Toyo University

Toyo University began as a private "Philosophy Academy" founded by Dr. Enryo Inoue in 1887. In light of the then-confused state Japan found itself in following the introduction of Western influences, Dr. Inoue offered a view of education that proposed that the basis of all learning lay in philosophy. Through the teaching of philosophy grounded in fundamental and logical thought, he aimed to enrich society by increasing ordinary people's capabilities to engage in such intellectual activities as contemplation, conception, and judgment. In particular, advocating "Integrating Knowledge and Virtue," he was committed to the development of "human resources" (the view of people as "the riches" of society) with not only academic knowledge but also rich human qualities, that is, people who could think, make judgments, and act with autonomy. At the time, there were quite a few educators who advocated the founding of a nation based on industrial models, and so Dr. Inoue became a prominent figure.
Toyo University has continued to preserve its founding spirit and, thanks to the support of many, continues to expand today. With approximately 30,000 students, it has become a large-scale general university consisting of 11 faculties with 44 departments, ten graduate schools offering 32 majors, and the Law School. In every one of its faculties and graduate schools, the educational goals and philosophies relating to the collective cultivation of individual minds are established based upon the spirit with which the university was founded. Besides, efforts are devoted to developing promising individuals who are inherently capable of careful, logical, and systematic thought, followed by appropriate judgment and action, and can independently contribute to society.
Toyo University emphasizes three pillars: "Philosophy Education" relating to its founding spirit, "Globalization" that responds to current needs, and "Career Preparation," which supports individual students so that they can achieve genuine self-actualization. Having marked its 125th anniversary in 2012, the university aims to develop educational activities based on these three pillars that meet the needs of a globalized and borderless age. It is also involved in educational reforms to enhance further and reinforce these pillars. Regarding "Globalization" in particular, great efforts are made to develop educational activities that are internationally compatible and to vitalize international research and exchange. The number of partnerships with universities overseas has increased dramatically, and research activities have been actively conducted globally at the International Research Center for Philosophy, the Research Center for Public/Private Partnership (PPP), the Bio-Nano Electronics Research Centre, and other research institutes. One such effort is the establishment in September 2012 of the International Association for Inoue Enryo Research, which aims to re-evaluate the philosophy and achievements of Inoue Enryo, the founder of the university, from a broad perspective.
The current objectives of Toyo University are to have all students gain the capacity to survive in the 21st century borderless global community and help them acquire advanced ways of thinking and common sense norms that are valued internationally, regardless of whether they will work at home or overseas. We are currently devoting all our energies to achieve these objectives, which are our top priority. In 2014, we were fortunate to have one of our international programs selected to be part of the Top Global University project organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. In association with this, we are working positively to increase classes taught in English, expand overseas training and internship programs, send our students to overseas universities, accept an increasing number of international students, and internationalize our campuses. Through these efforts, we fulfill the mission of the university in modern society, which is to cultivate people with sufficient basic knowledge, expertise, language skills, skills for living in society, and the abilities to understand and utilize the insights of other cultures and understand and share their own culture that is, people who can contribute to the building of a healthy civil society and a just global community.
Today's global community is faced with several critical issues, such as environmental problems, the gap between rich and poor, other poverty-related issues, and regional conflicts. Also, since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, Japan has faced severe and vital issues of its own, such as how to bring about the creative revival of affected areas and the reconstruction of Japan as a whole. At Toyo University, serious research activities are being pursued to help resolve these issues and build the foundation for a prosperous life for future generations. These research activities are appropriately reflected in the educational activities offered to our students.