Your Guide to Meiji

MEIJI TRADITIONS

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Meiji University was founded in 1881 as the Meiji Law School by three young lawyers, Tatsuo Kishimoto, Kozo Miyagi and Misao Yashiro. This was during Japan’s era of dramatic change from a feudal society to a modern civil society, and the school taught the French legal system with the goals of establishing the rights of individuals and realizing a free civil society. 

Today, Meiji has become a full-fledged university with the addition of more schools. But it still aims to foster a spirit of freedom and independence under the guiding principles of Rights, Liberty, Independence and Self-Government established based on longstanding traditions going back to the university’s founding.

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As globalization continues to advance, Japan is presently being called on to make a qualitative transformation so drastic that it may be referred to as the “third opening of the country to the rest of the world,” following the Meiji Restoration and the reforms in the wake of the Second World War. It may also be said to be an era where Meiji University’s guiding principles of Rights, Liberty, Independence and Self-Government, and the establishment of the Individual play an even more important role. In times like this, there is a need for people who, even while members of society or an organization, look ahead to the future and the world, acknowledge their mission and roles, and shine as brilliant “individuals” while cooperating and co-existing with other people. 

To educate and foster outstanding students who anticipate and meet the changes of the times and requirements of society, and who will fly high into the future, and to discover values worthy of the new times and disseminate them to the rest of the world, Meiji University must promote reforms without resting on its laurels of history and tradition. We will aim at becoming a university that is opened to the world while standing firm to the spirit of “moving forward.”

Meiji University will therefore add, as its guiding principle, “To the world, Empower the Individual, Link to the World, and the Future,” and set forth “Building a free, peaceful, and abundant society by fostering intellectual achievement and professional development” as the mission. Under those, the university will dedicate itself to activities such as education, research, and social contribution.

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The school seal was established in 1903 as the Meiji Law School was renamed Meiji University. The school name “Meiji” in two Chinese characters is placed on both sides of the character “University.” 

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In 2001, the university recruited applications for a university logo that embodied the image of “Meiji University that carries on a 120-year tradition and makes a dramatic leap forward and ascends toward the new century.” A work designed by a student, a senior who was studying at the School of Commerce, was selected. The logo shows the image of Meiji University “soaring infinitely to great new heights,” demonstrating “a sense of familiarity” thanks to its simple design, and it conveys “future messages” with a new, innovative approach. 

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The color that is designated as symbolizing our university is “Shikon” (bluish-purple). 

During the era of Emperor Suiko, the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System was established, and purple was assigned for the highest rank. Dark navy blue was also regarded as the color for the highest rank in the Engi-shiki, a book about Japanese laws and customs published during the Heian era. In 1915, in deciding the school banner, then principle Tomosaburo Kinoshita adopted deep purple to indicate the university’s spirit and pride. The color has been carried on to the current “Shikon” (bluish-purple). 

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In 2007, the Public Relations Section issued a school-wide call for an image character, which would be used for the university’s PR activities. It selected a character designed by a student who was enrolled at the time with the School of Political Science and Economics (who is currently a university staff member). The character is an owl, dubbed the sage of the forest, and was named “Meijiro.” It embodies our university, which creates and disseminates intellect to the rest of the world. In 2009, Meijiro was promoted to become the university’s official character.

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Meiji University’s school song is said to have been created in 1920 because of an intercollegiate boat race, which was a wildly popular university sport in those days. Universities that entered the competition were expected to sing a song that symbolized their school, so socialist poet Kagai Kodama wrote the words, and up-and-coming composer Kosaku Yamada, fresh from his stay in Europe, composed the song. The song’s stately yet refreshing and beautiful melody and lyrics continue to be loved by numerous alumni and students.

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