About the GENSHA (Graduate School of Language and Society)

History of the GENSHA

The Graduate School of Language and Society (GENSHA) was established in 1996 as an independent graduate school without an undergraduate program, providing only Master's and doctoral courses. Hitotsubashi University is an institution with over 140 years of history since the Commercial Law Institute was established in Meiji 8 (1875). Although the graduate school is still a relatively new education and research organization, it has undergone many changes in its short 20-year history. This history is presented below in chronological order.

* For details regarding exchange agreements with foreign education and research institutions, please see Cooperation with Countries in East Asia.

April 1st, 1996

Inaugural Language and Society Graduate School Program entrance process begins with first entry exam session (April 15th-18th).

May 1st, 1996

Language and Society inaugural class student entrance ceremony.

May 11th, 1996

Official start of the Language and Society Program.

March, 1998

Completion of the Master's course by inaugural class; diplomas (Master of Arts degrees) awarded to graduates who completed the course of study.

April, 2000

Completion of joint facilities for the Graduate School of Languages and Society and the International Student Center (currently known as the Center for Global Education); the facility is named the "International Research Center."

March, 2001

First doctoral course completed by graduate(s), Doctor of Philosophy obtained.

April, 2002

Establishment of the Curator Qualification Program.

2003

"Practical Work Experience" course established, and credit recognition for internships begins.

2005

Collaboration course with the National Institute of Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL) established (currently the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes for the Humanities, National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics). The original system is rehashed as the "Language and Society Division" (1st Division); based on newly established collaborative lectures, a two-branch system is adopted along with the "Japanese Language /Japanese Culture Division (2nd Division)," which runs the "Japanese Education Degree Program."

2006

Introduction of a "long-term course system" targeting graduate students.

Gengoshakai Graduate School Bulletin published (once a year).

April, 2007

As part of a collaborative project with Tokyo Gakugei University, the Graduate School of Language and Society (GENSHA) begins the "Asian Culture Course" collaborative lecture series.

Start of MAP (Museum Administration Program, which ended in March of 2012 in compliance with revision of museum law enforcement regulations).

April, 2013

First Graduate School Lecture Series: "The Languages Connecting Asia: the Asian Community in Terms of Language and Culture".

December, 2016

The Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Language and Society, Center of Korean Studies Graduate School Center established as part of a commissioned project form the Academy of Korean Studies (South Korea).

March 17th, 2017

Memorandum on Social Collaboration with the Kunitachi City Community Center exchange.