Keio Gijuku (慶應義塾, Keiō Gijuku) is a Gakkō Hōjin (学校法人), or incorporated educational institution of Japan registered under the Private Institutions Act of 1949 (私立学校法, Shiritsu Gakkō Hō)[N 1] in 1951. Keio University, which succeeded the original Gijuku under the Edict of Universities of 1920 (大学令, Daigaku Rei), is also considered one of the oldest and best universities of Japan.[1]
Overview
Keio Gijuku was founded in Edo in 1858 by the Japanese educationist Fukuzawa Yukichi as an Anglo-Dutch style private school (義塾, Gijuku), and was meant to spread Western knowledge for modern civilisation. Later it was renamed "Keiō Gijuku" and was relocated in 1868 (Keiō 4). In 1890, the first university faculties were established at the early modern Keio University, and the original curriculum was rebranded as 'Secondary section' (普通部, Futsūbu). Today's Keio education system was formed under the Private Institutions Act of 1949 in the post-war era.
