Message from the President

Professor Nobutaka Konaka, President

For women's self-realization

Kakei Atomi established Atomi Gakuen in 1875, during the dawn of modern education in Japan. In 1872, the first law on education in Japan, called the Gakusei (School System), was promulgated, advocating public education, and stating that all people, regardless of social position or gender, would be provided with the same educational opportunities.

In fact, however, women were not guaranteed the opportunity to learn. While men were given priority in schooling, women’s aspirations to study were suppressed and they were not included in the educational system under the belief that “women do not need to study.” Indeed, there was a longstanding view that education made women unhappy. Ichiyo Higuchi was born in 1872, and her last year of education was in the fourth grade of elementary school. She had to give up on going to school due to her mother's strong opposition. “I am so upset I could die, but I have to stop going to school.” – Ichiyo wrote about her feelings of regret at that time in her diary.

Kakei’s resolution to establish a private women’s education institution in the days shortly after the enactment of Gakusei can be seen as a breakthrough that was ahead of its time.

At the core of the educational philosophy of Atomi University is to nurture “autonomous and self-reliant women.” Today, 150 years after the founder, Kakei Atomi, opened a new stage in female education, opportunities for women to learn are guaranteed. But that is not the only thing that matters. It’s up to each person to make the most of these opportunities. Women are now expected to play active roles in every aspect of life, and so they need to be able to enhance their social presence throughout the course of their lives; that is, they need to develop for themselves the ability to design their own careers. We believe that it is the mission of our university, which inherits the educational philosophy of Kakei Atomi, to provide a place for women to learn to become “autonomous and self-reliant women” while opening up new horizons of knowledge and discovering new possibilities during their four years of university life.

We are now faced with a situation where the old “normal” no longer applies, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is fair to say that we are being forced to change our conventional systems and values. Education is no exception in this regard. We find ourselves in a difficult situation where the “normal” way for students to gather on campus, learn together, and engage in discussion is being lost.

Looking back, the period from the end of the Edo era to the Meiji era, in which Kakei Atomi lived, was also a turbulent time in which conventional systems and values were forced to change. Under those circumstances, Kakei looked ahead and devoted herself to the creation of a new value in women’s education – making it something “normal.”

Since its foundation in 1965, the University has been working on improving its educational system, and in 2002, it became the first women's university to establish a Faculty of Management, reforming itself according to the changing times. Always discern what is needed in women’s education and support women to achieve self-realization. This is a universal mission for Atomi University.

Profile of Kakei Atomi

Kakei Atomi (1840~1926)
[The Kakei Memorial Museum Collection]

Kakei Atomi was the second daughter of Shigeyoshi Atomi, the director of a Terakoya (a private school for children) in Kizu-mura, Settsu Province (present-day Osaka).
Ms. Atomi developed an interest towards learning at an early age. She studied calligraphy under Setsuan Miyahara (a student of Sanyo Rai) and painting under Oryu Maruyama and Raisho Nakajima.
In 1875, Ms. Atomi founded the Atomi School in Kanda, Tokyo (present-day Chiyoda-ward). She was active as an educator, painter, and calligrapher throughout her life.

Philosophy

Ms. Kakei Atomi, the founder of Atomi University, promoted an education based on Japanese cultural traditions with the goal of fostering highly educated, free-spirited, and independent-minded women.
By inheriting the educational philosophy of the founder, Atomi University has become a prominent center for learning.
In addition, the university recognizes its greatest social contributions: nurturing deep insights into the age and societies in which we live, and providing the education that cultivates autonomous and self-reliant women complete with practical competencies.

Academics

We aim to cultivate “intellectuals complete with practical competencies,” “virtuous members of societies,” and “autonomous and self-reliant women.”

Faculty of Letters

The Faculty of Letters consists of three departments: the Department of Humanities, the Department of Contemporary Culture and Representation and the Department of Communication in Culture. The faculty offers opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge of literature, history, art and culture. These topics not only focus on Japan but also the rest of the world. Students will develop abilities in critical thinking, English-language, and communication, thereby gaining a fair-minded multifaceted perspective that will serve as the basis for becoming active members of society.

※Students will acquire a wide range of knowledge while experiencing the joy of both theoretical and practical learning.

