Research Institutes Division

Research Institutes Division

Accompanying the establishment of the university’s research organization, research institutes and centers were reorganized into research institutes division research units, and, as a result, as of April 1, 2022 there are now 12 research institutes with approximately 400 researchers. The biggest feature of the Research Institutes Division is that it stably conducts continuous research activities. Activity expenses and office staffing expenses that form the basis of its activities are paid from the university’s general budget, and the division has its own exclusive research facilities and equipment. Each institute has its own mission statement, research agenda and research track record. These institutes are positively promoting research in distinctive fields with the aim of making their research results available to both the international academic community and the public at large. To achieve these common objectives, the research institutes are conducting the following diverse activities:

(1) Promotion of joint research projects
(2) Hosting of lectures, seminars, symposia and the like
(3) Providing lectures for the public
(4) Collection and lending of materials in the relevant fields
(5) Publication of scholarly magazines and academic books
(6) Support of young researchers
(7) Activities designed to educate the general public and benefit society

• Institute for Christian Culture
• Institute of Medieval Thought
• Iberoamerican Institute
• Linguistic Institute for International Communication
• Institute of Global Concern (IGC)
• Institute of Comparative Culture
• European Institute
• Institute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Studies
• Institute of American and Canadian Studies
• Institute for Studies of the Global Environment
• Institute of Media, Culture and Journalism
• Institute of Islamic Area Studies

Institute for Christian Culture
Founded in 1969, this institute underwent reorganization in 1997. Besides carrying out wide-ranging research into many aspects of Christianity including its cultural heritage and development, this institute focuses on specialized research into a variety of eastern religions.
>> For Institute for Christian Culture website

Institute of Medieval Thought
Established in 1976, this institute is deeply rooted in Sophia’s Christian culture and spirit, and plays a core role in Japan in promoting the study of European Medieval philosophy and theology.
>> For Institute of Medieval Thought website

Iberoamerican Institute
Established in 1964, the Iberoamerican Institute is primarily involved in the promotion of research into Central and South American affairs.
>> For Iberoamerican Institute website

Linguistic Institute for International Communication
Focusing on international exchange related to foreign language education and linguistic research carried out in Japan, this institute was established in 1978 to promote East-West cultural exchanges and engage in research on a host of linguistic themes.
>> For Linguistic Institute for International Communication website

Institute of Global Concern(IGC)
Set up in 2010, the IGC conducts interdisciplinary studies of diverse global problems to promote social justices in the world, and attempts to use its findings as a basis for practical activities.
>> For IGC website

Institute of Comparative Culture
This institute was founded in 1981 to promote research and learning in comparative culture. Research activities and publications are all in English to promote cooperation and exchange between Sophia and the larger academic world. The ICC organizes joint comparative and interdisciplinary research projects by members and holds seminars and lectures related to the research activities of members. Publications of the ICC are online at the ICC website.
>> For ICC website

European Institute
The Institute works to promote general and academic research of European history, society, languages and cultures so as to contribute to the development of European studies.
>> For European Institute website

Institute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Studies
Founded in 1982, the Institute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Studies is devoted to the study of various aspects of traditional cultures throughout Asia, with a special focus on Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East and Africa.
>> For Institute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Studies

Institute of American and Canadian Studies
This institute was founded in 1987 to examine the history, politics and society of the United States and Canada in an integrated fashion.
>> For Institute of American and Canadian Studies website

Institute for Studies of the Global Environment
In response to the increasing interest in environment-related fields, this institute was set up in 1999 to provide opportunities for interdisciplinary and multifaceted research into global environmental issues.
>> For Institute for Studies of the Global Environment website

Institute of Media, Culture and Journalism
In this modern society marked by shifts toward advanced, widespread information utilization and globalization, Sophia University carries out research based on our guiding principles in the fields of media, culture and journalism in response to societal changes while forming research centers within the University that boast far-reaching, vigorous information communication functionality.

Institute of Islamic Area Studies
The Institute conducts comprehensive research on Islam from the perspective of region-based global studies.
>>For Institute of Islamic Area Studies website