Revision of the Ritsumeikan Charter：Clarifying the Principles of a Next-Generation Research University, a Next-Generation Inquiry-Driven Academy, and Diversity
On Friday, March 27, 2026, the Ritsumeikan Trust decided to revise the Ritsumeikan Charter, and this new Charter will go into effect on April 1, 2026.
The Ritsumeikan Charter was established on July 21, 2006 to share the fundamental ideals and mission that form the foundation of the entire Ritsumeikan Academy, which consists of Ritsumeikan University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, and the affiliated schools (Ritsumeikan Junior and Senior High School, Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School, Ritsumeikan Keisho Junior and Senior High School, Ritsumeikan Moriyama Junior and Senior High School, and Ritsumeikan Primary School), and to communicate them both inside and outside the Academy.
Nearly 20 years have elapsed since the establishment of the Ritsumeikan Charter, and the Ritsumeikan Trust has reached a decision to revise the document in light of both changes in society and the development of the Ritsumeikan Academy during this time. These revisions clearly position Ritsumeikan’s commitment to realizing its goal of becoming a next-generation research university and a next-generation inquiry-driven academy as well as its stance of creating an academy that respects a wider range of backgrounds and values and that is rich in diversity.
The new Ritsumeikan Charter consist of four paragraphs as outlined below:
- First paragraph: Presents the origins of the Academy along with the founding spirit and educational philosophy that form the foundation of Ritsumeikan today
- Second paragraph: Describes the essence that has been shaped throughout the history of the Academy, which will continue to be valued well into the future
- Third paragraph: Expresses the Academy’s attitude on respecting diversity
- Fourth paragraph: Articulates Ritsumeikan’s aspirations for the future as it seeks to become a next-generation research university and a next-generation inquiry-driven academy
The revised document uses plain and accessible language so that students at every level of the Academy, faculty, and staff can deepen their understanding of the document and develop a sense of ownership of it as they encounter it various settings, and it has been structured so that the theme of each paragraph is easy to understand.
Also, while carrying forward the founding spirit and educational philosophy, the words of Dr. Hiroshi Suekawa that have long been cherished in the previous version, and the principle of democratic academy governance, the revised document expresses a commitment to peace even more clearly than ever before in keeping with the Ritsumeikan’s consistent stance of rejecting war and violence.
It is our hope that, by way of the new Charter, all those who come together at Ritsumeikan will deepen their understanding of the Ritsumeikan’s history, its role in society, and its aspirations for the future, and that sharing these principles and putting them into practice will generate social impact that contributes to solving global issues, ultimately leading to the realization of a peaceful and sustainable society.
The following is the full text of the Ritsumeikan Charter.
THE RITSUMEIKAN CHARTER
Ritsumeikan traces its roots to Kinmochi Saionji’s private academy of the same name. It was officially founded in 1900 by Kojuro Nakagawa as the Kyoto Hosei Gakko (Kyoto School of Law and Politics), later taking on the name “Ritsumeikan.” The name is derived from a passage in the Jinxin chapter of the Discourses of Mencius and means “a place to establish one's destiny through cultivating one's mind.” We who gather at Ritsumeikan uphold our founding spirit of “Freedom and Innovation” and embrace “Peace and Democracy” as our educational philosophy.
Ritsumeikan, in light of the painful experiences of World War II and sincerely looking back on history, rejects war and violence, advances democratic academy governance, and continues to pursue the ideal of peace. Ritsumeikan will continuously pursue internationalization, and as a comprehensive private academic institution, we will strive to contribute to society through the freedom to pursue new endeavors and creativity with the participation of students at every level of education, faculty, and staff as well as the support of alums, guardians, and all those involved with the academy.
Ritsumeikan respects diversity. We value the dignity that everyone equally possesses, and we honor the emergent potential that resides within every individual. While being rooted in local communities, we collaborate with a wide range of actors inside and outside of the academy as we strive for self-growth and the realization of an inclusive society through diverse activities such as research, education, culture, art, and sports.
Ritsumeikan, founded on the freedom of academic inquiry and research, will pave the way to the future. Upholding the principles of autonomy, democracy, fairness, transparency, and non-violence, we will boldly take on the challenge of intellectual creation that will bring about new values of harmonious coexistence to be shared far and wide. We will carry on the spirit of “believe in the future and live for the future,” and, inscribing in our minds that our respective research and educational activities as both a research university and an inquiry-driven academy will shape the world of the future, we will devote ourselves to the creation of a sustainable society and the realization of world peace.
The Ritsumeikan Trust
Established July 21, 2006
Revised March 27, 2026
View the Ritsumeikan Charter (Japanese)
View the Ritsumeikan Charter (English)
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