Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation
Shizenkan University

MBA Programin Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation
2024 Academic YearShizenkan University Aspiration
The Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University (henceforth “Shizenkan”) isa unique leadership education institution, unparalleled in the world. It provides a whole-person
management leadership education, which aims to develop leaders with the professional managerial skills
to lead change and innovation – and who are at the same time humane and sensitive to social issues.
With the development of such whole-person management leaders, Shizenkan aspires to contribute tobuilding a peaceful and prosperous human society.

Shizenkan aims to bring a paradigm shift in business leadership education. While capitalizing on the
traditional approach of U.S. business school management programs, Shizenkan questions what is truly
needed for successful leadership education, by observing the ever-evolving social, business, andeconomic environments and by anticipating the needs of the coming century. Shizenkan offers students
a new principle of management leadership education – originating from Japan and Asia. Shizenkan’s
philosophy is encompassed in our founding spirit, mission, and purpose.

Founding Spirit
At this critical juncture in the history of humanity, we strive to realize a peaceful and prosperous futurewith kindred spirits across the world by pioneering whole-person leadership education from Japan and
Asia.

MissionWe shall generate innovation and wisdom through programs that encourage both a broad perspective
and deep self-reflection, a space (“ba”) that enables mutual inspiration and learning, and an ecosystemthat catalyzes collaboration and co-creation.
Purpose
We aim to contribute to the realization of a humane, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable society by
nurturing whole-person leaders of vision, willpower, and integrity, who through professionalism andempathy inspire others to live a life of purpose and service.

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Our Program
The Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation MBA Program (henceforth “the program”) designis based on the view that our socio-economic system is at the cusp of dramatic transformation – a turning
point in history.
Traditional business schools embodied 20th century capitalism and were founded on the assumption ofcontinuous growth, of economies based on mass-production and mass-consumption and operated byhierarchical organizations. Such business schools produced administrators who played key roles inrunning these organizations, in which employees had clearly defined roles and were constrained by the
essence of their work functions.
However, the assumptions that underpinned these schools are being challenged. As represented by theconcept of planetary boundaries, the UN SDGs, and impact investment, the ecological and economic
sustainability of the world is now in question with governments and corporations increasingly stressing
sustainable development goals. The diversification and individualization of consumer needs and wants
that accompany the maturation of the economy and society, and the development of decentralized
production technologies, have brought about the advent of the custom low-volume production and lowvolume consumption model, symbolized by digital fabrication and the sharing economy, instead of the
mass-production and mass-consumption model. In addition, the strong sense of crisis over global
environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion are shifting theconventional centralized, urbanized society to a self-sustaining, decentralized society, where people canexperience quality of life and wellbeing while connecting with people and living in harmony with naturein their local communities. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has been a major factor in this shift.
Furthermore, with the spread of information technology (IT) tools such as online chat and videoconferencing during the Covid-19 pandemic, the hierarchical organization is being replaced by a flat,
network-based model, which emphasizes communication and connection of individuals across divisions
and organizational boundaries.
In this new business environment, what is needed for leadership is not management skills that dependon traditional incentives, nor on titles or positions. Rather, the new era demands leaders with strong
interpersonal skills, who are able to earn the empathy and trust of people and enlist their support andcollaboration.
Moreover, the development of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain cyber-currencies, renewable energy, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, and othertechnological and scientific innovations are rapidly changing our lives. The nature of value creation isshifting away from monopolies of intelligence, resources, markets, and seeking the expansion of
economies of scale. Value now depends on the creation of new avenues of intelligence andentrepreneurship, challenging stakeholders to take risks and create a new reality. The ecosystem that
supports startups exists not only in Silicon Valley, but around the world. Entrepreneurs who challenge
the old setup are now agents for value creation and replacing big corporations. In response, these big
corporations are on the defensive, where many have abandoned their traditional in-house approaches to2

innovation and shifted resources to open up innovation and collaborate with these external
entrepreneurial initiatives.
Looking at the bigger picture, we see ourselves at a critical point in history. Modern Western values
underpin the triad of our socio-economic system i.e., the sovereign state, democracy, and capitalism.
This triad, which has been an engine for globalization and economic development, has begun to crumblein the growing economic disparities and collapse of communities, as well as the rising international
tensions and the heightened geopolitical risks. At the same time, after 200 years of Western dominance
we observe the swing of the economic pendulum from the West to the East, especially to China andIndia. Furthermore, rapid advancement in science and technologies have brought us great benefits, andwill continue to do so, but they will also disrupt our lives and how our societies are structured. In
particular, the resulting systemization of our lives means we could end up being atomized and lose oursense of humanity, just as Charlie Chaplin warned in the movie, “Modern Times”.

