History
Sophia University, founded by
Jesuit Education Institutions in 1913, was the first university in Japan that fulfilled the hopes of
St. Francis Xavier-who came to Japan in 1549 to spread
Christianity- to further enhance the high human qualities and attainments of Japanese people. It originally opened with faculties of German literature, philosophy and commerce, headed by
Hermann Hoffmann as the first official president. Sophia University continued to grow by increasing the numbers of departments, faculty members and students, in addition to advancing its internationality by establishing the exchange program; several students fled to
Georgetown University in America as early as in 1935. Moreover, the Junior College was established in 1973, followed by the opening of the
Sophia Community College in 1976. With the founding of Faculty of Liberal Arts in 2006, Sophia University presently holds 27 departments within eight faculties, headed by Yoshiaki Ishizawa as the president and Toshiaki Koso as head of the board of directors.