History

Chronology

【Meiji】

1880	Aug. Meiji 13	Submitted an application to the Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, Michiyuki Matsuda to found the Senshu College (two-year evening school) in Economics and Law taught in Japanese.
	Sept. Meiji 13	Conducted the opening ceremony on September 16 in the temporary school building at 1-4, Minami-Nabecho, Kyobashi-ku. A total of 51 students including the first-year and second-year students entered this college.
	Oct. Meiji 13	Moved from the temporary school building to the school building (Meiji Kaido) located in 2-14, Kobikicho, Kyobashi-ku (present Ginza 3-chome) on October 11 as the refurbishment of the school building was completed.
1881	Mar. Meiji 14	The group of founders published "Meihoshirin," a legal magazine.
	July Meiji 14	Conducted the first graduation ceremony at the Meiji Kaido. Two students of the Economics Department and nine students of the Law Department were graduated from this college (they were entered the second year at the start of this college).
1882	Nov. Meiji 15	Moved to the campus at 4, Naka-Sarugakucho, Kanda-ku (used the building of Junten Kyugosha).
1883	July Meiji 16	Extended the course of study to three years for students enrolled this year and beyond.
1884	Dec. Meiji 17	Acquired about 1,800 m2 of a site at 2-8, Imagawakoji, Kanda-ku (the site of present Kanda Campus).
1885	July Meiji 18	Moved to the new school building constructed at the campus in Imagawakoji.
1886	Dec. Meiji 19	Senshu College and other four law schools were placed under the supervision of the president of Imperial University pursuant to the private law school control regulations (the regulations were repealed in May 1888).
1887	Jan. Meiji 20	Began a correspondence course and issued an alumni certificate to students who finished the three-year course.
	Jan. Meiji 20	Published "Senshu College law lecture notes" and "Senshu College economics lecture notes" (The publication of these notes ceased in June 1891).
	Jan. Meiji 20	Held the first alumni reunion at the Fujimiken in Fujimicho, Kojimachi-ku to establish the rules and the alumni association (renamed Senshu University Alumni Association in November 1950).
1888	June Meiji 21	Renamed the Economics Department to the Political Economic Department.
	Aug. Meiji 21	Became a specially designated school under the rules on specially designated schools (the rules were repealed in November 1893).
	Aug. Meiji 21	The school principal system was introduced. Soma Nagatane was appointed the school principal.
1889	Sept. Meiji 22	Established the Political Department (abolished in 1891).
1890	Dec. Meiji 23	Founded the Senshu College Political Economic Society.
1891	Sept. Meiji 24	Suspended the enrollment of new students in the Law Department.
	Oct. Meiji 24	Published the "Political Economic Department lectures" (completed in August 1895).
1892	Sept. Meiji 25	Resumed the enrollment of students in the Law Department.
1893	Sept. Meiji 26	Stopped the enrollment of students in the Law Department. Only the Political Economic Department remained.
	Dec. Meiji 26	Became a designated school by the Ministry of Justice under the rules on judicial service examination (till October 1902).
1901	Dec. Meiji 34	One of the founders Shigetada Komai died (on 9) at the age of 48.
	Dec. Meiji 34	Published the first volume of "Collection of economics essays of Senshu College Political Economic Society."
1903	Nov. Meiji 36	Authorized as a college under the College Ordinance (Senmon Gakko-rei).
1904	Dec. Meiji 37	Established the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau Official Training School attached to the college (the classes started in January 1905).
1905	Aug. Meiji 38	Renamed the Political Economic Department to the Economics Department.
	Oct. Meiji 38	Established the Commercial Department and commenced day classes for the first time.
1906	Aug. Meiji 39	Founded the private college preparatory school attached to the college (abolished in September 1931).
	Sept. Meiji 39	Revised the school regulations and established the University Division (Economics Department, Law Department, and Commercial Department with a three-year course), the College Division (Economics Department, Law Department, and Commercial Department with a three-year course), the Technical College (a one-year course for college or university graduates), and the College Preparatory Course Division (a one-year day school under the College Ordinance).
1907	May Meiji 40	The school management structure was changed to an incorporated association.
	Sept. Meiji 40	Rebuilt the school building and residence.
1911	July Meiji 44	Abolished the Commercial Departments of both College and University Divisions ( A day course was left in the College Preparatory Course Division only).
	Nov. Meiji 44	The 30th anniversary hall and the Soma and Tajiri 60th birthday memorial library were completed.