Our Philosophy
The program at Shizenkan is designed to develop a sensible approach to effective management
leadership and is based on our unique philosophy and approach.
1. Developing three essential skills as management professionals.
The program is designed with the aim of developing three critical thinking skills that will be requiredof all managers going forward. First and foremost is the indispensable skill necessary for analyzing
complex situations and contexts, enabled by a rigid quantitative analytical behavior built on soundlogic and strategic thinking. The second is the ability to envision new forms of businesses and local
communities, which are derived from the actual needs of people and society. The third is thecapacity to think in a non-linear manner, which enables managers to cope with exponential andsometimes destructive scientific and technological innovation.
2.

Developing unique perspectives as business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The program is a comprehensive program aimed at nurturing managers and entrepreneurs, muchdifferent from other MBA programs that often specialize in developing specialists in particularfunctional areas. Classes that focus on specific corporate activities such as accounting, finance,
marketing and strategy, are also conducted in a manner that emphasizes the perspective of managers
and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, a core part of our curriculum, which directly develops the skills
and perspectives necessary for managers, are the “Business Policy” course which provides a bird’seye-view of management, and the “Entrepreneurship” course which integrates various aspects ofbusiness in the startup context.

3.

Liberal arts education to gain leadership principles and insights into the future.
Business knowledge and skills often focus on the "how", which are often just the means foraccomplishing an objective. However, leaders are increasingly required to answer the question of3

“why” and the purpose of business undertakings. To cultivate this sense of purpose, we incorporate
different liberal arts curriculum such as history, religion, philosophy, sociology, science, and art.
By doing so, we re-examine our views on history, the world, our existence, our society, and help
establish the values that are the basis of judgments, actions, and choices required of leaders. At thesame time, in today's world, where society and the economy are undergoing major changes, we will
understand the trends of the times from the past to the present and the future, and the transformationof the world, society, and human existence in globalization and innovation.
4. Fostering whole-person leadership through self-reflection and facing society and others.
The starting point of leadership education is to unpack the purpose and significance of one's life
aspirations through introspection. Shizenkan’s whole-person leadership education helps identify
one’s value compass and inner value system through coaching, assessments, psychology-based
workshops, and experiential learning.
5. Practicing global education in collaboration with educational institutions and leaders aroundthe world.
Shizenkan has established a core partnership with SOIL (School of Inspired Leadership) based inIndia, Delhi, and the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, as well as the world's 7th largest
think tank FGV based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With our partners we collaborate in areas such as joint
research projects in management, sustainability innovation, and leadership education. In addition,
Shizenkan collaborates with the Chinese diaspora network that extends across Asia, including theJapan China Soshokai. Similar partnerships have been struck with intellectuals and leaders fromcountries such as South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh, Belgium, Switzerland, the United States,
Canada, and Brazil, who support the educational philosophy of the Shizenkan. These partnerships
provide an opportunity to delve into and discuss the challenges of global management and leadership.
6. Pursuit of management and leadership studies based on the spiritual soil of Japan and Asia.
Asia has its own culture and spiritual soil, such as the monistic view of non-separation of the subject(self) and object (other), the principle of the virtuous government, and the view of symbiosis withnature. Shizenkan’s program is based on the rational and logical approach that Western MBA
education offers, but also incorporates Eastern thought and Zen meditation into the curriculum As
these bridge the ways of thinking between the West and Asia we believe that there will be a higher
demand from society for these kinds of leaders in the future.

