Revision of the Ritsumeikan Charter (March 27, 2026)
Last Updated: June 17, 2026
Background of the Revision
Now, nearly 20 years after the Ritsumeikan Charter’s establishment, we revised the Ritsumeikan Charter (on March 27, 2026) in light of the profound changes in the social landscape during this time and the significant development of the Ritsumeikan Academy into its present form.
This revision was undertaken with the aim of carrying forward the spirit of the previous Charter while clearly positioning as its central principles Ritsumeikan’s goal of becoming “a next-generation research university and a next-generation inquiry-driven academy” and “respect for diversity” as the foundation for that goal, thereby expressing a new step forward toward the future.
In undertaking this revision, we adopted a policy of (i) positioning the Ritsumeikan Charter as a compass by which members of the Academy can orient the direction of their own activities and (ii) making this role explicit.
While carrying forward the founding spirit, educational philosophy, and other principles cultivated over the course of our history from the current Charter, we have reorganized the structure to more clearly convey Ritsumeikan’s present form and its commitment to the future.
In addition, the new Ritsumeikan Charter uses language that is as clear and accessible as possible, so that students at every level of education, faculty, and staff can deepen their understanding of the document and develop a sense of ownership of it as they encounter it in various settings. We have also taken measures to ensure that the theme of each paragraph is easy to grasp.
At the same time, it carries forward from the previous Charter the founding spirit, the educational philosophy, the words of Dr. Hiroshi Suekawa, and the principle of democratic academy governance. While maintaining a firm rejection of war and violence, it clearly articulates Ritsumeikan’s consistent commitment to peace.
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