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Over 160 Years of Tradition
and Innovation

Established in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa as a small school of Western learning, Keio has a history as Japan’s very first private institution of higher learning. Over 160 years since its founding, Keio has thrived under its founder’s motto of jitsugaku, or empirical science, as it continues to transform Japan as a modern nation through contributions to education, research, and medicine.

Jitsugaku ( 実学 )

Jitsugaku is a way of learning about the world pursued by Keio University’s founder Yukichi Fukuzawa through the application of reason, observation, and verification, and it stemmed from his desire to break free of the Confucian ideals that informed scholarship in 19th-century Japan. Jitsugaku is science in the truest sense of the word and a powerful tool in Keio University’s never-ending search for practical solutions to real-life problems.

  • Global Engagement

    Keio University leverages its strengths as a comprehensive university to promote multidisciplinary research under the three initiatives of Longevity, Security, and Creativity. We are also cultivating individuals equipped with international mindsets and making contributions to solve both domestic and global challenges through international joint research under these three initiatives while developing various educational programs.

  • Office of the President

    Pursuing Our Ideals
    Professor Kohei Itoh
    President, Keio University

  • Philosophy

    “It is said that Heaven does not create one man above or below another man.” So begins Yukichi Fukuzawa’s book, An Encouragement of Learning, written at the beginning of the Meiji period. Here Fukuzawa expounded the importance of freedom, equality, and human rights, leading the nation into a new era—the modern Japan we know today. Keio University is where his educational philosophy continues to live on today.

  • History

    See the transformation of Keio University from its origins as a small school for Dutch studies in 1858 to its position as a powerhouse of Japanese education and research today.

  • Alumni Network

    The lifelong bonds and sense of solidarity between alumni, as well as the strong connection between alumni and the university, are distinctive features and a great source of pride for Keio University. This strong network among our graduates is part of what makes Keio truly unique.

  • Campus Information

    Keio University operates six major campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa, along with five other campuses with specific academic or research functions. Keio’s network of affiliated schools extends beyond its university campuses and includes one fully accredited high school in the State of New York.

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