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About Shizenkan Graduate School
Institution:

Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University

Major:

Major in Leadership and Innovation

Degree:Master of Business Administration in Design and Leadership for Societal
Innovation

AnnualAdmittance:

Class Schedule:

80 students
In principle, twice a week, once on a weeknight and during the day on Saturdayor Sunday.
*Some courses may occur on national holidays

Duration:
Matriculation:

Two years (part-time)
August 20, 2024

Shizenkan is a bilingual graduate school with a campus located in central Tokyo, a 5-minute walk fromthe Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station. The school is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT) and offers a master’s degree in business administration (“MBA in
Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation”). Courses run continuously over two years (essentially
20 months, with summer and winter breaks). Classes are generally held twice a week, once on a
weeknight and during the day on Saturday or Sunday.
Most courses are offered in both Japanese and English. Up to 80 students will be accepted per year froma pool of promising applicants worldwide. The cohort will be divided approximately in two, half taking
classes in Japanese and the other in English, so admissions selection will be carried out based on thelanguage the applicant chooses and both cohorts accept Japanese and international students. Afterenrollment, in principle, students take the two-year program in the language of their choice. However,please note that some required courses will be jointly conducted in English with both the Japanese andEnglish classes (these courses will be conducted in English, even for students who have enrolled in theJapanese program). These courses are designed to provide students with experiences that transcend
language and culture based on the idea that English, the global standard language of business, isindispensable for future leaders.

5We believe that the future of leadership education lies in learning beyond the boundaries of specificsectors. As a graduate school of business administration, we see many of our students coming from thebusiness sector with possible intentions to manage firms and projects or start a business in the future.
At the same time, we will accept applicants from the public and civic sectors such as from internationalorganizations, central/local governments as well as NGOs, NPOs, and social enterprises. Shizenkan
does so because we believe that the leaders of the next generation must combine a sharp business sensewith public mindedness. As the concept of social enterprise becomes widespread, PPP (public-private
partnership) becomes increasingly popular, and the boundary blurs between profit/nonprofit andpublic/private, Shizenkan offers an opportunity and a place for students to grow holistically, in anenvironment where people from different sectors come to learn together and inspire each other.
With this belief, all students take compulsory courses in the 1st year together and share many of thesame courses in the 2nd year at Shizenkan. At the same time, we offer several electives in the 2nd yearthat cater to the particular needs of each sector in exercising leadership.
Different from conventional business schools who aim to provide basic knowledge to young people intheir 20's, Shizenkan University’s program is tailor-made for working professionals in their 30's withrich experience to nurture their growth as business leaders (such as entrepreneurs and policy makers).
That is why Shizenkan has designed a sophisticated and integrated curriculum to give a holistic andcomprehensive view of business creation and management where students learn basic business literacy
and skills in accounting, marketing, and finance as well as more in-depth content. For students who do
not have a lot of business knowledge, we would highly recommend supplementary study prior to starting
the program. In particular, logical thinking/writing and understanding and interpretation of financial
numbers (reading of financial statements, understanding the role of BS/PL/CF), which are the most basic
skills required.
At Shizenkan, we operate our classes based on the idea that the "learning space" is created by bothfaculty and students. Students are expected to be “active contributors of the learning space”, who not
only deepen their own learning but also contribute to the learning of the entire class by speaking up,
asking questions, and engaging in dialogue, rather than being “passive consumers" of the class.

Our Objectives (Diploma Policy)
The purpose of this program is to produce whole-person management leaders who balance management
expertise with a sense of responsibility and awareness of being members of society. Our uniquecurriculum brings together a comprehensive view of business activities, organizations, and management
together with the entrepreneurial spirit and the flexibility to generate new ideas to create and transformbusinesses, which are the abilities necessary for next-generation leaders. Upon successful completion,a "Master of Business Administration in Design and Leadership in Societal Innovation" degree will be
granted.
The following four competencies highlight specific definitions of the abilities and qualities required ofa whole-person management leader that Shizenkan aims to develop.

6➢ Will power as an individual - The ability to acquire a sense of mission, act with a clear vision, andsimultaneously grow as an individual by constantly self-questioning one’s mission in life.
➢ Ability to envision - The ability to envision new businesses, organizations, and new management
styles based on high moral standards and a long-term perspective, anticipating future changes, andnot bound by history or customs.
➢ Ability to realize - The ability to drive creativity and change by gaining empathy and the trust ofpeople, creating positive ripple effects in organizations and society, and actualizing a concept.
➢ Ability to be grounded - The ability to hold a firm belief and philosophy backed by a view of history,
the world, and of humanity, with a sense of responsibility as a member of society, and the ability
to make decisions and act with a grounded value system.

