Gakushuin University

nihongo|Gakushūin University|学習院大学|"Gakushūin Daigaku" is an elite higher educational institution in Mejiro, Toshima, Tokyo. It was re-established after World War II as an affiliate of the Gakushūin School Corporation, the privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University or "Peers School" set up during the Meiji era to educate the children of the Japanese nobility. The Gakushūin University is still one of the most prestigious universities in Japan, having most of the members of the present Imperial Family as former, present, or future students. The average number of students has been kept low so that each one can receive personal attention from the staff.

The level of the academic staff (professors, lecturers, etc.) is considered to be equal to that of the staff of the famous University of Tokyo. Although the outlook of Gakushūin is traditional, the education given there is extremely liberal, and the prevailing atmosphere is one of comradeship, toleration and broad-mindedness. This freedom of thought, combined with a lack of competition between students, has resulted in the fact that there are many well-known literary figures, artists, and diplomats among the alumni. However, despite the high academic level, research work conducted at the University has not received much public attention, so that it is not well known outside of Japan.

As virtually all the instruction is conducted in Japanese, there are relatively few foreigners at Gakushūin. It is considered the country's best university for students who are particularly drawn to traditional Japanese culture and language.

Faculties

* Faculty of Law
* Faculty of Economics
* Faculty of Letters
* Faculty of Science

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers degree programs in English. Each year the university admits 85 foreign students of high academic and social standing

Notable alumni

; Imperial House of Japan
* Akihito
* Prince Naruhito
* Prince Akishino
* Sayako Kuroda
* Princess Akishino

; others
* Hayao Miyazaki :a directer of films
* Yoko Ono
* Tarō Asō　:the curremt Prime Minister of Japan
* Shiono Nanami :an author
* Marina Inoue
* Mona Yamamoto

External links

* [http://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/ad/kikaku/english/index.html Gakushūin University]
* [http://eefoof.com/image/15365 main gate]