Shizenkan University

**Shizenkan University** (大学院大学至善館, _Daigakuin daigaku shizenkan_), is a graduate school accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan in 2018. The campus is in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan.

The chairman and president of the university is Tomoyoshi Noda[1], representative of the nonprofit organization Institute for Strategic Studies (ISL).

## The Founding Background

Shizenkan was founded on the foundation of ISL (Institute for Strategic Leadership), the “whole-person” leadership educational institution, established in Tokyo, 2001. ISL is known for its all inclusive executive leadership training program for corporate executives. To date, more than 2,700 senior-executives including many top managers at large companies have graduated from ISL programs. Since ISL was founded, it has consistently appealed to the “need for true leadership education beyond the traditional MBA”. Shizenkan campus was established in Nihombashi, Tokyo in 2018 to further develop this educational philosophy and approach used by ISL, with the bold idea of taking the Western-style MBA education model and evolving it to adapt for the future.

**Founding Spirit**

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

**Mission**

We 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 ecosystem that 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 and empathy inspire others to live a life of purpose and service.

## Shizenkan Overview

|colspan="2"|Overview|
| --- | --- |
|Institution|Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University|
|Major|Leadership and Innovation|
|Degree|Master of Business Administration in Design and Leadership for Societal Innovation|
|Annual Admittance|80 students|
|Class Schedule|Twice a week, once on a weeknight and during the day on Saturday or Sunday. Some courses may occur on national holidays|
|Duration|Two years (part-time)|
|Matriculation|End of August|
|Language|Conducted in English and Japanese|

## Program

Shizenkan's Master of Business Administration program inherits the educational philosophy and methods of its parent organization, the Institute for Strategic Leadership (ISL), and consists of three components: "Concerted Learning," "Self-reflective Learning," and "Bird's Eye View Learning." In the first year, students acquire the management skills to develop a world view, a historical view and a human view through a unique liberal arts curriculum, and to conceive and verify one's vision through "Concerted Learning". At the same time, in "Reflective Learning," students explore "who they are and what they can achieve as a leader" through confrontation with others and self-reflection. In the second year, "Concerted Learning" integrates understanding of various aspects of business from the perspective of managers and entrepreneurs through subjects such as business policy, and provides a place to acquire knowledge and skills in specialized areas according to their interests. In addition, in the individual exercises (seminars) of "Bird's Eye View Learning" project, a core activity in the second year, each student works on envisioning the challenges of being a holistic management leader after graduation.

Shizenkan aims to develop leaders with a “Glocal” mindset, one that thinks and acts from a global perspective while remaining rooted locally. Based on this concept, Shizenkan offers opportunities on both local and global levels. As part of the curriculum and an extracurricular activity, we provide opportunities to participate in local activities in Nihonbashi, broaden one's perspective globally, and come into contact with a variety of knowledge.

For example, in January 2021, Shizenkan initiated the "Future of Capitalism" (new roles and challenges for business and leaders) project, jointly organized with international partner institutions. The courses explore the challenges of capitalism from a variety of perspectives and are held online, traveling around the world to meet with the world's leading intellectuals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and civil sector leaders to address the challenges of realizing a more just, humane, and sustainable future.

Furthermore, in line with the mission of “innovating management leadership education in Asia”, Shizenkan is collaborating with business schools in Asian countries to build and promote the Pan-Asian Business School Network. The network currently includes seven institutions from seven countries namely India, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

As a member of the Nihonbashi community, Shizenkan has been carrying out activities rooted in the area, and while valuing its ties with the local community, students, alumni, faculty and staff participate in traditional festivals such as the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival.

## History

- May 2016              15th Anniversary. Memorial service for Mr. Yotaro Kobayashi and announcement of the Shizenkan University establishment proposal.
- September 2017    Obtains an official approval from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the foundation of Shizenkan University.
- March 2018            Signs MoU with IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain.
- August 2018.          Shizenkan University opens in Nihonbashi. Launches Master of Business Administration degree programs in English and Japanese.
- January 2021          Shizenkan and IESE launch the Future of Capitalism (FoC) Project (with the support of SOIL and FGV). (Currently, the platform has grown to include 20 educational institutions globally.)
- February 2022　      Publication of Shizenkan Lecture Series:『経営リーダーのための社会システム論 構造的問題と僕らの未来』 (by Kobunsha)
- September 2023      Publication of Shizenkan Lecture Series: 『コンテクスト・マネジメント 個を活かし、経営の質を高める』 (by Kobunsha)
- September 2023      Opening of the Center for Impact Economy, which promotes an integrated approach to education, social implementation, public awareness and research.
- February 2024          Establishes the Pan Asian Business School Network with educational institutions in Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.
- March 2024.             Establishes the Shizenkan Center for Liberal Arts and Leadership, which aims for envisioning the future of humanity and disseminating our unique approach to liberal arts education.
- April 2024                Becomes the Japanese publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR).
- April 2025                Establishes Circular Futures Design Center which aims to realize a circular economy and a self-reliant, decentralized society.

## Main Stakeholders

- Tomoyoshi Noda
- Junko Edahiro Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Daizaburo Hashizume Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Hiroyuki Mitani
- Norisige Morimoto
- Patrick Newell
- Seiichi Otaki
- Peter David Pedersen
- Katsuhiko Yoshikawa
- Ken Nishii Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Riichiro Oda
- Masahiro Fukuhara Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Shoshu Hirai
- Oriza Hirata Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Shigeru Nishiyama
- Hironori Iwasaki
- Jesper Koll
- Yumiko Noda Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Daisuke Takatsuki
- Jiro Tamura Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Shinichi Ueyama Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Masataka Uo
- Tatsuyuki Negoro Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Ayako Sonoda
- Akira Ishikawa
- Nalin Advani
- Tomoyuki Yamane
- Shinji Miyadai Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Choelsoon Park

## Alumni

- Daichi Konuma (Co-founder and Executive Director of Cross Fields, a certified NPO, Board of Councilors, Shizenkan) Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Tomoyuki Muramatsu (Representative Director and President, KYODO  NIPPON,INC., Board of Councilors, Shizenkan)
- Takafumi Nishida (Founder, Policy Promotion Institute) Policy Promotion Institute
- Kenta Funayama (Executive Officer, CRO, TENTIAL Inc.)
- Misaki Tanaka (Social Entrepreneur / Social Designer)  Wikipedia (Japanese)
- Mirai Harada (Founder, LoanDEAL Co.,Ltd.)
- Rie Mishima (Chairperson, Musubie – National Kodomo Shokudo Support Center, certified NPO) Musubie Website

## Other websites

- ISL (Institute for Strategic Leadership)
- Stanford Social Innovation Review Japan
- ISL–Shizenkan Liberal Arts Center

## Infobox (university)

- **name**: Shizenkan University (Shizenkan)
- **native name**:
<small>(_Daigakuin daigaku shizenkan_)</small>
- **established**: 2017
- **type**: Private University, Private
- **chairman**: Tomoyoshi Noda
- **president**: Tomoyoshi Noda
- **postgrad**: Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation
- **address**: Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Bldg 17F, 5-1, Nihonbashi 2-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103 – 6117
- **city**: Tokyo
- **state**: Chuo Ward
- **country**: Japan