Curriculum Policy
1. Through liberal arts education, students cultivate a world view, a historical view, and a societal
view, that will help shape their individual beliefs, ideas, and philosophies, allowing them todeeply understand past trends and current issues, and at the same time, develop insights into thechanges coming in the future.
2. In order to cultivate an overall bird's-eye view and a comprehensive perspective as management
leaders, we break away from the educational paradigm of manager development byincorporating the essence of design schools and innovation schools. Through acquiring flexible
thinking and sensitivity, students learn how to envision new business models that will be
required in the future and bring about innovation.
3. The purpose of Shizenkan’s educational paradigm is to utilize the skills and knowledge acquiredby students in practice. There, the "ability to realize oneself as a leader" is required above all.
In order to realize this concept, it is necessary to gain the empathy and trust of the people aroundus and let it spread like ripples to other people and organizations. In order to cultivate empathy,
students must face themselves by collaborating with others and assess their own behavioral
characteristics in moving people, and their strengths and weaknesses as leaders. Receiving
feedback and cooperation from classmates is actively incorporated into the program throughself-reflection.
4. Leadership cannot be fully demonstrated without aspiration and passion. It is not possible toconfront uncertainty and risk, and sometimes endure adversity and continue to take onchallenges, simply by giving orders to others. Unfortunately, the intrinsic driver of aspirationand passion is not something that can be acquired just through knowledge. “Who am I? Whatam I living for?” By repeatedly asking oneself these questions, one is freed from the restrictionsof affiliation and title. Based on this recognition, the Shizenkan program actively adopts
psychology and coaching techniques, and repeatedly holds workshops to encourage
introspection and dialogue with oneself.

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Degree Requirements and Award of Degree
To successfully complete the program, students must be enrolled in the program for two (2) years andearn the credits from all compulsory courses (43 credits in total), plus at least three (3) credits fromelective courses, for a total of 46 credits or more. The degree of Master of Business Administration(MBA) in Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation will be awarded to those who have fulfilled
the above requirements.
The MBA is an acknowledgment to the model of education that came to symbolize 20th century
capitalism, but the full title, “Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation” also shows our desire to
innovate in response to the challenges of this century and beyond.
Students who have failed to earn more than one quarter of their credits during their first-year courses(excluding optional courses) will be subject to expulsion. However, if the Faculty Committee determinesthat there is a sufficient reason, the student may be exempted from expulsion.

Network After Graduation
Graduates will join Shizenkan’s alumni network and are eligible to participate in various alumni
activities.
Shizenkan is a graduate school established in 2018 and our parent organization, the Institute forStrategic Leadership (ISL), is an educational institution that has been operating since 2001. ISL runs a
non-degree management leader development program for people in their 40s that has turned out morethan 2,000 business executives, including many who have gone on to manage major firms. ISL is also
active in training and support of social entrepreneurs. In addition to their own network of classmates,
Shizenkan graduates will therefore have access to the ISL alumni, bringing more opportunities forcontinued growth and networking across sectors and generations.

Admission Policy
In the selection process, potential candidates will be assessed using the following three (3) elements.
1. Attitude to take control of one’s life.
Demonstrates leadership experience who takes initiative to influence people and teams toeffectuate change in the organization to which the candidate belongs to (or to manage
him/herself). Furthermore, the candidate has high self-awareness through his/her life experience.
In addition, by taking the curriculum of Shizenkan, the applicant must be motivated to improve8

him/herself and become a human resource who will be responsible for management andentrepreneurship1, not just a specialist by function.

2. Intellectual absorption and critical thinking ability
In addition to academic rigor, the candidate possesses intellectual curiosity to absorb theteachings at Shizenkan. Furthermore, critically questioning the status quo, cutting through thesuperficial nature of phenomenon and having an inquisitive character and forming one’s own
hypothesis for confronting complex events, and engaging in constructive discussions.

