Chronology

1843	Joseph Hardy Neesima, the founder of Doshisha, is born in Edo (Tokyo).
1864	Neesima stows away on an American schooner bound for the United States, risking capital punishment for violating Japanese law, in order to pursue his dream of seeing the world and learning about Christianity.
1865	Neesima arrives in the port of Boston and enters Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts
1866	Neesima is baptized at the chapel in Andover Theological Seminary.
1867	Neesima completes his study at Phillips Academy and enters Amherst College.
1870	Neesima graduates from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Science and enters Andover Theological Seminary.
1874	Neesima graduates from Andover Theological Seminary. At the 65th American Board Annual Meeting held at Rutland in Vermont, he appeals for funds to establish an institution of higher education based on Christianity in Japan, and obtains a pledge of $5,000. He returns to Japan for the first time in 10 years.
1875	Doshisha Academy is established on Teramachi Campus with eight students and two teachers, Neesima and J. D. Davis.
1876	Campus is relocated from Teramachi to Imadegawa.
1877	Establishment of Doshisha Girls’ School is approved by Kyoto Prefecture.
1879	The first 15 students graduate from Doshisha Academy.
1883	Rules of the School are established.
1884	Shoeikan (designated a national important cultural property) is completed as the first brick building on campus.
1886	Doshisha Chapel (designated a national important cultural property) is completed.
1887	Library opens at Shojakukan, the present Yushukan (designated a national important cultural property). Doshisha Hospital and Kyoto Training School for Nurses are established.
1888	‘The Aim in Establishing Doshisha University’ is published in major newspapers and magazines.
1890	Joseph Hardy Neesima passes away at the age of 46. Harris Science Hall (designated a national important cultural property) is completed with the donation of $100,000 contributed by Sir J. N. Harris, an American businessperson. Harris Science School is established.
1893	Doshisha emblem is adopted.
1894	Clarke Divinity Hall, the present Clarke Memorial Hall (designated a national important cultural property), is inaugurated.
1909	Doshisha College Song is officially adopted.
1912	Doshisha University (School of Theology, Faculty of Political Science and Economics and Department of English) and the Advanced Course of Doshisha Girls’ School are approved under the Senmon Gakko (professional school) Ordinance.
1920	Doshisha University (Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Law, Graduate School and Preparatory School) is approved under the University Ordinance.
1940	Joseph Hardy Neesima Memorial Monument (Ryoshinhi) is erected in the courtyard in front of Yushukan.
1944	Doshisha Engineering College is established.
1948	Universitiy (School of Theology, Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics) is approved under the New School System Ordinance.
1949	Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Engineering are established.
1950	Master’s Programs (Graduate Schools of Theology, Letters, Law, Economics, and Commerce) are established.
1953	Doctoral programs are established.
1955	Master’s program in Engineering is established.
1975	A ceremony commemorating the centennial of the school’s founding is held.
1986	Tanabe Campus, the present Kyotanabe Campus, is opened and the classes of Doshisha University and Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts start there.
1991	Graduate School of American Studies is established.
1995	Graduate School of Policy and Management is established.
1999	Center for Japanese Language is established.
2000	Doshisha Biwako Retreat Center is completed in Kitakomatsu, Shiga Prefecture.
2004	Faculty of Policy Studies, Department of Information Systems Design and Department of Environmental Systems Science in Faculty of Engineering, Law School, and Graduate School of Business are established.
2005	Faculty of Culture and Information Science is established. Faculty of Letters and Graduate School of Letters are restructured and reorganized. Faculty of Social Studies and Graduate School of Social Studies are established.
2006	Doshisha Elementary School is established. Gakken Toshi Campus is opened.
2007	Graduate School of Culture and Information Science is established.
2008	Faculty of Engineering is reorganized as Faculty of Science and Engineering. Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences and Faculty of Health & Sports Science are established.
2009	Faculty of Psychology and Graduate School of Psychology are established.
2010	Graduate School of Grobal Studies is established. Graduate School of Health and Sports Science is established.
2011	Faculty of Global Communications is established. Doshisha International Academy Elementary School is established. Doshisha International School, Kyoto scheduled to be established.
2012	Graduate School of Brain Science is established.
2013	Faculty of Global and Regional Studies is established. Humanity Faculties (Letters, Law, Economics and Commerce) shifted to the Imadegawa Campus.
2014	Master’s Degree Program ‘Global Business and Management Studies’ established in Doshisha Business School
2015	Doshisha Kyotanabe Kaido (Kotoba-kan, Hikari-kan) completed.

Related Information

Chronology of the Doshisha
The website of The Doshisha introduces the history of Doshisha University together with the history of its schools and colleges.