KEIMEI GAKUEN ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR & SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

<School Motto >

Character Development Based on the Christian Qualities of:

Honesty

Purity

Unselfishness

Love

<Message from Yoshizo Hirano (Chairman of the Board of Trustees)>

¡ÈCourage, Dreams, Creativity¡É

Keimei¡Çs aim is to develop students who have the vision, creativity and desire to forge new paths into the future. Students with these characteristics are the foundation on which this school was built and will continue to grow.


< Goals >

1. To build character through Christianity.
2. To promote international understanding through education by tempering knowledge with compassion.
3. To provide an education that meets the special needs of today¡Çs students.
4. To produce future leaders of outstanding character.
5. To emphasize the study of English and other languages.
6. To provide special instruction for the children of Japanese and foreign diplomats, businessmen and others who move to Japan from abroad.

< School Life>

Keimei Gakuen is a Christian coeducational institution, which has over sixty years experience in educating returning students from abroad.

• School year: Trimester System, April - March
• No application deadline.
• Student Population: 40% of the Junior & Senior High School are ¡ÈReturnees¡É or foreign students; they represent 50 different countries.
• Most lessons are taught in the Japanese language.
• College preparation: Emphasis on Social Sciences, Natural Science, Humanities and Languages.
• Over 90% of graduating students attend universities or colleges.
• Keimei graduates have gone on to national, public, and private universities, including Keio Univ., Waseda Univ., International Christian Univ., Sophia Univ., Chuo Univ., and many other fine universities and Colleges in Japan and foreign countries.

Of special note is the International Division where students are offered individualized instruction by native speakers in Japanese (JSL 1-3), as well as advanced courses in English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. Included is a special Japanese language and culture program for foreign exchange students.
Keimei Gakuen also provides opportunities for learning English in the evenings for both children and adults.

<History>

Keimei Gakuen was established in April, 1940 at the home of Takasumi Mitsui, at Daimachi, Akasaka, Tokyo. Its objectives were to educate returning international students in those aspects of Japanese education which they lacked in their studies abroad, to encourage a broad, international outlook, and to emphasize the study of English and other foreign languages. Later the school was expanded to include Japanese students who had not lived overseas.

During the Second World War, the school was moved to its present location on the outskirts of Tokyo on land donated by Baron Hachiroemon Mitsui, the father of Keimei¡Çs founder. The school is situated on a high plateau, surrounded by many trees, with a beautiful view of the Tama River.

<Founder¡Çs Message>

Students who are educated abroad are a precious treasure to the nation. The students¡Ç overseas experiences richly benefit their native country. Since so many students return to Japan from studies abroad each year, I feel the uniqueness of their situation should not be ignored. With this belief, Keimei Gakuen would like to aid these ¡Èreturning students¡É in their readjustment to life in Japan, both academically and culturally.

At Keimei, readjustment is accompanied by the encouragement of a broad international view. I firmly believe that these two goals are mutually supportive.

My own children were educated in England before the Second World War, but unfortunately, upon our return to Japan, they were unable to share their experiences abroad with other students since the study of English and international understanding was discouraged by the government in the name of national unity. I was saddened by such a policy and, because of it, was determined to found a school which would enhance perspectives broadened by foreign study.

My dream was of a school that would encourage the continued study of a second language so that returning students could retain their places as world citizens and ambassadors of peace and goodwill for Japan. I realized that, in other schools, these students would be lost in a world from which they had absented themselves in order to study abroad. In my dream, the students could function happily as both world citizens and Japanese citizens. It was to this end that I strove, with a firm belief in my convictions, and hence Keimei became a reality in April, 1940.

Takasumi Mitsui
Founder of Keimei Gakuen

For further information & Application: The International Education Center
E-mail Address: kokusai_info@keimei.ac.jp