3. Deep awareness of issues and willingness to contribute to others.
The candidate is interested in world affairs and his/her own opinion on the trends and the future.
Similarly, be able to articulate the challenges faced by his/her organization to which he/shebelongs to or manages. Constantly pursue the meaning of the existence of humanity, without
falling towards an idealistic or pessimistic view. Above all, be motivated to actively share one’s
awareness about the problems of our reality with others, and to lead mutual learning by offering
inspiration and friendly competition with those around.

1

Candidates from the public sector must be motivated to take charge of policy planning andmanagement of their organization.

9Admissions(1) Overview
The admissions process is designed to help the candidate and Shizenkan determine if the program is theright place for the candidate and his/her goals. The admissions process of Shizenkan is a two-stage
process. After the initial screening of the submitted documents, selected candidates will be invited to aformal interview. The purpose of the interview is to understand more about the candidate, beyond theinformation the candidate provided in the admission documents. The candidates are selected on the basisof the three (3) elements mentioned above.2
If the candidate wishes to enroll in a program delivered in his/her non-native language, a language
proficiency test in the form of an oral exam will be conducted during the interview.
(2) Formal Interview
Shizenkan conducts formal interviews online (via Zoom). Shizenkan will inform the selected candidate
about the date and time of the interview as well as send the selected candidate the Zoom meeting link
after the review of the candidate’s submitted documents is complete.

Candidate Eligibility
All candidates are required to have a minimum of three (3) years full-time work experience and fulfill
one (1) of the following conditions at the time of enrollment, i.e., August 20th, 2024:
●
●
●
●
●

2

Obtained a university or college degree
Obtained a bachelor’s degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality
Enhancement of Higher Education of Japan
Completed 16 years of education in a foreign country
Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ofJapan
Considered to have qualifications in education, knowledge, skills and aspiration to be admitted in
the program by the Shizenkan Admissions Committee

It is not compulsory to submit your GMAT or GRE results to enroll in the program.

10

Application Process
Candidates must submit all required documents via the Shizenkan website. Please follow the steps below
to complete the online application:

Step 1: Prepare application package and pay the application fee.
•

To apply to Shizenkan, please download the application forms from the Shizenkan website in thelanguage (English or Japanese) of the program you wish to apply for. Candidates are required to
pay the application fee of 35,000JPY. (*Note that the candidate is responsible for any bank transfer
costs.) When transferring payment from a financial institution counter or ATM, please receive andkeep the transfer receipt. The payment receipt should be submitted with other documents.

Step 2: Submit the application package.
•

Please follow the instructions on the Shizenkan website to submit all required documents. As ageneral rule, only online submissions via the website will be accepted.

Step 3: Document screening and scheduling the interview.
•As the initial assessment of the candidate's qualifications, Shizenkan conducts application
documents screening. Invitations for the interview will be sent within one month of receiving theapplication package.

•

The second assessment for those candidates who pass the document screening is the interview.
Those candidates who pass the initial screening will be contacted via email by the Admissions
Office to arrange the interview date. Please reply with your preferred date and time.

Step 4: Personal interview••

The interview will be conducted online (Zoom) and will be conducted by several faculty and staff
members for approximately one hour.
Please note that if the candidate wishes to take the program in his/her non-native language, alanguage examination will be conducted during the interview.

Step 5: Admission•

The Admissions Office will inform the candidate of the admissions result after the completion ofboth the document screening and interview.

•

Admitted candidates who wish to enroll in the program will be required to deposit the enrollment
fee within two weeks from the receipt of the notification of acceptance (Excluding those enrolled
through company and organization dispatchment). The Admissions Office will also notify admitted
candidates of the due date of the tuition fee. Formal enrollment begins once the Admissions Officeconfirms the deposit of enrollment and tuition fees.

•

In addition, if Shizenkan determines that the candidate has little practical experience and that the
management literacy necessary for attending the program is insufficient, enrollment might bepermitted on condition of preliminary study of the basic principles (particularly, in the fields offinance and accounting).

