In April 1900, the first lecture on economics was delivered
at the College of Law, Kyoto Imperial University. The Faculty of Economics was
established in 1919 and offered classes on eight primary areas of study (kouza).
Prof. Kinji Tajima and Prof. Hajime Kawakami (known as "the Marx of Japan'')
were two of the earliest scholars who devoted their efforts to the creation of a
liberal academic tradition. They and others started publishing a journal titled
"Law and Economics, Domestic and Foreign Review" (Houritsugaku Keizaigaku Naigai
Ronsou) in 1902, and "The Economic Review" (Keizai Ronsou) in 1915.
A group of these scholars was called ﾒthe Kyoto Schoolﾓ, and their efforts were
directed at the study on "autonomous economics for citizens" (Kyoto Daigaku,
1997, p. 153). At that time, there were only eight professors, two associate
professors, and 100 students per academic level. In 1926, the Kyoto University
Economic Review was published in English. Due to political pressure against
communist sympathizers, Professor Kawakami resigned in 1928.
With the newly appointed faculty members, four additional primary areas of study
(kouza) were offered, beginning in 1930: economics specific subjects; history
and business related subjects; law and literature related subjects; and seminars
and readings on economics related topics in foreign languages. By 1939, pro-war
sentiment prompted the addition of classes such as Principles of East Asian
Economic Policy and Principles of the Japanese Economy. By 1941, the total
number of primary areas of study (kouza) increased to 13, including subjects
related to East Asian Economics.
During WWII, studies were curtailed and students were sent to the front. After
the war, the professors and associate professors engaged in self-examination and
criticism of their own pro-war activities. As a result of these activities, 14
faculty members left the school and six remained. Democratic sentiment in 1946
demanded equal participation of all faculty members into one unified collegial
group. The reorganized faculty started to offer some classes at the General
Education Department (kyouyou katei). Meanwhile, the graduate program started to
offer business administration courses in addition to the previously established
course work in theoretical economics, history of economics, and economic policy.
The enrolment included 35 students in the Master's program and 18 students in
the Doctoral program.
In the undergraduate program, the faculty offered thirteen primary areas of
study (kouza) after WWII and added four management-related primary areas of
study (kouza) from 1953 to 1962. In 1959, the faculty established the Department
of Business Administration, which offered six primary areas of study (kouza). At
that time, there were 150 students in the Economics and 70 in the Department of
Business Administration. By 1964, the titles of all primary areas of study (kouza)
were changed to show the major subjects: principles of economics, history of
economics, monetary and financial theories, industrial economics theories, world
economics theories, principles of management, and management policy.
After the student movement era (1968-1978), a reorganization took place in the
Faculty. In 1984, the Faculty changed the curriculum organization into
concentration of study (dai-kouza) in which several small primary areas of study
(kouza) were clustered, and several professors in one concentration of study (dai-kouza)
offered related subjects. Among them were management, management policy, and
analysis of marketing/accounting. From 1986 to 1990, additional concentrations
of study (dai-kouza) were added: theory of economics, comparative society and
economics policy, history of economics and history of philosophy, area industry
and finance, international statistics and information, and finance.
Since 1989, the Faculty's reorganization has been directed toward an emphasis on
a graduate school that is characterized by internationalization and focuses on
the information age. The heightened emphasis on graduate education became
possible through a shift of the official status of faculty members from
undergraduate toward graduate programs. In addition, four Divisions of Study
were created under which 11 concentrations of study (dai-kouza) were included.
The number of students was set at 82 in the Master's program and 41 in the
Doctoral program. To make possible the internationalization of the Graduate
School, the curriculum introduced foreign language readings on economics in
languages such as Spanish and Korean. The total number of international students
increased from 13 in 1979 to 190 in 1999. In addition, Japanese returnees from
overseas became eligible for admission.
Internationalization was promoted by inviting international scholars to
conferences and symposia organized by faculty members, and by increasing the
numbers of students and professors going to study abroad. In addition,
international exchange programs were officially established with more than 50
schools overseas. A large number of international students study at the Faculty
(see below).
To meet the demands of the fast growing computer and information technology age,
the Faculty has developed extensive computer facilities. A university-wide
Internet environment was completed and state-of-the-art video equipment made
available. Today, class activities can be simultaneously broadcast online. For
research activities, databases and on-line library use are available to students
and faculty.
Throughout the history of the Faculty, students have been encouraged to conduct
self-learning (jigaku jishu). With this philosophy, students are expected to
exercise their own initiative in situational analysis, problem solving, and
independent judgment based on a synthesis of knowledge. Academic freedom has
been always encouraged so that students can be trained to be creative and
professional researchers.
Network Facilities
The Faculty of Economics has a remote lecture system built on network
capabilities (Atm-LAN, 622 Mbps) throughout the campus. The main administration
building has an ability to broadcast live lectures to other classrooms at 75
Mbps, and to multiple numbers of remote Internet clients at 56Kbps with the
NetShow server.
Publications
Kyoto University Economic Society, an association affiliated with the Faculty of
Economics, publishes the following journals:
* Keizai Ronsou (Economic Review), a monthly journal in Japanese.
* Kyoto University Economic Review, a biannual journal in English.
* Chousa to Kenkyu (Research and Study) published in Japanese.
* Working Papers published occasionally either in Japanese or English.
Faculty and Students
As of 1 July 2004, the Faculty comprises 31 professors, 20 associate professors
and 4 assistant professors. In addition, 62 instructors from other universities
and institutions support our undergraduate and graduate courses. One assistant
works for the Economic Research Office.
The number of students currently enrolled in each of the following categories is
(the numbers in the parentheses refer to the number of international students in
each category):
* Undergraduates - 1,161 (43)
* Master's Program - 204 (73)
* Doctoral program - 204 (53)
* Auditors - 6 (0)
* Special auditors - 15 (0)
* Research Students - 57 (51)
Total number of students: 1,647 (220)
Economics Library
The faculty library houses about 442,000 volumes, documents and periodicals,
including the Georg von Mayr Library, the Karl Bucher Library, the Takarabe
Library, the Ueno Collection, and the Kawakami Library. In addition, the library
possesses an extensive collection of rare books, consisting of about 9,700
volumes, many of which are parts of the aforementioned special collections. The
oldest book in the libraryﾕs collection is the 1482 edition of the first volume
of Summae Theologicae by St. Thomas Aquinas.
In addition, the faculty has an Economic Research Office as an attached
facility, which collects statistical data, materials, and other documents. It
also provides references and documentation services for our research activities.