History

Resource: http://www-w.ao.ocha.ac.jp/intl/studyjp/about/introduction/

The predecessor of Ochanomizu University is the Tokyo Women's Normal School (later Tokyo Girls' Higher Normal School ).

It was established at Ochanomizu in Tokyo as an organization to develop women's professional teachers in 1875.

Ochanomizu University was named after the place " Ochanomizu " where this school was originally located.

Because Tokyo Girls' Higher Normal School was the school of the highest level of girls' education in Japan at the time, Japanese women who wanted to get an education were eager to study there. The graduates worked as teachers to give the coming degenerations a great education for girls.

The school was moved to Otsuka where the Ochanomizu University is now located in 1932 because the buildings were destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. However, some buildings remained behind and are now used as the auditorium and the university main building. They still tell us the atmosphere of the old times. 

In 1949, Tokyo Girls' Higher Normal School became "Ochanomizu University". Ochanomizu University is a national women’s university which has three faculties, the Faculty of Literature and Education, Science, and Home Economics (now the faculty of life sciences).

It was the strong sense of mission for improving girl’s education and also the long history that made the school begin anew as one of the national women’s universities though there are only two national women’s universities in Japan.

Ochanomizu University has a mission to exist as the place where all the women who have a strong will to learn can make dreams come true. We aim to create a diverse society where every woman plays an active role regardless of gender through providing an education which is flexible for various women's needs depends on their lifestyles.

Resource: http://www-w.ao.ocha.ac.jp/intl/studyjp/about/introduction/http://www-w.ao.ocha.ac.jp/intl/studyjp/about/introduction/

Writer: Saki Kato

Editor: Eri Kakihira