One of the five universities in the central Tokyo district of Toshima, Taisho is a private institution which can trace its foundation back to a school in 1885. It began life as a university in 1926 when five doctors, called for the creation of a Buddhist university. One of the founders – Masataro Sawayanagi – became the first President. It took the name of the Emperor whose reign ended in that year.
It continues a commitment to the Buddhist faith which was evident from the start – social welfare was an element in the curriculum from the beginning and the Taisho University Press, founded in 1927, has been an important outlet for Buddhist Studies in general and the Tendai School in particular.
The university aims to nurture four qualities – compassion, the middle path, coexistence and self-reliance - "in the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism, to nurture human resources and to create prosperity in today’s world".
Re-established postwar in 1949 with departments of Buddhism and literature, it introduced graduate programmes in 1951, doctorates in 1956 and a Buddhism Research Institute in 1957.
In 2019 it has faculties of regional development, psychology and sociology, human studies, literature, communication and culture and Buddhist studies, while the Open College offers courses on a range of areas including calligraphy.
A student body of approximately 5,000 is almost equally divided between men and women. A one-year preparatory Japanese studies course has been offered since 1997, and currently enrols about 40 students per year, for overseas students hoping to enter Japanese universities.
