Historical Exploration – Timeline Series
Chart of Changes in Faculties and Departments: See Here Information on Presidents of Sophia University: See Here
Chronology of Sophia School Corporation
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Pope Paul III grants approval to Society of Jesus (Jesuits;SJ.).
･Francis Xavier, S.J., comes to Japan.
･Xavier highly appreciated the qualities of the Japanese people, he expresses hope to build a university in Japan in a letter to fellow Jesuits.
･Joseph Dahlmann, S.J. visits Japan.
･Pope Pius X asks Society of Jesus to establish university in Japan. The Jesuits accepts the request at the general meeting.
･Three Jesuit priests (James Rockliff, Henri Boucher, and Joseph Dahlmann) land at Yokohama to establish a university.
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Sophia School Corporation formed.
･Ministry of Education approves establishment of Sophia University under Special School Law, with three departments: Philosophy, German Literature, and Commerce.
･Hermann Hoffmann, S.J. assumes office as first president; classes begin.
･Night school offering classes in German and English opened (discontinued 1915).
･Red-brick main building designed by Jan Letzel completed.
･First graduation ceremony (nine students graduate).
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Red-brick main building heavily damaged in Great Kantō Earthquake and its aftershocks.
･Sophia recognized as full-fledged university under University Law with a two-year preliminary course and three-year undergraduate course comprising two faculties: Literature (departments of Philosophy and of Literature) and Commerce (Department of Commerce).
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･The first school flag was created.
･Sophia Catholic Settlement, a facility to help the needy, opened in Mikawashima area of Tokyo.
･Night-school program established with sections in Economics, Commerce, Law, and Journalism (discontinued March 1951).
･Official school song adopted.
･Refusal of several Sophia students to offer reverence at Yasukuni Shrine leads to clash with Army and its removal of military training officer from school in December (issue resolved and officer restored December 1933).
･Paris Foreign Missions Society establishes Fukuoka Catholic Seminary; reorganized as Taisei Junior High School in 1936.
･Founders’ Ceremony established as school event.
･First study-abroad student dispatched to Georgetown University (USA).
･Fukuoka Catholic Seminary renamed Taisei Junior High School.
･Hermann Heuvers, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Literature) becomes second president of Sophia University.
･Sophia University Alumni Association officially established.
･Former Takashima residence named Kulturheim and used for lecture series on Western culture.
･Rokkō Junior High School begins (incorporated as Rokkō Gakuin School Corporation in 1950).
･Monumenta Nipponica, a Western-language academic journal on Japan, launched.
･Celebration of twenty-fifth anniversary of university’s founding.
･Rokkō Junior High School opens in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture (first Jesuit secondary school established in Japan); Takemiya Hayato, S.J., becomes the first principal.
･Sophia University publishes first volume of Catholic Encyclopedia, commissioned by the Pope in 1935.
･Tsuchihashi Yachita, S.J.(professor, Faculty of Literature) becomes third president of Sophia University.
･Ceremony at Meiji Jingū Stadium to send student conscripts off to the front; many Sophia students were subsequently conscripted.
･Red-brick building heavily damaged in air raids. Building 1 also damaged.
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Murakami Naojirō (professor, Faculty of Literature) becomes fourth president of Sophia University.
･University festival held (forerunner of Sophia Festival).
･Public lecture series begun (restructured 1976 as Sophia Community College; discontinued 2020).
･Taisei Junior High School management transferred to the Society of Mary (Marianists).
･Rokkō Junior High School reorganized into Rokkō Junior and Senior High School.
･Jōchi Gakuin Eikō Junior High School (Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture) accredited. Gustav Voss, S.J. becomes the first principal.
･Sophia University begins operation under provisions of postwar School Education Law with two faculties: Humanities (departments of Philosophy, History, English Literature, German Literature, and Journalism) and Economics (departments of Economics and Commerce).
･Men’s dormitory established in Quonset huts obtained from U.S. military forces; becomes known as Bosch Town after founder, Franz Bosch, S.J.
･Taisei Senior High School established.
･International Division (instruction in English; forerunner of present Faculty of Liberal Arts; disbanded 1980) established by Aloysius Miller, S.J.
･Jōchi Gakuin Eikō Gakuen Senior High School accredited.
･Sanada Moat Athletic Ground opened.
･Eikō Gakuen Senior High School established.
