One of two universities in Kumatori, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka University of Tourism echoes many Japanese institutions in having its origins in religious-based education for girls. While its shift to co-education also follows a familiar pattern, secularisation does not.
It was started in 1921 as a girls high school for the Nichiren branch of Buddhism, but broke away in 1932. A junior college was created in 1988, becoming the co-educational Osaka Denkyo College, running a four-year tourism course, in 1999 and taking its current name in 2006.
It aims to "cultivate talented people who have a rich mind and a deep culture, and are intelligent shining talents" and who can be Kokorojobu - able to solve problems of importance to the earth.
It is the only university specialising in tourism in Japan, a country which received 30 million visitors in 2018. The university plays strongly on its location in the Senshu region around Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto which is increasingly seen as a rival to Tokyo as a destination. Surveys show that around 40 per cent of graduates go directly into jobs in tourism.
There were 772 students in 2018, with a significant overseas contingent, mostly from China and Vietnam. Courses organised by the Department of Tourism and Cross-Cultural studies offer 34 different options, described as studios, across the range of disciplines.
Overseas students are encouraged to take a full part in the life of the university: “Please don’t only learn languages, but consciously take part in to activities where you mingle with other people”.
