also assists Japanese students wishing to study abroad. It offers International Studies and Japanese Studies courses, given in English, that cover culture, history, politics and economics. There are also summer school programs in the UK, USA and France.
KARC was established to promote advanced and interdisciplinary research activities throughout Keio University. KARC has an active and flexible modus operandi towards the establishment, revision, and management of research centers. The aim is to stimulate research activities in diverse fields while improving efficiency and speed.
Established in 1959, the Keio Economic Observatory promotes theoretical and empirical research on economic and industrial conditions worldwide. The Observatory consists of three sections: Economics, Law, and Behavioral Science. Faculty from a wide range of academic departments at Keio University participates in the Institute’s research activities. The Observatory has five principal tasks: 1)to undertake research of an academic or practical nature in order to increase understanding of the economy; 2)to conduct research at the behest of industrial or governmental groups; 3)to collect documents regarding industrial and labor issues for the purpose of making them accessible to researchers; 4)to publish the research findings of Observatory-affiliated specialists; and 5)to organize seminars and conferences concerning economic, labor, and managerial challenges.
The Institute was founded in 1984 as the Keio Center for Area Studies, as part of the project commemorating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Keio University. In 2003, it was renamed the Keio Institute of East Asian Studies. The Institute enthusiastically promotes exchanges and joint projects with other research institutes, researchers, businesspeople, journalists, etc., as an arena for conducting studies on a wide range of East Asian issues through interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches. In 2007 and 2009, the Center for Contemporary China Studies and the Center for Contemporary Korea Studies were established, respectively, in the Institute.
The Keio Leading-edge Laboratory was founded in 2000 during a restructuring of the Graduate School of Science & Technology. Supporting research into cutting-edge technologies, the Laboratory ushers major advances into the real world, enabling new basic technologies to be applied by both public and private enterprises. Collective research results may generate not only new products, but even whole new industries. Additionally, the Laboratory hosts an annual exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum called "Keio Techno-Mall." Each year, more than 1,300 participants from both the private sector and the academic community contribute to the overwhelming success of the event.
The Keio Research Center for Foreign Language Education serves the needs of students and faculty members across all Keio University campuses and affiliated schools. The Center provides foreign language education, research and services. In terms of education, it provides specialized classes such as those that prepare students for standardized tests, advanced classes, classes that focus on particular skills, and other classes that the individual faculties are unable to provide. The primary aim is to supplement the language classes provided by the various faculties. In terms of research, there are currently projects aimed at improving foreign language education. With regard to services, the Center provides a variety of lectures and workshops.
The Keio Research Institute at SFC is as an affiliate research institute of the Graduate School of Media and Governance, the Faculty of Policy Management, the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies and the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care. The Institute promotes research activities conducted under the collaboration between SFC and outside organizations relating to industries, government, NPOs and regional communities. The aim of the Institute is to conduct integrated, advanced and interdisciplinary research while maintaining close coordination with the real world.
At the Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, projects in research and education are actively pursued in diverse areas of natural sciences. The activities range widely from investigations of fundamental problems in basic science to applied research projects, sometimes in collaboration with outside companies. Such diversity in the areas of study, the directions and the sizes of its activities is perhaps the distinguishing character of the center. The Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences was founded in 2009 and resides on the Hiyoshi Campus at Keio University. The center brings to fruition the research and education in natural sciences that have been conducted on the campus for over sixty years. The center aims to make contributions to natural sciences and to Keio Gijuku through its diverse activities.
The Research Center for the Arts & Arts Administration was founded in 1993 to explore new possibilities in the relationship between the arts and contemporary society. The Center emphasizes a theoretical approach, but also maintains close ties with the contemporary art scene. As an academic hub of arts-related information, the Center aims to develop and improve people’s perception of culture and the arts. And we are in the process of creating some archives on contemporary art: Tatsumi Hijikata, Shuzo Takiguchi, The Noguchi Room, and Yui Shoichi.
The Keio Research Center for the Liberal Arts was founded in 2002 in order to investigate for the ideal form and content of “liberal arts” that should be passed down to succeeding generations. Thus far, it has conducted various comprehensive research and analyses, suggested new systems and curricula based upon proposals resulting from the research, and examined the educational efficacy of those proposals through experimental classes and induction courses.
The Research Institute for Digital Media and Content (DMC) was established in 2004 under a Japanese government funded program to encourage the development of strategic research centers. The institute promotes the creation of contextual digital content, and is engaged in the development of research, the advancement of international distribution, and the cultivation of personnel resources in conjunction with other institutions. Through the DMC, Keio University aims to transform the way knowledge is provided to society as well as to support changing modes of intellectual interaction. This will enhance Japan’s role as a knowledge-generating nation and contribute to the knowledge base of the global society.
Established in 1989, the Center aims to promote clinical practice and research in the field of sports medicine. It provides medical support and education to collegiate athletes (members of Keio University Athletic Association) in order to enhance their sport performance. It also provides pre-participation medical screening to a wide variety of athletes such as professional sumo wrestlers, Olympic and National Sports Festival athletes. The Center also emphasizes clinical research entailing exercise and diet therapy for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Annual seminars are open to public to promote physical activity in general population.
The Teacher Training Center acts as a Keio-wide magnet to attract educational and scholarly activities in all areas of school education. The Center provides a teacher-training course for college students who intend to be secondary school teachers, and has produced many competent teachers since its foundation in 1982. It is not only a "teachers’ college" but also a research institute for teacher education in Keio University; accordingly it carries out research projects regarding educational issues. In connection with these projects, open seminars are held every year. In addition, the Center emphasizes recurrent education for in-service teachers, and therefore provides open seminars for teachers every summer and on other occasions of in-service training.
