YCU began incorporating global education ahead of other universities in FY2005, but going forward, I hope to boost the development of the university's distinctive attributes. I am confident that YCU's presence will grow by further reinforcing and sharing with as many people as possible our initiatives that leverage the characteristics unique to YCU, such as the Advanced Medical Research Center that conducts world-class research in medicine and life sciences, the Global Cooperation Institute for Sustainable Cities that strives to resolve urban issues concentrated in Asia, and the program to achieve a Center of Community (COC) program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Yokohama, Environmental City of the Future."
The origin of Yokohama City University can be traced back to the Yokohama School of Commerce founded in 1882. Since the opening of the port, Yokohama turned into a center of trade in Japan. Yokohama School of Commerce was established to develop human resources equipped with western commercial techniques. Yokohama School of Commerce then developed into Yokohama City College of Commerce, the origin of Yokohama City University. Another origin of YCU is Juzen Hospital of Nogeyama in 1874. Although Yokohama was the center of western medicine, there was no hospital for the citizens. Jun Hospital was established to respond to the earnest needs of the community. Jun Hospital then turned into Yokohama Municipal Medical College, which has developed into what is known today as the YCU Hospital and School of Medicine.
In 1949, Yokohama City University was founded as a new-system university, equipped with the Commercial Faculty and the Economic Research Institute. Three years later (in 1952), YCU incorporated Yokohama Medical School and established the School of Medicine. The Literature and Science Faculty – YCU formulated a three-faculty system that year by establishing an additional faculty. Literature and Science Faculty was established to serve as a bridge between the two faculties: the Commercial Faculty and the School of Medicine, which seem difficult to link together. Besides, YCU has been involved in leading-edge research activities from a global perspective. Kihara Institute for Biological Research, established in 1984, is the center of Plant Genome Science along with the Master and Doctorate programs (Tsurumi campus, 2002) in collaboration with RIKEN.
When YCU was converted into an independent administrative entity, the Business, International Liberal Arts, and Sciences faculties merged to form the "International College of Arts and Sciences." YCU made a new start as a two-faculty system, including this new faculty and the "School of Medicine." The school has steadily implemented reform towards internationalization by promoting practical liberal arts education as a university research institution. YCU has been working to create a university that attracts many excellent students while keeping the original spirit at the time of foundation, such as the advanced learn-by-doing teaching method and contribution to the community and society.
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