･Rokkō Gakuin became a school corporation.
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･According to provisions of Private School Law, Sophia School Corporation changes status from corporation (zaidan hōjin) to academic legal entity (gakkō hōjin).
･Ōizumi Takashi, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes first chancellor of the academic legal entity Sophia School Corporation.
･Graduate schools established.
･Taisei Gakuen Corporation established.
･Ōizumi Takashi, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes fifth president of Sophia University.
･Xavier Week launched at the suggestion of Franz Bosch, S.J.
･Department of Foreign Languages added to Faculty of Humanities.
･Vatican recognizes Pontifical Faculty of Theology at Sophia for training priests.
･Eikō Gakuen School Corporation established.
･Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Foreign Studies established.
･Klaus Luhmel, S.J. (Professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes second chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School established.
･First Sophia-Nanzan Sports Festival (Jōnansen）held.
･Summer Session established (short-term program intended for overseas audience, taught in English).
･Faculty of Science and Technology established.
･Female Student Counseling Room established in former Ōshima residence (discontinued 1998).
･Sophia University celebrates fiftieth anniversary.
･Ministry of Health and Welfare accredits Sophia University Special Course in Social Welfare.
･Eikō Gakuen moves from Taura campus to new Ōfuna campus.
･Sophia University Special Course in Social Welfare launched as night school program. Kobayashi Jun’ichi, S.J. becomes its first director.
･New student newspaper, Jōchi shinbun (The Sophia Times), launched.
･Gino Piovesana, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies) becomes third chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Tsuchida Masao, S.J. becomes second director of Sophia University Special Course
in Social Welfare.
･First orientation camp held for incoming freshmen.
･Sophia Special School of Social Welfare established as independent program (changes name to Sophia School of Social Welfare in 1976). Tsuchida Masao, S.J. becomes its first president.
･Parents’ meeting held in Tokyo (later expanded to regional parents’ meetings).
･Kōno Yoshisuke, S.J. becomes second president of Sophia Special School of Social Welfare.
･Joseph Pittau, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Law) becomes fourth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Zenkyōtō students occupy and barricade campus building.
･Moriya Mikao (professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes sixth president of Sophia University.
･University removes student activist barricades and declares six-month lockout (lifted April 1969).
･Following general meeting of students, faculty, and staff lockout terminated.
･Taisei Gakuen management transferred to Catholic Diocese of Fukuoka.
･Shindō Katsuhiko becomes third president of Sophia Special School of Social Welfare.
･Special admissions programs inaugurated for students returning from abroad and foreign students.
･Sophia University Parents’ Association established.
･Sophia Junior College founded (renamed Sophia University Junior College Division in 2012; admissions to cease from 2025). Gerard Barry, S.J. (professor, Sophia University) assumes office as first president.
･Yanase Mutsuo, S.J.(professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes fifth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Joseph Pittau, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Law) becomes seventh president of Sophia University.
･Sophia Community College launched. (discontinued 2020).
･Sophia Special School of Social Welfare accredited as a specialized vocational school and changes name to Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Sophia Junior College journal Jōchi Tanki Daigaku kiyō begins publication.
･Javier Garralda, S.J. becomes fourth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Sophia Junior College bulletin Jōchi Tandai tsūshin begins publication.
･Moriwaki Takao, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes sixth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Yanase Mutsuo, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes eighth president of Sophia University.
･Pope John Paul II visits Sophia University.
･Mother Theresa visits Sophia University (visits again in April 1982 and November 1984).
･Jesuits assume operation of Taisei Senior High School. Masatsune Ohno, S.J. becomes first principal after transfer (12th principal overall).
･Hashiguchi Tomosuke (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes ninth president of Sophia University.
･Inoue Hideharu becomes fifth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Daniel Collins, S.J., becomes second president of Sophia Junior College.
･Sophia School of Social Welfare newsletter Shasen Dayori begins publication.
･Faculty of Comparative Culture (classes taught in English) established. (reorganized as Faculty of Liberal Arts in 2006).
･Klaus Luhmer, S.J. (professor emeritus, Faculty of Humanities) becomes seventh chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Tsuchida Masao, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes tenth president of Sophia University.
･Sophia Junior College student newspaper Jōtan gakusei tsūshin begins publication.
