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Den-en Chofu University specializes in "social welfare" education and research to cultivate and foster talented young people who can work in welfare services that support all life stages, from "early childhood to late adulthood". "Shaga-shojin" is a Japanese word that refers to trying one's best to deny selfish ideas and desires while putting all of one's energy into a social cause or duty. The school motto of "saga-shojin" was established by Risuke Kawamura, the first principal of Chofu Girl's School, the predecessor school of Den-en Chofu University. Our university strives to accomplish its goal of nurturing welfare professionals who can address the future's welfare needs. Our university has its origins in Chofu Girl's School (established in 1926) and has throughout its history based its educational practices on the school motto of "shagashojin" (a Japanese phrase that means in today's context putting aside one's self to help society diligently). This phrase guides our fundamental principle of "nurturing human beings with caring and kind hearts who are open-minded, competent, and rich in humanity, and who also can think and actively contribute to the local and international communities". Currently, Japan is facing the severe problem of a declining birthrate and aging population. Japan's population is aging rapidly, exceeding that of the EU and the United States. One outcome is an increasing non-working elderly population. At the same time, Japan is battling a declining birthrate. Suppose the total fertility rate does not increase, and no progress is made toward accepting more foreign workers. In that case, it is predicted that Japan's present population of 127 million people could decrease by 65% over the coming 100 years. These demographic changes point to the need to nurture professionals in the social welfare and child care fields who can support people affected by significant social transition. At Den-en Chofu University, we endeavor to become a leading and trusted educational institution in these academic areas. Although we are a modest university in enrollment numbers, we are proud of our comfortable and friendly small-class educational environment. Instructors can interact with all students and guide them with individual care and consideration. Den-en Chofu University provides students with a 4-year education based on the school motto of "saga-shojin." Therefore, students spend four years acquiring expertise in their respective department courses and striving toward attaining a welfare mind based on the school motto of "saga-shojin." Students who obtain the required amount of credits to graduate are granted degrees in their majors. The social welfare curriculum aims at cultivating care professionals who possess the knowledge and techniques in caregiving and social welfare by fostering a wide range of knowledge and understanding of humanity while nurturing the human perspective expected of caregivers. In other words, the course is designed for students who desire to become people who can think and act in order to support the independence of various types of people who have trouble in life and have an interest in social welfare and can make an effort to become social workers, care welfare workers, or psychiatric social workers. Therefore, the course looks for students who have the qualities mentioned above and a healthy mind and body, the ability to communicate with others, and critical scholastic achievements. View full university