11

Admissions Cycle
There are three application cycles for admissions. Candidates who completed their application before aparticular submission deadline will receive their admissions result within one month of each deadline.
Initial review of documents and the subsequent interview will proceed as soon as the candidate
completes the application, regardless of the deadlines.
•

1st Deadline: November 30th, 2023•

2nd Deadline: February 29th, 2024•

3rd Deadline: May 10th, 2024

Application Forms
Below is the list of documents required for application. In principle, please use a PC or similar device
to prepare the application documents. The Admissions Office starts the process only after receiving all
the required documents. Applications will not be accepted if all documents are not submitted by thedeadline.
Document

Required by

Notes● Fill out the form with your personal data, work experienceand academic record.
● Select the language of application: English or Japanese.

1.Application
Form “Form A”

Everyone● If you have a test score related to language proficiency,
please enter the score in the "Certificates or test results"
column and submit a copy of the test score as well.

●

2. CV/
Personal Resume

Everyone○

Application for English classes: TOEFL or TOEIC○

Application for Japanese language classes: Japanese
Language Proficiency Test

Submit your curriculum vitae (CV) or personal resume,describing your academic and professional experiences inreverse historical order. Include the names of educational
institutions where you have studied, the duration of yourstudies, and the degrees/certificates you earned. As for yourprofessional experiences, refer to the company/organization
you have worked for, your titles/work responsibilities, andyour accomplishments.

12●

Use any format and style of your choice but restrict thelength up to three A4-sized pages (Please prepare thedocuments in English)).

●The certificates should be original or certified copies of theoriginal version.

●

The issue dates of the certificates should be from within thepast year.

●

They should be written in either English or Japanese.
* For other languages, please attach a translation in either
English or Japanese, certified by an embassy or othersuitable public institution. If it is difficult to prepare thetranslated documents from an embassy or other officialorganization, you may translate it yourself.

3.Certificate of
Graduation

Everyone●The certificate is required for each degree you haveobtained. If your degree was issued by more than one
university (e.g., a double degree) you are required to submit
the transcript from each entity.

●

If you have withdrawn from a university, please submit
documents proving you have done so.

●

If you have graduated from a graduate school, please submit
the certificate of completion of the graduate school as well.

●If you have not completed a university accredited by the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology, but have obtained a bachelor’s degree from the
National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality
Enhancement of Higher Education of Japan, please submit acertificate of the degree awarded.

●

If you have graduated from a university outside Japan, andthe certificates do not state the name of the degree obtained,
please provide a certificate that does so.

●

If you have graduated from a university outside Japan, andyou are unable to submit a certificate, please submit a copyof the diploma or the certificate of degree.

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4.Certified
Transcripts of
Academic
Degrees, Other
Studies andActivities

5. Essay“Form B”●

The transcripts should be original or certified copies of theoriginal version.

●

The issue dates of the transcripts should be from within thepast year.

●

They should be written in either English or Japanese.
* For other languages, please attach a translation in either
English or Japanese, certified by an embassy or otherauthorized public institution. If it is difficult to prepare thetranslated documents from an embassy or other officialorganization, you may translate it yourself.

Everyone●

Applicants who have graduated from more than one college
or university should submit transcripts from each entity.

●

Write and submit your personal essays on the following
three topics. Word limit for topics 1 and 2: Japanese approx. 1,000 characters, English - approx. 500 words;
topic 3: Japanese - approx. 1,200 characters, English approx. 700 words.
(1) Outline your professional experience and futureaspirations, how they relate to what you expect to learn andexperiences at Shizenkan and how you see your careerdeveloping after graduation.
(2) Tell us about two of your biggest achievements as a leader
which you are proud of.
(3) Pick two experiences of failure or setback in your life andexplain how you have overcome them and what you havelearned from the process. Explain by describing specificexamples.

Everyone●

6. Two Letters ofRecommendation“Form C”

Everyone

Provide two letters of recommendation, from someone who
knows your academic abilities, behavior and judgment in
professional and/or private situations: your strengths as aleader, and areas for possible improvement well.
○

It could be your university or graduate school
supervisor, your current or previous work supervisor orsomeone who is closely involved in your work. Outsideof work, it should be a person who has known you for along time, both your public and private affairs, and14

familiar with your personality. Friends, family members
and relatives are not eligible.
○

7. Copy ofReceipt of the
Application Fee“Form D”

Everyone

8. Certificate ofCompany
Sponsorship“Form E”

Company
Sponsored
Applicants

9.Passport Copy

International
Applicants

10. Residence
Card Copy or
Certificate of
Residence

International
Applicants
Residing inJapan

If you cannot provide reference letters from two
persons meeting Shizenkan requirements, you may
enclose a separate letter (free format) explaining thereason for that and provide recommendation lettersfrom other referees.

