History
Okinawa Junior College, founded in 1958, was the predecessor of Okinawa University, which was founded in 1961. At the time, Okinawa was under U.S. military control, and it was difficult to travel to the mainland. Okinawa University was founded through the strong will of founder Noboru Kakazu, who wanted to provide a place of learning for young people with a strong desire to study. Noboru Kakazu stressed the importance of education for rebuilding and developing Okinawa after it was devastated during the war. He invested his personal assets to found the first private institute of higher education in Okinawa, and this led to the development of Okinawa High School, Okinawa Junior College, and Okinawa University.
June 1958 | Opening of Okinawa Junior College |
April 1961 | Opening ceremony of Okinawa University |
April 1997 | Establishment of Department of Law and Economics, Faculty of Law and Economics |
April 1999 | Establishment of Department of International Communication and Department of Welfare and Culture, Faculty of Humanities |
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University campus (circa 1958)
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Construction of old administration building(1961)
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Inside of campus (1980s)
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Front of Building 1 (1985)
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Buildings 1 and 2 at night (1995)
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Establishment of the Faculty of Humanities (1998)
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Completion of Building 3 (1999)
April2005 | Establishment of Okinawa University Graduate School of Contemporary Okinawa Studies |
April 2007 | Establishment of Department of Child Studies, Faculty of Humanities |
April 2012 | Department of Welfare and Culture, Faculty of Humanities Creation of two majors: Welfare and Culture and Welfare, Health and Sport |
April 2019 | Establishment of Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Nutrition |
April 2020 | The Department of Law and Economics, Faculty of Law and Economics was changed to the Department of Law, Economics, and Management; Faculty of Law, Economics, and Management. |
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Completion of construction of the new main building (2010)