ABOUT US

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

Hitotsubashi University has inherited the traditions of Japan’s oldest business school, the Commercial Training School (Shōhō-Kōshūjo), which was established in 1875. The Commercial Training School underwent several name changes, from the Tokyo Commercial School in 1884, to the Higher Commercial School in 1887, to the Tokyo Higher Commercial School in 1902, and again to the Tokyo University of Commerce in 1920. During that time, it expanded its purview from commerce and management to encompass a wide range of academic disciplines including economics, law, and social sciences.

In 1949, the Tokyo University of Commerce changed its name to Hitotsubashi University, and today the university has five schools: the Faculty of Commerce and Management, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Social Data Science.

In 2018, the Hitotsubashi University Business School (HUB) was created through restructuring and consolidation of the existing graduate school programs. The new business school comprises two schools: the SBA (the School of Business Administration), which provides Japanese programs, and the ICS (the School of International Corporate Strategy), which provides English programs. The new SBA offers three MBA programs (the Business Administration Program, the Business Analysis Program, and the Financial Strategy Program) and three researcher training courses (master’s and doctoral courses at Kunitachi Campus, a doctoral course in the Financial Strategy Program at Chiyoda Campus, and a doctoral course in the Innovation Management Program), with a variety of curricula and a broad range of learning opportunities, including both daytime and evening classes.

Together, the Faculty of Commerce and Management and Graduate School of Commerce and Management constitute a single Business Academic Unit (BAU) responsible for undergraduate and graduate education respectively.

The Japanese economy is facing an unprecedented ageing and declining population. Such times of major environmental change call for the emergence of new leaders who do not just rely on their past experience, but who also possess the ability to make logical decisions based on their intellect.

　

The mission that governs the School of Business Administration (SBA), ‘Leadership, Innovation, Integrity,’ guides our hand in our pivotal role developing the caliber of human resources required to meet the challenges of today and those of tomorrow. The two pillars of the SBA are its MBA programs and its Researcher Training Course. These exciting and modern programs are offered in many forms to meet the needs of the modern student and businessperson, including lecture times (weekday daytime and evening programs), language of instruction, and areas of specialization.

　

The SBA has, since the establishment of Hitotsubashi University as the Commercial Training School (Shōhō-Kōshūjo), spearheaded education and research in management fields, continuously evolving and adapting alongside an ever-changing society. Going forward, the SBA will continue to be at the forefront of innovation through its development of the Captains of Industry who will usher in a new era for Japan, Asia, and the greater global community.

“Captains of Industry" are leaders in the business world. Since its founding as an educational institution, Hitotsubashi University has produced many such outstanding business leaders. This role continues to be Hitotsubashi University’s primary mission.

　

That mission is defined in our mission statement, which inspires us to forge an environment of academic excellence. The pursuit and realization of this aspiration is embraced by all members of the Graduate School of Business Administration, including our faculty, our staff, and our students.