●

References must be written in a format specified by
Shizenkan and please notify your referees to submit it to the
Admissions Office directly via email or facsimile or postal
services.

●

The letter of recommendation should include, besides the
text of recommendation, some basic profile information of
the referee: the affiliated company, position, contact
information (phone and email), and the signature (digital
signature is acceptable) of the referee.

●Please notify your referees that the Admissions Office may
take the liberty of contacting them directly for clarification
and additional questions.

●

Please submit Form D with a copy of the receipt fortransferring the application fee (35,000JPY) attached. If you
transfer via internet banking, please attach a screen captureof the payment.

●

The manager in charge of the sponsorship should fill out
Form E.

●

Copy of relevant pages of your passport, including yourname, photo, passport number and date of birth.
*Not required for special permanent residents.

●

Copy of both sides of your valid Residence Card or
Certificate of Residence in Japan, including yournationality, status and period of stay. Alien registration cardor special permanent resident certificate is also valid.

15

Application Fee
The payment of the application fee, 35,000JPY, is required when applying for the program. It is payable
via bank transfer to the following bank account. Please note that the candidate is responsible for banktransfer costs.
The application fee is not refundable with the exception of the following cases:(1) If the application fee was paid but the application to Shizenkan was not submitted (the application
documents were not sent, or the application documents were not received).
(2) In case of paying the application fee twice by mistake.
In case of (1) or (2) please contact the Admissions Office. If your request for the return of the fee is
accepted by the Shizenkan Admissions Office, it will be refunded to your designated account. However,please be aware that the bank transfer fee and other related transaction costs will be deducted from theamount.

[Account for domestic remittance]
Bank name:Branch name:Account number:
Account holder:

MUFG Bank, LTD
Nihonbashi-Chuo Branch0312630
Gakkouhoujin Shizenkan[Account for international remittance]
Bank name:

MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Branch name:Nihonbashi-Chuo Branch

SWIFT code/ BIC code: BOTKJPJT （8 digit*）
Bank address:

1-3-2, Nihonbashihongokucho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0021, JAPAN

Phone number:+81-3-3272-3011

Account number:

333-0312630

Account holder:

Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University

University address:

Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Bldg 17F, 5-1, Nihonbashi 2Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-6117, JAPAN

University tel:

+81-3-6281-9012*If the SWIFT code requires 11 digits, please add “X” to the last 3 digits and use “BOTKJPJTXXX”.
*Please remit in Japanese yen.

16

*When remitting money from overseas, overseas remittance fees and bank charges (fees and charges
related to receiving money in Japan) will be incurred. These remittance fees are to be borne by theapplicant. In cases where the receiver is specified as being responsible for such fees or no person is
specified for being responsible for such fees, these incurred fees will be deducted from the remittanceamount resulting in an insufficient payment amount being received and may result in your application
not being accepted.
*Please check with your bank in advance for bank charges and the number of days required for
remittance. Remittance by check is not acceptable.

Academic Fees
The following table shows the academic fees required for enrollment in the program. (*Note: theapplication fee is 35,000JPY)
Enrollment fee

200,000JPY

Tuition fee for 1st year

2,400,000JPY

Tuition fee for 2nd year

2,400,000JPY

Total

5,000,000JPY(1) The enrollment fee is paid only one time in the first year.
(2) Program tuition can be paid on a yearly basis or as a lump sum. When necessary, the tuition fees
for the first and the second semesters may be paid separately with the permission of Shizenkan forstudents who are not sponsored and are self-funded. Further detailed information regarding thetuition and fee payment will be sent to you upon notification of acceptance.
(3) The tuition fees do not include costs of textbooks and other optional academic materials.
*Optional Field Studies
In addition to the above, if you participate in field studies (optional) in Japan or overseas, their expenses
are paid separately.

Protection of Personal Information
All personal information that Shizenkan obtains from the candidate will be used solely for the purposeof admissions screening and the student registration subsequent to admissions. For more information on
Shizenkan’s personal information policy, please kindly refer to Shizenkan’s website. By applying, you
are considered to have agreed to the policy.

