The "Rissho" in the name of Rissho University comes from "Rissho Ankoku Ron," a book written by the religious leader Nichiren Shonin, who was active during the Kamakura period, when he was 39 years old.
Our university has a long tradition of over 430 years, originating from an educational institution for Nichiren Buddhist priests founded in 1580. It opened as a modern educational institution in 1872 (Meiji 5), and today, under the management of Rissho Educational Corporation, it has developed into a comprehensive university with seven graduate schools, nine faculties, and 16 departments.

Dawn

Birthplace stone monument

The origins of Rissho University can be traced back to Iidaka Danrin, which was established by Kyozoin Nissho in Iidakago, Shimousa Province (Iidaka, Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture) for the purposes of educating students and conducting research on Nichiren Buddhism and Buddhist studies. It played an important role as an educational and research institution until the Meiji period. Even today, the lecture hall and other buildings remain as Iidaka Temple.

The small school was the starting point for the founding of Rissho University, and after the establishment of Rissho University in 1924 under the University Act, it went on to further develop as a modern educational institution.

The Birth of the New Rissho University

In 1945 (Showa 20), the war ended with the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Rissho University 's buildings were completely burned down in air raids, with the exception of a few areas. However, after being re-established under the new university system, the university started with Faculty of Letters and a Faculty of Faculty of Buddhist Studies ("humanities-based humanities-based"), and in 1950, it established Faculty of Economics, expanding into "social sciences." Under the leadership of the 16th president, Ishibashi Tanzan (55th Prime Minister of Japan), the university quickly took the path to becoming a "comprehensive university."

From expanding into the social sciences (Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Law) which focus on society and organizations made up of people, we established the Faculty of Faculty of Social Welfare in 1996, and Faculty of Geo-Environmental Science in 1998, which focuses on the global environment that is at our feet. Then, entering the 21st century and ushering in the "age of the heart," in 2002 we opened Faculty of Psychology, our newest faculty, which includes the first Department of Clinical Psychology in the country.

In this way, our university has developed into a comprehensive university concerned with humanity, advocating a "praise of humanity" by advocating "living together and prospering together" within the framework of "human beings, society, the Earth, and again human beings."

Planned location for Kumagaya Campus

Current Kumagaya Campus

Former Shinagawa campus building

Current Shinagawa campus building