Ritsumeikan University (立命館大学, Ritsumeikan Daigaku, abbreviated to Rits and 立命 Ritsumei) is a private universityinKyoto, Japan, that traces its origin to 1869. In addition to its main campus in Kyoto, the university also has satellite campuses in Ibaraki, Osaka and Kusatsu, Shiga.
立命館大学
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Former names | Kyoto Hosei School |
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| Motto |
自由と清新
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Motto in English | Freedom and Innovation |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1900; 124 years ago (1900) (chartered in 1922) |
| Founder | Kojuro Nakagawa Saionji Kinmochi[1] |
Academic affiliations | APSIA, INU, Global 30, Kansai Big 6 |
| President | Yoshio Nakatani |
Academic staff | 1,395 |
| Students | 36,825 |
| Undergraduates | 33,094 |
| Postgraduates | 3,731 |
| Location |
, Japan 35°01′57″N 135°43′26″E / 35.0326°N 135.7240°E / 35.0326; 135.7240 |
| Campus | 5 campuses in urban areas |
| Colours | Crimson and white |
| Nickname | Ritsumeikan Panthers |
| Mascot | Panthera pardus |
| Website | Official website |
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| As of May 2022[2] | |
Today, Ritsumeikan University is known as one of Western Japan's most prestigious universities, part of the "Kan-Kan-Do-Rits" 関関同立 (Kwansei Gakuin University, Kansai University, Doshisha University, and Ritsumeikan University) abbreviation that refers to the four leading private universities in the Keihanshin region.
Ritsumeikan University is known for its Social Sciences, particularly International Relations (IR), as well as its Science & Engineering departments, with the Graduate School of International Relations being the only Japanese member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs.
Ritsumeikan was first founded as a private academy in 1869 by Prince Saionji Kinmochi. In 1900, Kojuro Nakagawa (the former secretary of Prince Saionji) established the Kyoto Hosei School, a law school that eventually adopted the Ritsumeikan name (with the prince's permission) and was awarded full university status in 1922.[3] Historically, the school was seen as a liberal alternative to the state-run Kyoto University.
The name "Ritsumeikan" comes from a Mencius quotation:
Some die young, as some live long lives. This is decided by fate. Therefore, one's duty consists of cultivating one's mind during this mortal span and thereby "establishing one's destiny". (in Japanese, 立命, ritsumei)
The "kan" in addition to "ritsumei" signifies a building.
InKita-ku, Kyoto, this liberal arts-oriented campus is a roughly five-minute walk from Ryōan-ji and Kinkaku-ji temples. The campus has eight graduate schools, 17,000 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate students.[5]
InNakagyō-ku, Kyoto. This campus houses the School of Law, Graduate School of Management, and Graduate School of Public Policy, in addition to the Ritsumeikan Academy headquarters.
Biwako-Kusatsu Campus is in Kusatsu, Shiga. This technology-oriented campus is southeast of Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, and is a 30-minute train ride from Kyōto Station. The campus has four undergraduate colleges, four graduate schools, 16,000 undergraduates and 1,600 graduate students.
This campus does not have a college or graduate school, but is used to support students' job searches and other activities.[10]
The Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (立命館 アジア 太平洋 大学, Ritsumeikan Ajia Taiheiyō Daigaku) is a private institution inaugurated April 2000 in Beppu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University was made possible through the collaboration of three parties from the public and private sectors: Oita Prefecture, Beppu City and the Ritsumeikan University. APU has an enrollment of just under 6,000 students. Approximately half of the students and faculty members come from overseas, and it has 3 colleges:
The university has supported an American football rules team since 1953. The team has won three national championships, seven collegiate championships, and nine conference championships.
Ritsumeikan University has 4 research organizations and research institutes in many fields. [12]
Established in April 2005 on the Biwako-Kusatsu Campus, work at this center focuses on disaster mitigation using sensor systems and computer networks.
Located at Kinugasa Campus, this center houses the Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures, which focuses on research on Japanese art and culture using digital archives, databases, and geographical information systems.
The Kyoto Museum for World Peace seeks to critically examine Japan's militaristic past and includes numerous exhibits ranging from the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895 to the Iraq War.
Located at BKC campus, this center is established for research using Synchrotron Radiation.[13]
The university is one of the universities making progress in internationalization efforts and has been designated as one of the top global universities by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Ritsumeikan University has exchange programs with schools throughout the world, including the University of British Columbia, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of Hong Kong, King's College London and the University of Manchester. Ritsumeikan also currently offers a dual bachelor's degree program and dual master's degree program in collaboration with American University and Australian National University.[14][15] Nearly 1,800 Ritsumeikan students study abroad, while Ristumeikan accepts nearly 2,500 international students every year.
In the 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings, it is ranked 631st-640th. Ranked 4th among private universities in Japan.[16] In the 2023 edition QS Asia University Rankings, it was ranked 126th. Ranked 3rd among private universities in Japan.[17] In the 2022 edition of the QS Graduate Employability Rankings, it ranked 201st-250th.[18] It ranked 1st among private universities in Western Japan in the three rankings mentioned above.
In the 2023 edition of THE World University Rankings Japan, it is ranked 31st. Ranked 11th among Western Japan universities and 1st among Kinki private universities. In the same year edition of THE World University Rankings, it ranked 1201st-1500th, and in THE Asia University Rankings ranked 401st-500th.[19]
In the 2023 edition of CWUR World University Rankings, it is ranked 1024th, in the top 5% of the world.[20]
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Notable people affiliated with Ritsumeikan University, including graduates, former students, and professors:
Some staff at Ritsumeikan University are represented by the General Union, a member of the National Union of General Workers (NUGW), which is itself a member of the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo).[21]