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Scholarship Program
Shizenkan provides a Scholarship Program to offer students the opportunity of leadership education in
an environment where people of different nationalities, coming from different backgrounds and sectors
can learn together and inspire each other. Please visit our website for more details.
(1) Purpose
A Shizenkan University Scholarship is awarded to one whose applications to Shizenkan is accepted andwho is expected to become a whole-person management leader that is able to drive change andinnovation, based on his/her qualifications, management and business, as well as human and social skills.
Furthermore, the scholarship is awarded to those who have financial difficulties in funding to pursue
his/her academic goal of becoming a holistic management leader.
(2) Scholarship Program●●●

Scholarship Coverage:
In principle, the amount is limited to 1,000,000JPY (for 2 years). However, applicants who are
excellent in academic achievements and/or need financial aid more than the amount describedabove, may receive no more than 4,800,000JPY. The enrollment fee (200,000JPY) must be paidby every candidate.
Payment Method:
Tuition fee will be reduced. One-fourth of the scholarship will be applied to tuition fees for the
relevant term at the start of the first and second half of each academic year.
Scholarship Payment Period：
In principle, 2 years from August 2024.

Scholarship recipients and the specific amount of the scholarship award will be decided based on thecandidates’ financial status and areas such as diverse profile, experience, and qualifications.
(3) Eligibility
The scholarship is awarded to one who meets all requirements specified below. The number of persons
to be admitted is limited.
●●

One who understands and strongly sympathizes with the educational policy of Shizenkan.
One who has high motivation to grow as holistic management leaders and can be committed to
study and contribute to classes and their fellow classmates.
● One who has financial difficulties in self-funding.
● One who is self-funded (pay for tuition fee by his/herself or supported by his/her family).
* If candidates are company/institution sponsored or have other outside financial support for the whole
tuition fee, he/she is ineligible for the scholarship.
* There is no nationality restriction.

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Use of Public Support Systems(1) Educational Training Benefits System
The program has been designated as a course eligible for the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s
Practical Education and Training Benefits Program. As a result, students who enroll and meet therequirements will be able to apply to receive reimbursement for a certain percentage of their educationand training expenses (the maximum benefits of 1,120,000JPY can be granted over 2 years). Please referto the Shizenkan website. Please note that it is only available in Japanese.
(2) Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Loan Type Scholarship
Shizenkan students can apply for a loan scholarship (which recipients must reimburse after graduation)offered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). Students are required to apply for thisscholarship through Shizenkan to JASSO after enrollment. For more information on the application
requirements etc. on this scholarship, please refer to the JASSO website. The application information
for the students who start their study in AY2024 will be released by JASSO around March 2024. For
your reference, please see the link below to the application guidelines for students enrolled in AY2023
and the outline of the scholarships.
Application Guidelines for Academic Year 2023 (only in Japanese):https://www.jasso.go.jp/shogakukin/moshikomi/zaigaku/tebiki/in.html
Outline of the scholarships:
Scholarship

Scholarship amount (monthly amount)

First Category <No interest>

Choose from 50,000JPY and 88,000JPY

Second Category <Interest-bearing>

Choose from 50,000JPY, 80,000JPY, 100,000JPY,
130,000JPY, and 150,000JPY.

Special Increased Scholarship Loan Upon Choose from 100,000JPY, 200,000JPY, 300,000JPY,
Enrollment <Interest-bearing>
400,000JPY, or 500,000JPY (Only once at enrollment)

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Student Loans
Shizenkan partners with three financial institutions, which offer student loans that cover registration andtuition fees. For details, please visit the Shizenkan website (Please note that information is only available
in Japanese).
●
●

JACCS
SMBC Finance Service●

Orient Corporation

Please directly contact these financial institutions for inquiry or application. Applying for student loans
requires an offer letter from Shizenkan. Loan approval is subject to judgment by the financial institution.

Contact us
Admissions Office, Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University
Address: Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building 17F
2-5-1 Nihonbashi Chuo-ku Tokyo 103-6117 Japan
Tel: +81-3-6281-9011
E-mail: admissions@shizenkan.ac.jp20