【Taisho】

1912	Sept. Taisho 1	The Soma and Tajiri 60th birthday memorial library was extended to a new library.
1913	July Taisho 2	Renamed Senshu College to Senshu Private University.
	July Taisho 2	Renamed the College Preparatory Course Division to the Preparatory Course Division (1.5 years) and the Technical College to the Research Division.
1917	Apr. Taisho 6	Founded the Senshu Private Vocational College and Ushisaburo Kobayashi was appointed the principal.
	Sept. Taisho 6	Added the Accounting Department to the College Division.
1919	Sept. Taisho 8	Renamed Senshu Private University to Senshu University and Senshu Private Vocational College to Senshu Vocational College.
1920	Mar. Taisho 9	Renamed Senshu Vocational College to Senshu Commercial College (separated from the university in March 1928).
	Sept. Taisho 9	The three-story wooden school building was completed.
	Oct. Taisho 9	The gymnasium was completed.
	Dec. Taisho 9	The university management structure was changed from an incorporated association to an incorporated foundation.
1921	Apr. Taisho 10	The period of the Preparatory Course was extended to two years.
	Sept. Taisho 10	Determined the new cap badge design of Senshu University (the prototype of the present university seal).
1922	May Taisho 11	Authorized as a university (old education system) under the University Ordinance (Daigaku-rei) (the College Division under the College Ordinance was still attached).
	Oct. Taisho 11	The two founders, President Soma Nagatane and Dean Inajiro Tajiri, were commended for their contribution to education by the Minister of Education on October 30 on the 50th anniversary celebration of the promulgation of the educational system. The day has been celebrated as the University Founder's Memorial Day to the present.
1923	Apr. Taisho 12	Senshu University (Economics Department and Preparatory Course Division) was established under the University Ordinance. The Law Department was not yet established.
	Aug. Taisho 12	One of the founders Inajiro Tajiri died (on 15) at the age of 73.
	Sept. Taisho 12	The school building was burned down in the Great Kanto Earthquake (on 1). Used classrooms of Rikkyo University until the temporary school building was completed.
	Dec. Taisho 12	A one-story wooden temporary school building and accessory buildings were completed.
1924	Jan. Taisho 13	One of the founders Nagatane Soma died (on 26) at the age of 73.
	Dec. Taisho 13	A two-story wooden school building and a library were completed.
1926	Jan. Taisho 15	The school song and cheerleading club song were established.
	Sept. Taisho 15	One of the founders Tanetaro Mekata died (on 10) at the age of 73