･Celebration of seventy-fifth anniversary of founding of Sophia University, fifteenth anniversary of founding of Sophia Junior College, and twenty-fifth anniversary of founding of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Sophia Junior College begins volunteer home tutor program for foreign residents.
･Jaime Fernandez-Castañeda, S.J. becomes sixth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Yamamoto Jōji, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Theology) becomes eighth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Ōtani Keiji (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes eleventh president of Sophia University
･Inoue Hideharu becomes seventh president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Sophia University Press founded.
･Jaime Fernandez-Castañeda, S.J. becomes third president of Sophia Junior College.
･Kōso Toshiaki, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Humanities) becomes ninth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･William Currie, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Comparative Culture) becomes twelfth president of Sophia University.
･Kida Isao, S.J. becomes eighth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Kōso Toshiaki, S.J. becomes fourth president of Sophia Junior College.
･Juris Doctor Program (Law School) established.
･Departments of Education, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Services moved from Faculty of Humanities to form new Faculty of Human Sciences.
･lshizawa Yoshiaki (professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies) becomes thirteenth president of Sophia University.
･Faculty of Comparative Culture reorganized as Faculty of Liberal Arts (Department of Liberal Arts) and moves from lchigaya to the Yotsuya Campus.
･Sophia School of Social Welfare journal Jōchi Shakai Fukushi Senmon Gakkō kiyō begins publication.
･Faculty of Science and Technology reorganizes departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electric and Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry into departments of Materials and Life Science, Engineering and Applied Science, and Information and Communication Science.
･lnitial meeting of global leadership program jointly organized by four Jesuit universities in East Asia (Sophia University; Sogang Univcrsity, South Korea; Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan; Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines) held at Sophia. Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia) joins 2012.
･F. Scott Howell, S.J. becomes fifth president of Sophia Junior College.
･First Sophia-Sogang Festival of Exchange (SOFEX) held at Sogang Campus in South Korea.
･New Catholic Encyclopedia completed (4 volumes plus supplement).
･Sophia University and Taisei Gakuen establish educational link.
･Takizawa Tadashi (professor, Faculty of Law) becomes fourteenth president of Sophia University.
･Sophia School Corporation merges with Seibo Gakuen (which operated Seibo University [closed in 2014] and Seibo Nursing School [closed in 2016]) to continue education under Sophia University.
･Taisei Junior and Senior High School renamed Sophia Fukuoka Junior and Senior High School.
･Sakuma Tsutomu, S.J. becomes ninth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Sophia Fukuoka Junior and Senior High School to start Coeducation.
･Sophia Junior College changes name to Sophia University Junior College Division; Takano Toshiki becomes sixth president of Sophia University Junior College Division.
･Takayama Sadami, M.S.C. becomes tenth president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
Sophia University
Sophia University Junior College Division, Sophia School of Social Welfare, and Junior and Senior High Schools
･Celebration of one hundredth anniversary of founding of Sophia University, fortieth anniversary of founding of Sophia Junior College, and fiftieth anniversary of founding of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Takizawa Tadashi becomes seventh president of Sophia University Junior College Division.
･Yamamoto Hiroshi becomes eighth president of Sophia University Junior College Division.
･Hayashita Takashi (professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes fifteenth president of Sophia University.
･Faculty of Global Studies established.
･Course of Midwifery established.
･A new Sophia School Corporation is structured based upon the merger of Sophia School Corporation, Eikō Gakuen School Corporation, Rokkō Gakuin School Corporation, Hiroshima Gakuin School Corporation and Taisei Gakuen School Corporation.
･Terumichi Yoshiaki (professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) becomes sixteenth president of Sophia University.
･Sakuma Tsutomu, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Theology) becomes tenth chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Pope Francis visits Sophia University.
･SPSF (Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures), Degree courses taught in English, established.
･Sophia Community College discontinued.
･Sophia Professional Studies Program (open to the public) established.
･Sakuma Tsutomu, S.J. becomes eleventh president of Sophia School of Social Welfare.
･Sophia School of Social Welfare closed.
･Sali Augustine, S.J. (professor, Faculty of Global Studies) becomes eleventh chancellor of Sophia School Corporation.
･Sophia Global Citizen Program (open to the public) established.
･Sugimura Miki (professor, Faculty of Human Sciences) becomes seventeenth president of Sophia University.
･Admissions to Sophia University Junior College Division suspended.