The , or , historically known as the Peers' School, is a Japanese educational institution in Tokyo, originally established as Gakushūjo to educate the children of Japan's nobility. The original school expanded from its original mandate of educating the social elite and has since become a network of institutions which encompasses preschool through tertiary-level education.
History The Peers' School was founded in 1847 by Emperor Ninkō in Kyoto and placed under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency. Its purpose was to educate the children of the Imperial aristocracy (kazoku). Prior to the disestablishment of the Peerage in 1947, commoners had restricted access to Gakushuin, with limited slots only to the Elementary School and Middle School.
In 1947, with the American-mandated disestablishment of the peerage system, enrollment in Gakushuin was fully opened to the general public. At the same time, administration of the school was transferred to the Ministry of Education.
Precepts Emperor Ninko had four maxims inscribed on the walls of the Gakushūin building, including Walk in the paths trodden by the feet of the great sages. Revere the righteous canons of the empire. He that has not learned the sacred doctrines, how can he govern himself? He that is ignorant of the classics, how can he regulate his own conduct?
The school was moved to Tokyo in 1877. Its new purpose was to educate the children of the modern aristocracy. Members of the Imperial Family continue to study at Gakushūin.
Timeline 1847: founded as Peers' School. 1877: the school was established in Tokyo. 1884: Gakushūin became an Imperial institution. 1885: Peeresses' School was created. 1947: Gakushūin became a private institution.
Gakushuin Corporation The present-day Gakushuin School Corporation comprises the following institutions: Gakushuin University Gakushuin Women's College
Presidents No.NameYearTitleMilitary rankNote 1 Tachibana Taneyuki 1877–1884 Viscount – Last Daimyō of Miike Domain. 2 Tani Tateki 1884–1885 Viscount Lieutenant General (IJA) Former president of Imperial Japanese Army Academy 3 Ōtori Keisuke 1885–1887 Baron – Member of Privy council. 4 Miura Gorō 1887–1891 Viscount Lieutenant General (IJA) 5 Iwakura Tomosada 1891 Prince – 6 Tanaka Mitsuaki 1891–1894 Viscount Major General (IJA) 7 Konoe Atsumaro 1894–1903 Prince – The heir of Konoe family. The president of House of Peers (1892–1905) 8 Kikuchi Dairoku 1903–1904 Baron – Mathematician and Minister of Education (1901–1903). 9 Yamaguchi Einosuke 1905–1906 – – Physicist. 10 Nogi Maresuke 1906–1912 Count General (IJA) Emperor Showa entered school in 1908 and graduated in 1914. 11 Ōsako Naoharu 1912–1917 Viscount General (IJA) 12 Hōjō Tokiyuki 1917–1920 – – Mathematician. Former president of Tohoku Imperial University (1913–1917). 13 Ichinohe Hyoe 1920–1922 – General (IJA) The Inspectorate General of Military Training 14 Fukuhara Ryojirō 1922–1929 – – Former president of Tohoku Imperial University (1917–1919) 15 Araki Torasaburō 1929–1937 – – Medical scientist. Former president of Kyoto Imperial University (1915–1929) 16 Nomura Kichisaburō 1937–1939 – Admiral (IJN) 17 Yamanashi Katsunoshin 1939–1946 – Admiral (IJN)
Notable alumni and faculty members
Teachers R. H. Blyth—taught at Gakushūin Kanō Jigorō—taught at Gakushūin Inagaki Manjirō—taught briefly at Gakushūin
Alumni For alumni of Gakushuin University, see: Gakushūin University#Notable alumni
Imperial House of Japan
Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō - late 123rd Emperor of Japan Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa - late 124th Emperor of Japan Nagako, Empress Kōjun, late Empress Dowager of Japan Emperor Akihito - Former 125th Emperor of Japan Emperor Naruhito - Current 126th Emperor of Japan Masahito, Prince Hitachi - brother of Emperor Akihito Hanako, Princess Hitachi - wife of the Prince Hitachi Fumihito, Prince Akishino - son of Emperor Akihito Kiko, Princess Akishino - wife of the Prince Akishino Kazuko, Princess Taka - sister of Emperor Akihito Shigeko, Princess Teru - sister of Emperor Akihito Atsuko, Princess Yori - sister of Emperor Akihito Takako, Princess Suga - sister of Emperor Akihito Sayako, Princess Nori - daughter of Emperor Akihito Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu - brother of Emperor Shōwa Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu - wife of the Prince Takamatsu Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu - brother of Emperor Shōwa Takahito, Prince Mikasa - brother of Emperor Shōwa Yuriko, Princess Mikasa - wife of the Prince Mikasa Prince Tomohito of Mikasa - son of the Prince Mikasa Princess Yasuko of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa Princess Masako of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa Princess Akiko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito Princess Yōko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito Norihito, Prince Takamado - son of the Prince Mikasa Princess Tsuguko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado Princess Noriko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado Princess Ayako of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado Yoshihito, Prince Katsura - son of Prince Mikasa Aiko, Princess Toshi - daughter of Emperor Naruhito
Imperial House of Yi (Korea)
Imperial Prince Ui Min Prince Yi Geon Princess Yi Deokhye Prince Yi U Prince Yi Gu
Others
Huisheng Aisin-Gioro, Qing Princess, Niece of Puyi Kuniko Asagi Tarō Asō, former Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihiko Funazaki, Author Toshiyuki Hosokawa Yasuko Ikenobo Marina Inoue Tetsuya Kakihara Akiko Kamei Hisaoki Kamei Michihiko Kano Akiko Kobayashi Kiyoshi Kodama Yoshiki Kuroda Yuki Kawauchi, Runner Yukio Mishima, Author Hayao Miyazaki, Director Keiko Nagaoka Hiroyuki Namba Shiono Nanami, Author Yoko Ono Yoshinobu Shimamura Yoshiki Tanaka, Author Satomi Ton Tokugawa Tsunenari Mona Yamamoto Akira Yoshimura, Author
In fiction In the novel Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima, set in the early 1910s, the characters Kiyoaki Matsugae and Shigekuni Honda attend the school.
References
External links Gakushūin