Around the 10th year of Meiji (1877), during the
Bunmei-kaika era, the slump of the
Proclamation of the Great Doctrine and the subsequent controversy over the ritual gods led to a proposal from within the government to establish a school focusing on
Kokugaku research, and the subsequent controversy over the establishment of a school for
Kokugaku studies. In the 15th year of Meiji (1882) August 23,
Emperor Meiji appointed
Prince Nobuhito Arisugawa, his most trusted advisor, as the president. In the same year,
Yamada Akiyoshi and other
Ministry of the Interior High official, and several
Japanese literature scholars, including
Iidacho, on November 4 of the same year. The Imperial Academy was established with two divisions: the Faculty of Letters, which consisted of the four departments of shumon, history, law, and writing, and the Faculty of Work, which consisted of the three departments of etiquette, music, and gymnastics. According to the "Establishment Announcement" issued at the opening of the school, the philosophy and purpose of the Faculty of Literature was to "teach the national scriptures", "cultivate morality", "cultivate talent through Chinese and Western studies", "cultivate men of national utility", and "promote the beauty of the nation abroad. In 1888 (Meiji 21), six years after the opening of the school, the regulations were revised. According to the prospectus for the revision, the institute was to be an institution for the training of students specializing in Japanese literature, and it was to convene experts in Japanese literature to study every detail of Japanese literature that should be documented in the present day. The three departments were Political Science, Legislation, and Literature, with the Literature Department offering courses in language, writing, customs, natural products, crafts, fine arts, agriculture, and geography. Later, in 1890 (Meiji 23), the Kokugakuin, which taught national history, national literature, and national law, was opened at the Imperial Academy, and the place dedicated to national law was named the (which developed into
Nihon University). On January 25, 1946 (Showa 21), after the end of
World War II, the
GHQ dissolved the Imperial Academy and
Kokugakuin University was established. The Nihon Law School initially held lectures at night in classrooms rented from the Imperial Law School.
Nihon University, because of its close relationship with the Imperial Academy, began offering Shinto courses in 1924 for the purpose of re-educating Shinto teachers, and the Shinto Scholarship Association was organized by the Shinto Sect United Association (later
Sect Shinto Federation). The Shinto Scholarship Society was organized.
Chronology From inception to dissolution • 1882 (
Meiji15) - Established as the successor organization to the
Bureau of Shinto Affairs. The dual role of Shinto priests as instructors was abolished. Gendo Yano is appointed as the first Dean of the Faculty of Letters, and
Prince Nobuhito Arisugawa is appointed as the first President. The school is located in
Tokyo Prefecture, Iidacho, Kojimachi-ku (now
Chiyoda-kuIidabashi), and the
Imperial Academy is established. • 1884 (Meiji 17) - Movement to transfer the Imperial Academy to a government-run institution (-18th year of Meiji) aborted due to the death of Prince Noborito in 1904. • 1887 (Meiji 20) - The first graduation ceremony of the Imperial Academy. The alumni association "Suihokai" was established. (This is regarded as the founding of Kokugakuin Daigakuin Inyu-kai). • 1888 (Meiji 21) -
Furitsu Ichi Junior High School principal Yoshito Maruyama, Isao Matsuno, Sunao Motoda, Sadasuke Imaizumi, and others establish a supplementary junior high school at the Imperial Academy. Later reorganized as Kyoritsu Junior High School, a private school. • 1889 (1889) -
Yamada Akiyoshi becomes the first director of the Imperial Academy. The is established within the Imperial Academy. (
Predecessor of Nihon University Law School). • 1890 (23rd year of Meiji) - Kokugakuin established as an educational institution within the Imperial Academy. • 1893 (1893) - The becomes a designated school of the Ministry of Justice, and its graduates are qualified to take the examination for appointment as judges and prosecutors. • 1894 (27th year of Meiji) - Kyoritsu Junior High School was renamed Johoku Junior High School and transferred to
Tokyo Prefecture. (The predecessor of
Toyama High School, Johoku Junior High School, Johoku High School, etc.) • 1895 (28th year of Meiji) - moved to Dainippon Kyoiku Kai (located in
Hitotsubashi Street, Kanda-ku). • 1896 (29th year of Meiji) - reorganized as an incorporated foundation and became organizationally independent from the Imperial Academy. • 1898 (31st year of Meiji) - The Imperial Academy is approved as an incorporated foundation. • 1899 (32nd year of Meiji) -
Ministry of the Interior entrusted with the training of priests. • 1900 (33rd year of Meiji) - Establishment of the Reiten Investigation Committee. • 1909 (1909) - The Priesthood Training Department was established. • 1923 (1923) - Moved to the Imperial estate behind Shibuya Hikawa. • 1930 (1930|1930) - The shrine was reopened. • 1944 (Showa 19) - The Kokugaku Kenkyusho (Kokugaku Research Institute) was established. • 1946 (1946) - In response to pressure from the
General Headquarters of the Allied Forces occupation, the institute was dissolved in January. The following month, the
Religious corporation Shrine Headquarters was established. It was merged together with the Dai Nihon Kagimikai and the Jingu Bonsai Kai, and in March, Kokugakuin University Foundation (the predecessor of
Kokugakuin University Educational Corporation) was established as a stand-alone corporation.
After dissolution • 1955 (1955) - The Institute of Japanese Studies at Kokugakuin University was established and took over the research of the Imperial Academy. • 1985 (1985) -
Nihon University and Kokugakuin University jointly erected a monument at the site of the Imperial Academy (3-5-5
Chiyoda-ku Iidabashiin front of the Tokyo Kusei Kaikan). • 2007 (Heisei 19) - Kokugakuin University Educational Corporation registered the Imperial Academy as a trademark. Registration No. 5018534. == Basic Data ==