The History of Kobe College and Kobe College Corporation- Japan Education Exchange

The relationship between Kobe College and Kobe College Corporation and how each came to be dates back over 130 years, spans two continents, and connects thousands of people from two very different cultures.

Part I – The Beginning

It was the year 1873. Japan had recently opened its borders to foreigners and the possibilities were endless on both sides of the ocean. Two adventurous and pious young women, who hailed from the United States, chose to embark on an journey that would begin a love affair with Japan and its people and consequently, change the course of their lives forever. At that time, they could not know the impact of their decisions and actions that would affect not only their lives, but also the lives of thousands of young women who came after them.

Eliza Talcott and Julia Dudley were sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to Kobe, on the island of Honshu, Japan, to work as Congregational missionaries. Both had attended Rockford College in Illinois, both had worked as teachers of young children, and both were committed to their passions including education and their Christian faith. What connected these two women was perhaps the very basis of the relationship between Kobe College and Kobe College Corporation (KCC). They wanted to elicit dialogue between a nation, whose religious beliefs differed so drastically from their own, and their own fervent belief in God. They wanted to bridge the gap of religions, language, and cultural differences to create a community that was committed to deeper understanding and the real sense of cultural exchange. Indeed, it must have been an exciting time in these young women’s lives. What might the Japanese people have thought of these bold new strangers in their land?

With the ban on Christianity having been lifted in Japan, these two forward thinkers created a plan that would end up standing the test of time and result in a prestigious highly regarded women’s college. What started as twenty students in a small house in Hanakuma-cho, has triumphed into a magnificent college with a student body of over 2,600 and 156 professors strong, and is credited as being one of the oldest women’s colleges in all of Asia.

Thanks to the financial and moral support of Viscount Takayoshi Kuki of Sanda (whom Dudley and Talcott had the pleasure of teaching his daughter). Along with his and the financial contributions of the Women’s Board of Missions for the Pacific and the Women’s Board of Missions of the Interior of the Congregational Church, the “Kobe Home” as it was originally called, was established in October of 1875. Among the subjects taught were English, History, Chinese Classics, and the Bible. This date is considered to be the founding date of Kobe College.

Within ten years, the school had expanded into several buildings, had seen three different American women act as principals (Eliza Talcott, Virginia Clarkson, and Emily Brown), established a new curriculum, and was now responsible for the education of over a hundred young Japanese women. The school emblem was selected which is the trefoil with initials ‘KC’ superimposed on it which continues to be used at today and is a reminder of the unique history of the college. During that time, the school also received a new name, Kobe English-Japanese Girls School.

In 1899 Susan Searle was named the principal and the school was recognized by the Association of Private Schools and received its first license from the government as an educational institute.

Within another twenty years, the school had expanded even more, gaining recognition within the region until its student body blossomed to 235 in 1905. The Japanese parents who sent their young daughters to school at Kobe College, came to depend on the strong Christian values, intense English language curriculum, and other humanities that were taught at the school and it is no doubt, that quality education and word of mouth lent themselves to the rising success of the school.

In 1906, the music department was established and continues to draw young women from all over Japan for his excellence. Throughout the years, Kobe College musicians have performed around the world, continuing to spread peace and goodwill.

Charlotte B. DeForest was named President of the college in the year 1915 where she would remain for the next twenty-five years and prove to be an instrumental player in helping bring about some positive changes. “Daigaku-bu” was added to the school title meaning “University Department,” signifying the government’s approval of the highest level of women’s education possible in Japan.

Part II – Kobe College Corporation

Kobe College Corporation was founded in 1920 in Chicago, Illinois by a group of religious philanthropists as an avenue in which to raise money for a new campus for Kobe College. Among its mission was “to collect, receive, hold, invest, reinvest, administer, pay out, disburse, and use for promotion of its general objects such funds as shall be entrusted to it for the operation, maintenance, development, and equipment of the institution now known as Kobe College as a Christian institution of learning for the higher education of Japanese women in the City of Kobe, Japan.” At the time there were 526 students enrolled at the school.

In 1921, fundraising plans were in full force in the US and alumni funds helped secure a new location for the school at the Okuradani estate in Akashi on the outskirts of Kobe.

As the school continued to expand each year, so was the need to expand the campus even more. By July of 1929, $700,000 was raised by KCC to erect buildings on a new campus. By March of the following year, the country estate of Viscount Tanatada Sakurai, descendant of former ruler of Amagaskai was purchased and over 30 acres in the suburb of Nishinomiya and within four years, would be the new home of Kobe College. The Okuradani land was sold and the school was relocated to the Okadayama site in Nishinomiya where it remains today, a beautiful haven tucked away on a hilltop between Kobe and Osaka.

With the rising political climate, American missionaries had all returned to the United States by August of 1941 before World War II began in December of that year. During the war, Kobe College had its first Japanese President, Dr. Hiroshi Hatanaka who stood strong and saved the campus from being taken over entirely by Japan’s military regime. Many changes occurred at the school as upper class students began working in war factories. In 1945, the Laboratory and Literary buildings were both destroyed by fire bombs.

Despite the fact that the two nations had been at war, it did not sever the strong relationship between Kobe College and Kobe College Corporation. Within a year of World War II ending, American missionaries were back in Japan at the college and the student body was up to 1,500. Archived documents show that the two entities were still in contact throughout the war, both perhaps understanding the importance of their relationship all the more.

President Emeritus DeForest returned to Kobe College in 1947, her commitment to fostering peace and intercultural understanding even stronger despite her failing health.

Between 1948 (when the Senior High School Department was recognized by the government and KC became a four year college) and 1972, the student body rose 2450 strong. American educators were sent every three years to teach English at the high school and were funded by KCC, a program that is still in operation today and is now known as the Pat Gottschalk Teachers of English.

Part III Kobe College Corporation for Japan Education Exchange Today

In December of 2003, Kobe College Corporation added the words Japan Education Exchange (JEE) to its name to express the value it places on education and exchange between the two countries.

Today, KCC-JEE is the oldest US-Japan friendship organization in the Midwest, promoting cultural understanding between the United States and Japan by providing programs for North America and Japanese high school students, teachers, and scholars alike.

Through academic fellowships, high school essay contests, teacher exchange and internship programs, KCC-JEE continues to provide support to the college and high school that the young American missionaries worked so hard to help create more than a century ago.