【Showa】

1927	Apr. Showa 2	Established the Law Department and a two-year preparatory course of the Department of Law (the classes of the department began in April 1929).
1928	Mar. Showa 3	A new three-story reinforced concrete school building was completed.
	Apr. Showa 3	Added the Commerce Course and started the Law Course in the College Division. Employed a double shift school system (day and evening) for the Commerce Course and the existing Economics Department. An evening course was established for the Law Department. The existing Accounting Department continued on an evening course.
	Apr. Showa 3	Employed a double shift system for the Preparatory Course and added the three-year day course to the two-year course.
1929	Apr. Showa 4	An evening course was newly established for the Economics Department and the Law Department and the Preparatory Course (two-year) . Both departments started to introduce a double shift system.
	Apr. Showa 4	Added day courses to the Law and Accounting Departments in the College Division. All the departments of the College Division started to introduce a double shift system.
	May Showa 4	Established an extension course to offer a short-term adult economics class.
	Sept. Showa 4	Established the Senshu University Society.
	Oct. Showa 4	Held the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the foundation.
1930	Apr. Showa 5	Added an three-year evening course to the Preparatory Course.
1931	Apr. Showa 6	Started an evening course of the both departments of Economics and Law.
	Apr. Showa 6	Renamed the Law Course in the College Division to the Law Department.
1932	Oct. Showa 7	Renamed the Commerce Course in the College Division to the Commercial Department.
1933	June Showa 8	Extended and rebuilt the anniversary hall and the library.
	June Showa 8	Founded the Senshu University Athletic Clubs.
1934	June Showa 9	Introduced the chancellor system.
	Dec. Showa 9	Founded Senshu University Academic and Cultural Clubs.
1938	Sept. Showa 13	Labor service by students began (students performed labor service in the Tamagawa scenic zone and the Akabane military clothing factory).
1939	June Showa 14	Placed president under chancellor.
1940	Nov. Showa 15	Established the new wartime education system at the faculty meeting.
1941	June Showa 16	Appointed Chancellor Yoshiro Sakatani as honorary chancellor (died on November 14).
	Dec. Showa 16	Wartime early graduation began.
1943	Oct. Showa 18	Student deferment stopped (students joined the military on December 1).
	Oct. Showa 18	As the deferment stopped, the university held the farewell party for students attaining the conscription age. On October 21, the government held the student soldiers send-off ceremony at the Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium.
1944	Apr. Showa 19	Reorganized the Economics Department and the Law Department in the College Division into the Politics and Economics Department and the Commerce Department and the Accounting Department into the Business Administration Department pursuant to the wartime emergency measures on education (Reorganized departments were returned to the previous organization in April 1946).
1945	Aug. Showa 20	18 students at the College Division were killed during bombing by B29 US Air Force bombers while performing labor service at the Tokyo army arsenal in Itabashi (on 10).
	Aug. Showa 20	The war ended (on 15) and students mobilized for military or labor service returned to the campus.
1946	June Showa 21	The school reconstruction movement began.
1947	Mar. Showa 22	The residence indication of Senshu University was changed from 3-8-1, Jinbocho, Kanda-ku to 3-8-1, Kanda-jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku because of elimination and integration of wards.
	Sept. Showa 22	Started the Labor Studies Course.
1948	June Showa 23	Changed the Labor Studies Course to the Senshu University Labor College (vocational school) (abolished in December 1957).
	Oct. Showa 23	Purchased the site of the research institute of Nippon Electric Company and rebuilt new school buildings.
1949	Apr. Showa 24	Established two faculties, the School of Commerce and Economics (Department of Economics and Department of Commerce) and the School of Law (Department of Law) (day and evening courses) as a university with a new system pursuant to the School Education Act. Started classes at the Ikuta Campus.
	Oct. Showa 24	Held the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the foundation.
1950	Apr. Showa 25	Established the Junior College (Commerce and Economics course and Practical Commercial course) (abolished in March 1965).
1951	Feb. Showa 26	Changed the university organization from the incorporated foundation to the educational corporation.
	Dec. Showa 26	Reduced the period of the courses under the prewar education system by three months (last graduates from the courses under the old system).
1952	May Showa 27	Established the master's program (major in Economics) in the Graduate School of Economics.
	July Showa 27	Building No.3, converted from the Kanda school building, was completed.
1953	Oct. Showa 28	Kanda Campus Building No.2 was completed.
1954	Apr. Showa 29	Established the master's program (major in private law) in the Graduate School of Law.
1955	Apr. Showa 30	Established the doctoral programs (major in history of economics, history of economy) in the School of Economics and the doctoral program (major in civil law) in the School of Law.
	Nov. Showa 30	Kanda Campus Building No.4 was completed.
1956	Feb. Showa 31	Started entrance examinations at regional sites (abolished from the entrance exam in 1978).
	June Showa 31	Purchased the land and a building adjacent to the Kanda Campus and converted to laboratories (Building No.5).
1957	June Showa 32	Ikuta Campus Building No.1 was completed.
1958	Apr. Showa 33	Appointed Shojiro Kawashima as honorary chancellor.
	May Showa 33	Set up Senshu University Ikuyukai Association.
1959	Oct. Showa 34	Held the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the foundation.
1960	Feb. Showa 35	The 80th anniversary gymnasium was completed (pulled down in 1965).
1962	Apr. Showa 37	Established the School of Business Administration (Department of Business Administration).
	Aug. Showa 37	Ikuta Campus Building No.2 was completed.
1963	Apr. Showa 38	Renamed the School of Commerce and Economics to the School of Economics.
	Nov. Showa 38	Purchased the site for a sports ground in Isehara-machi (present Isehara-shi) in Kanagawa (developed this site for a sports ground in October 1965).
1964	Sept. Showa 39	Ikuta Campus Building No.3 was completed.
1965	Apr. Showa 40	Established the School of Commerce (Department of Commerce) and its evening course (Department of Commerce) (abolished the day and evening courses of the Department of Commerce, the School of Economics in March).
1966	Mar. Showa 41	Ikuta Campus Building No.4 and Ikuta Hall were completed.
	Apr. Showa 41	Established the School of Letters (Departments of Japanese Literature and Culture, Department of English, and Department of Humanities).
1968	Apr. Showa 43	Added the Department of Accounting to the School of Commerce.
	Apr. Showa 43	Founded Bibai Agricultural Engineering Junior College, Senshu University (Departments of Agricultural Machinery, Agricultural Civil Engineering, and Agricultural Business) in Bibai-shi, Hokkaido.
	Apr. Showa 43	President Katsuo Soma served as president of Bibai Agricultural Engineering Junior College (resigned as president in December 1976).
	June Showa 43	Soma Memorial Hall was completed in Bibai Agricultural Engineering Junior College.
	Aug. Showa 43	Ikuta Library was completed.
1970	Apr. Showa 45	Changed the doctoral program (major in history of economics, history of economy) in the School of Economics to the doctoral program in economics.
1971	Mar. Showa 46	Ikuta Campus Building No.5 was completed.
	Apr. Showa 46	Established the master's programs (major in Japanese Literature, English and American Literature and Philosophy) in the Graduate School of Literature.
1972	Apr. Showa 47	Added the Department of Information Management to the School of Business Administration.
1973	Mar. Showa 48	Abolished the Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering of Bibai Agricultural Engineering Junior College and stopped enrollment of new students for the Department of Agricultural Business.
	Apr. Showa 48	Renamed Bibai Agricultural Engineering Junior College, Senshu University to Hokkaido College, Senshu University and added the Departments of Civil Engineering and Commerce.
	Apr. Showa 48	Established the doctoral programs (major in Japanese Literature, English Literature, and Philosophy) in the Graduate School of Literature.
	Oct. Showa 48	High-rise Building No.