Faculty of Management

The Faculty of Management consists of two departments: the Department of Management and the Department of Life Environments Management. The teaching staff is composed of national public officials, business practitioners (including private business owners and managers), and university business scholars. The faculty offers an internship program for all second-year students utilizing this network of personnel and business contacts. The benefits of such early practical experience are reflected in our high rate of graduate employment.

※By fostering an understanding of modern business from a management point of view, we cultivate independent-minded women with the ability to develop their own careers.

Faculty of Tourism and Community Studies

Atomi University opened its Faculty of Tourism and Community Studies in April 2015, thus establishing the Department of Tourism Design and the Department of Community Design. The names of the faculty and departments reflect our hopes towards the development of tourism and the enlivenment of communities. Students will master a wide range of skills, and by taking part in off-campus/on-site training and internship programs, they will obtain abilities that can be applied toward the enlivenment of communities

※We foster talented individuals with the ability to contribute to the enlivenment of societies, local communities, and households as well as support the development of tourism in Japan through a perspective that is uniquely female.

Faculty of Psychology

The Faculty of Psychology was newly created in April 2018, and consists solely of the Department of Clinical Psychology, where students learn the practical application of psychology in five areas: education, medicine and health, welfare, justice and crime, and industry and organizations. In addition, the curriculum we adopt is focused on achieving the credentials of “Licensed Psychologist”, the first national credential in the field of psychology in Japan. Through the study of psychology across a range of different fields, we are fostering individuals who can understand themselves and thereby care for others.

Campus

The two campuses, each with its own appeal, provide students with various experiences for expanding their future possibilities.

Bunkyo Campus

As they prepare for their departure into society, third- and fourth-year students will pursue specialized studies in the modern facilities of Bunkyo Campus. Located in the heart of Tokyo, the campus offers an environment where students can engage in stimulating exchanges with society and its various cultures, while spending their final two years working towards their future self-independence.

※Bunkyo campus, located in the heart of the city, enables students to come into frequent contact with the latest information and various cultures.

Niiza Campus

First- and second-year students study at the Niiza campus, which is well known for its cherry blossom trees. The campus provides an environment blessed with nature and the scent of seasonal flowers where students can learn autonomously and comfortably. The relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal place for students to master the basics of university education.

Niiza campus surrounded by nature and equipped with excellent facilities that offer a place of relaxed leaning.

History of Atomi University

1875 The Atomi School opened in Nakasarugaku-cho, Kanda, Tokyo.
Atomi’s educational philosophy was established, which stressed not only intellectual training but also emotional enrichment.
1913 Reorganized as Atomi Girls’ School Incorporated Foundation.
1944 Atomi Girls’ School was closed and replaced by Atomi Girls’ High School.
1947 Atomi Middle School was established.
1948 Atomi High School was established.
1950 Atomi Junior College was established.
1965 Atomi University was established in Nakano, Niiza-shi, Saitama as well as the Faculty of Letters.
1992 The new library was completed.
1995 The 120th anniversary of the founding of the Atomi School and the 30th anniversary of the founding of Atomi University. The Kakei Memorial Museum was completed.
2002 The Faculty of Management opened and The Center for Educational and Psychological counseling was established.
2005 The 130th anniversary of the founding of the Atomi School and the 40th anniversary of the founding of Atomi University.
2008 Bunkyo Campus opened in Otsuka, Bukyo-ku, Tokyo.
2011 The University headquarters was moved to the Bunkyo Campus.
2015 The 140th anniversary of the founding of the Atomi School and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Atomi University. The Faculty of Tourism and Community Studies was established.
2018 The Faculty of Psychology was established.

Uniform established in 1915.※1

Letters addressed to Tamashima
by Kakei Atomi (excerpts).※2

Kakei's work "Renge zu" (part).※1

Kakei's work "Gaen" (part).※1

Kakei's work "Akikusa zu Byobu" (part).※1

Fugen-tei Pavilion (interior).※3

Edohigan Cherry Tree (blossoms).※3

※1:The Kakei Memorial Museum Collection
※2:Atomi University Library Collection ※3:Niiza Campus

Access

Bunkyo Campus

1-5-2 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8687

Niiza Campus

1-9-6 Nakano, Niiza-shi, Saitama 352-8501

Contact Us

Tel: +81-48-478-3334 (International Exchange Division)
E-mail: d-kokusai@atomi.ac.jp

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