The , or , historically known as the Peers' School, is a Japanese educational institution in Tokyo, originally established as Gakushūjo to educate the children of Japan's nobility. The original school expanded from its original mandate of educating the social elite and has since become a network of institutions which encompasses preschool through tertiary-level education.

History

The Peers' School was founded in 1847 by Emperor Ninkō in Kyoto and placed under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency. Its purpose was to educate the children of the Imperial aristocracy (kazoku). Prior to the disestablishment of the Peerage in 1947, commoners had restricted access to Gakushuin, with limited slots only to the Elementary School and Middle School.

In 1947, with the American-mandated disestablishment of the peerage system, enrollment in Gakushuin was fully opened to the general public. At the same time, administration of the school was transferred to the Ministry of Education.

Precepts

Emperor Ninko had four maxims inscribed on the walls of the Gakushūin building, including

1. Walk in the paths trodden by the feet of the great sages.

2. Revere the righteous canons of the empire.

3. He that has not learned the sacred doctrines, how can he govern himself?

4. He that is ignorant of the classics, how can he regulate his own conduct?

The school was moved to Tokyo in 1877. Its new purpose was to educate the children of the modern aristocracy. Members of the Imperial Family continue to study at Gakushūin.

Timeline

• 1847: founded as Peers' School.

• 1877: the school was established in Tokyo.

• 1884: Gakushūin became an Imperial institution.

• 1885: Peeresses' School was created.

• 1947: Gakushūin became a private institution.

Gakushuin Corporation

The present-day Gakushuin School Corporation comprises the following institutions:

• Gakushuin University

• Gakushuin Women's College

Presidents

Notable alumni and faculty members

Teachers

• R. H. Blyth—taught at Gakushūin

• Kanō Jigorō—taught at Gakushūin

• Inagaki Manjirō—taught briefly at Gakushūin

Alumni

1. For alumni of Gakushuin University, see: Gakushūin University#Notable alumni

2. Imperial House of Japan

3. Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō - late 123rd Emperor of Japan

4. Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa - late 124th Emperor of Japan

5. Nagako, Empress Kōjun, late Empress Dowager of Japan

6. Emperor Akihito - Former 125th Emperor of Japan

7. Emperor Naruhito - Current 126th Emperor of Japan

8. Masahito, Prince Hitachi - brother of Emperor Akihito

9. Hanako, Princess Hitachi - wife of the Prince Hitachi

10. Fumihito, Prince Akishino - son of Emperor Akihito

11. Kiko, Princess Akishino - wife of the Prince Akishino

12. Kazuko, Princess Taka - sister of Emperor Akihito

13. Shigeko, Princess Teru - sister of Emperor Akihito

14. Atsuko, Princess Yori - sister of Emperor Akihito

15. Takako, Princess Suga - sister of Emperor Akihito

16. Sayako, Princess Nori - daughter of Emperor Akihito

17. Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu - brother of Emperor Shōwa

18. Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu - wife of the Prince Takamatsu

19. Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu - brother of Emperor Shōwa

20. Takahito, Prince Mikasa - brother of Emperor Shōwa

21. Yuriko, Princess Mikasa - wife of the Prince Mikasa

22. Prince Tomohito of Mikasa - son of the Prince Mikasa

23. Princess Yasuko of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa

24. Princess Masako of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa

25. Princess Akiko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito

26. Princess Yōko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito

27. Norihito, Prince Takamado - son of the Prince Mikasa

28. Princess Tsuguko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado

29. Princess Noriko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado

30. Princess Ayako of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado

31. Yoshihito, Prince Katsura - son of Prince Mikasa

32. Aiko, Princess Toshi - daughter of Emperor Naruhito

33. Imperial House of Yi (Korea)

34. Imperial Prince Ui Min

35. Prince Yi Geon

36. Princess Yi Deokhye

37. Prince Yi U

38. Prince Yi Gu

39. Others

40. Huisheng Aisin-Gioro, Qing Princess, Niece of Puyi

41. Kuniko Asagi

42. Tarō Asō, former Prime Minister of Japan

43. Yoshihiko Funazaki, Author

44. Toshiyuki Hosokawa

45. Yasuko Ikenobo

46. Marina Inoue

47. Tetsuya Kakihara

48. Akiko Kamei

49. Hisaoki Kamei

50. Michihiko Kano

51. Akiko Kobayashi

52. Kiyoshi Kodama

53. Yoshiki Kuroda

54. Yuki Kawauchi, Runner

55. Yukio Mishima, Author

56. Hayao Miyazaki, Director

57. Keiko Nagaoka

58. Hiroyuki Namba

59. Shiono Nanami, Author

60. Yoko Ono

61. Yoshinobu Shimamura

62. Yoshiki Tanaka, Author

63. Satomi Ton

64. Tokugawa Tsunenari

65. Mona Yamamoto

66. Akira Yoshimura, Author

In fiction

In the novel Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima, set in the early 1910s, the characters Kiyoaki Matsugae and Shigekuni Honda attend the school.

References

External links

• Gakushūin