September 25th 2024
Mukogawa Gakuin has designated October 6 as “Founder’s Day” in memory of its founder, Mr. Kiichiro Koe, and to pledge the continuation and development of the institute.
In 1931, when he was the chief school inspector in Hyogo Prefecture, Mr. Koe visited Eton College in the U.K. on a tour of Europe and the U.S. He was so impressed with Eton's all-round education that he decided to open his own private school. In 1949, Mukogawa Women's University (then Mukogawa Gakuin Women's University) was established, laying the foundation for today's comprehensive school for women.
Dr. Koe passed away on September 6, 1981, and Mukogawa Gakuin designated October 6, the day of his funeral, as “Founder’s Day”.
September 22nd, 2024
Mukogawa Women's University's last open campus of the year was held on September 22 at the Main Campus, Hama-Koshien Campus, and Kami-Koshien Campus, attracting 1,795 people (preliminary figures) despite the rain.
The opening ceremony was held at the Koe Memorial Auditorium and opened with a performance by the calligraphy club. After an overview of the University and an explanation of the admissions system, visitors participated in Departmental Programs and participated in Talk with Department Faculty of their choice. Visitors also came to the Consultation Booth where they could ask questions about entrance examinations, scholarships, study abroad, and other topics.
Many high school students also gathered at the School of Environment and Sustainability, which will open in April 2025. In an explanation of the department, Professor Tetsutaro Kimachi, who is scheduled to become department head, explained the four years of study to enhance problem-solving skills centered on practical social cooperation projects. In a mock class, Professor Shigenori Murata gave a presentation on the theme of “Biodiversity".
At the Kami - Koshien Campus, a briefing session was held at the Architecture Department, where the students emphasized the fact that the six-year integrated education, up to the master's degree program, enables all students to obtain first-class architect certification in the shortest course possible. In addition, students talked about their student life experiences, saying, “The Kami - Koshien campus is attractive for its historically famous architecture and rich gardens. After graduation, I plan on being involved in designing architectural structures that value Japanese culture,” and encouraged students to find out what kind of environment they will be able to work hard in after entering the university, and to discover their ‘axis of self-purpose’.
The Open Campus staff, who are current students, took an active role in guiding visitors and leading the “Open Campus Tour,” which toured the main facilities. They answered questions from high school students in a friendly manner, sharing their own experiences and eagerlu promoted all that Mukogawa Women’s University had to offer.
The entrance examination for the 2024 school year is about to begin. The application period for the publicly offered recommendation entrance examination will begin on October 8 (Tues.).
September 19th, 2024
Imadoki-Mekuru!? is a program that provides information on the latest entertainment, food, service, fashion, trends, and more. Sakura Bouzako, a fourth-year student in the Health and Sports Science Department, will give Miss Campus Doshisha 2024 Kanoka Hiyama (a third-year student at Doshisha University) a tour of the campus, her pride and joy.
The recording was made in mid-September at the Central Campus, School Education Building, and Mukojo Station Campus. The two met in the main courtyard of the Central Campus and enjoyed the new croffle and one-platter lunch at the ENSEMBLE café in the Koe Memorial Hall before heading to the Career Center. They also peeked into a class at the Department of Education, which grows Naruo strawberries as a community teaching aid on the roof of the School Education Building, and tried aerial work and bungee exercises at the Wellness Pavilion in the Mukojo Station Campus.
Ms. Bouzako is an OG who went to Mukogawa Women's University from junior high school and high school, tallying her years spent at MWU to 10. She won the runner-up prize in the “Fresh Campus Contest 2021,” a beauty contest for first-year university students nationwide, and is currently working as a TV presenter.
September 12th, 2024
Sumire Shibata, a third year student in the Department of Health and Sports Science, Mukogawa Women's University Lacrosse Club, represented Japan at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship, held in Hong Kong and China from August 15 to 24, 2012. The Japanese team finished in third place.
Ms. Shibata said, “I’m extremely pleased to have been able to leave a mark by winning a medal for the first time in the history of Japanese women's lacrosse. I will use this experience to improve and enhance my competitiveness”.
September 12th, 2024
"Nostalgic Retro Melon,” a melon soda-flavored dessert beer invented by students of the Takahashi Seminar in the School of Business Administration, went on sale for a limited time on August 1 at mail order sites, etc., with the cooperation of Sapporo Beer Co. and Abashiri Co. (Sales website: https://www.hoppin-garage.com/product/natsukashinoretoromeron/) It is also offered as a limited-time item at Hensel Cafe, a retro coffee shop near the university.
The “Nostalgic Retro Melon” is a new type of dessert beer (happoshu) that is easy to drink even for those who do not like beer, with the sweetness of the melon syrup filling the mouth. At the Student Innovation College (S-College), where 38 seminars from 32 universities nationwide competed in a product planning competition in 2023, the “retro cute melon soda-flavored beer” invented by the students under the theme “Story beer that Generation Z can relate to” presented by Sapporo Beer won the competition. The winning seminar was given the right to realize the project, which led to the commercialization of the product this time.
One of the seminar students, Nanako Iwamoto, a fourth-year student in the Department of Business Administration, said, “We received training from Sapporo Breweries before we started selling products that use alcohol. We had to devise ways to avoid inducing underage drinking, and I felt responsible as a seller, so I learned a lot about becoming a member of society."
Professor Chieko Takahashi, who supervised the seminar students, said, “The students received advice from their classmates and seniors, but they accomplished the task on their own. I think the results are wonderful,” she said.
September 10th, 2024
Nine students of Associate Professor Yukiko Higo's seminar in the Department of Social Informatics has created a video on suicide prevention for young people in collaboration with the City of Amagasaki. The video was shown at the regular press conference of the mayor of Amagasaki City on August 27. Ms. Minori Kokusei, a third-year student, participated in the press conference as a representative of the seminar.
Two videos were produced: “You are not alone (YouTube)” for those who could be affected by a certain situation, which tells them that they can express how they feel by asking for help, and “We are ready when you are (YouTube)” to encourage those around them to speak up at a time that best suits them. The students tried their hand at making animated videos to make it easier for the audience to empathize with them, and they rewrote the scenarios many times while reflecting on their own student lives and thinking about how best to convey the message to the people involved. Students from the university's broadcasting and drama clubs participated in the narration.
Ms. Kunio explains, “When we were thinking about the concept and ideas for the story, it was difficult to find the best approach, but after receiving a lot of information from the Amagasaki City government officials, we were able to find the answer. I paid close attention to the details of visuals and tempo so that viewers would empathize with the project. The project encouraged me personally, and I made sure to discuss any small concerns I had about the production process with my fellow seminar students.”