“Love Thy God, Love Thy Neighbor.” What does this motto mean to you? It embodies the spirit of Kobe College High School. This institution seeks to nurture individuals grounded in Christian principles. They act thoughtfully and empathetically.
Kobe College High School’s story began with two American missionaries. Eliza Talcott and Julia Dudley started a small private school in Kobe in 1873. This day school evolved into Kobe College. Its relaxed spirit and Christian philosophy remain unchanged.
In 1875, they founded “Girls’ School”, a boarding school on Yamamoto Street. Talcott served as the first principal. Dudley was the matron. The school was renamed Kobe Girls’ School in 1879. It became a girls’ school with a five-year curriculum in 1880. This was unique for the time.
A one-year college division was established in 1885. The school adopted the three-leaf clover as its insignia. The three leaves represent the development of body, mind, and spirit. A three-year high school program for women was established in 1891.
Kobe Girls’ School was renamed Kobe College in 1894. The Science and Music Buildings were then built. The Department of Music was founded in 1906. A four-year higher education division was founded in 1909. This was the highest level of study available to women at the time.
The higher education division was renamed daigaku or university in 1919. A preparatory course and a regular course were established. The campus relocated to Okadayama, Nishinomiya City in 1933.
Missionary and architect Dr. Vories designed the Spanish mission-style buildings. He designed the Literature Building and the Science Building. The Main Library and Music Building I were also his creations. You can see his work in the Administration Building which includes the Auditorium and Searle Chapel.
Under the new educational system, Kobe College was established in 1948. It included a School of Letters with departments of English, Sociology, and Home Economics. A new Department of Music was established in 1949. The School of Music gained accreditation in 1952.
Graduate programs in English and Sociology were established in 1965. The School of Home Economics was established in 1967. It was no longer part of the School of Letters. The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1975.
The Department of Intercultural Studies was founded in 1976. It was formed after restructuring the former Department of Sociology. Developments were made in the graduate school in 1980. A graduate degree in Japanese cultural studies was established.
A doctoral program was established in the Department of English in 1989. A post-graduate School of Music was established in 1990. The School of Home Economics was restructured in 1993. It became the School of Human Sciences with a Department of Human Sciences.
The Kobe College Corporation is an NPO based in Chicago. It was established in 1920. It supports the college through fundraising. The Megumi-kai is an alumni association. It supports education and research. It promotes academics and culture. It fosters international understanding.
The buildings of Kobe College stand on a green hill. Dr. William Merrell Vories designed them. He was a missionary who built over 1500 buildings in Japan. Kobe College High School provides an environment for building character. It emphasizes the importance of acting with empathy and understanding. The three-leaf clover reminds everyone of the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.