History

The history of the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) dates back to 1921 when the Osaka School of Foreign Languages was founded, with the aim of nurturing internationally-minded personnel in Osaka. It was supported financially by Choko Hayashi (1873-1945), an Osaka businesswoman, who made a private donation of ¥1,000,000. Based on this donation, the Japanese government established the School in 8-cHome, Uehonmachi, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City.

In April 1944 the School was renamed Osaka College of Foreign Affairs. In 1949, when the Law on the Establishment of National Schools came into effect, Osaka University of Foreign Studies (OUFS) was established, based on the existing Osaka College of Foreign Affairs. OUFS was one of Japan's only two national universities of foreign studies. In 1979, OUFS moved its campus to its present location in Minoo City.

Initially OUFS offered foreign language education in 12 world languages. However, the number eventually increased to 25, in accordance with OUFS's development as Japan's major center for language education and research.

In October 2007, OUFS was consolidated with Osaka University, becoming the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) of Osaka University. Offering 25 languages as majors, including Japanese, SFS is the only one school of foreign studies among all comprehensive national universities in Japan.

History of School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University

• 1921 Osaka School of Foreign Languages founded.
• 1922 School opening ceremony held.
• 1937 Hanazono Sports Ground newly established.
• 1944 Renamed Osaka College of Foreign Affairs
• 1945 Many of the College's buildings, excluding the library, burned down during the war
• 1946Moved to the site of the former headquarters of Engineering Regiment No. 4 in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture to conduct classes.
  Administration office moved to 8-cHome, Uehonmachi, Tennoji, Osaka.
• 1949Osaka University of Foreign Studies established.
• 1951 Osaka College of Foreign Affairs abolished.
• 1959 Junior College (evening course) of Osaka University of Foreign Studies established.
• 1965 Stopped enrollment of students for Junior College (evening course)
  The University's Night School established.
• 1969 Graduate School (master's course) for Foreign Studies opened.
• 1972 Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the University.
• 1979 Moved to 2734, Oaza Aomatani, Minoo City.
  Classes started at Aomatani Campus.
• 1981 Completion of the University's new buildings celebrated.
• 1993 Day School and Night School closed and Department of International Studies (Day and Evening Courses) and Department of Area Studies (Day and Evening Courses) opened.
• 2004 Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Inc. inaugurated.
• 2006 Ceremony held to sign the agreement for promoting integration between Osaka University and Osaka University of Foreign Studies.
• 2007 Consolidated with Osaka University (October 1)
  School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University, inaugurated.
• 2008 Commenced enrollment for the School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University
  Enrollment ceremony for the first students held (April 1)

[Selected Bibliography]

Alumni Association of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Osaka Gaikokugo Daigaku 70 Nenshi (70 Years' History of Osaka University of Foreign Studies). Alumni Association of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, 1989.

Alumni Association of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Osaka Gaikokugo Daigaku 70 Nenshi: Shiryou-Shu (Data Book of 70 Years' History of Osaka University of Foreign Studies). Alumni Association of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, 1989.

Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Osaka Gaikokugo Daigaku no Genjyou to Kadai (Present Conditions and Challenges of Osaka University of Foreign Studies). Osaka University of Foreign Studies, 1994.

Eiichi Takasugi, Takeshi Abe, and Masaki Kan, eds. Osaka Daigaku no Rekishi (History of Osaka University). Osaka University Press, 2009.

Images

・Memory of the Aomadani Campus（March 2021 About 31 minutes）（Japanese Only）