The , or , historically known as the Peers' School, is a Japanese educational institution in Tokyo, originally established as GakushÃ
«jo to educate the children of Japan's nobility. The original school expanded from its original mandate of educating the social elite and has since become a network of institutions which encompasses preschool through tertiary-level education.
History
The Peers' School was founded in 1847 by Emperor NinkÃ
 in Kyoto and placed under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency. Its purpose was to educate the children of the Imperial aristocracy (kuge). Prior to the disestablishment of the Peerage in 1947, commoners had restricted access to Gakushuin, with limited slots only to the Elementary School and Middle School.
In 1947, with the American-mandated disestablishment of the peerage system, enrollment in Gakushuin was fully opened to the general public. At the same time, administration of the school was transferred to the Ministry of Education.
Precepts
Emperor Ninko had four maxims inscribed on the walls of the GakushÃ
«in building, including
- Walk in the paths trodden by the feet of the great sages.
- Revere the righteous canons of the empire.
- He that has not learned the sacred doctrines, how can he govern himself?
- He that is ignorant of the classics, how can he regulate his own conduct?
The school was moved to Tokyo in 1877. Its new purpose was to educate the children of the modern aristocracy. Members of the Imperial Family continue to study at GakushÃ
«in.
Timeline
- 1847: founded as Peers' School.
- 1877: the school was established in Tokyo.
- 1884: GakushÃ
«in became an Imperial institution.
- 1885: Peeresses' School was created.
- 1947: GakushÃ
«in became a private institution.
Gakushuin Corporation
The present-day Gakushuin School Corporation comprises the following institutions:
Presidents
Notable alumni and faculty members
Teachers
Alumni
For alumni of Gakushuin University, see: GakushÃ
«in University#Notable alumni
Imperial House of Japan
- Yoshihito, Emperor TaishÃ
 - late 123rd Emperor of Japan
- Hirohito, Emperor ShÃ
Âwa - late 124th Emperor of Japan
- Nagako, Empress KÃ
Âjun, late Empress Dowager of Japan
- Emperor Akihito - Former 125th Emperor of Japan
- Emperor Naruhito - Current 126th Emperor of Japan
- Masahito, Prince Hitachi - brother of Emperor Akihito
- Hanako, Princess Hitachi - wife of the Prince Hitachi
- Fumihito, Prince Akishino - son of Emperor Akihito
- Kiko, Princess Akishino - wife of the Prince Akishino
- Kazuko, Princess Taka - sister of Emperor Akihito
- Shigeko, Princess Teru - sister of Emperor Akihito
- Atsuko, Princess Yori - sister of Emperor Akihito
- Takako, Princess Suga - sister of Emperor Akihito
- Sayako, Princess Nori - daughter of Emperor Akihito
- Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu - brother of Emperor ShÃ
Âwa
- Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu - wife of the Prince Takamatsu
- Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu - brother of Emperor ShÃ
Âwa
- Takahito, Prince Mikasa - brother of Emperor ShÃ
Âwa
- Yuriko, Princess Mikasa - wife of the Prince Mikasa
- Prince Tomohito of Mikasa - son of the Prince Mikasa
- Princess Yasuko of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa
- Princess Masako of Mikasa - daughter of the Prince Mikasa
- Princess Akiko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito
- Princess YÃ
Âko of Mikasa - daughter of Prince Tomohito
- Norihito, Prince Takamado - son of the Prince Mikasa
- Princess Tsuguko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado
- Princess Noriko of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado
- Princess Ayako of Takamado - daughter of the Prince Takamado
- Yoshihito, Prince Katsura - son of Prince Mikasa
- Aiko, Princess Toshi - daughter of Emperor Naruhito
Imperial House of Yi (Korea)
Others
- Huisheng Aisin-Gioro, Qing Princess, Niece of Puyi
- Kuniko Asagi
- TarÃ
 AsÃ
Â, former Prime Minister of Japan
- Yoshihiko Funazaki, Author
- Toshiyuki Hosokawa
- Yasuko Ikenobo
- Marina Inoue
- Tetsuya Kakihara
- Akiko Kamei
- Hisaoki Kamei
- Michihiko Kano
- Akiko Kobayashi
- Kiyoshi Kodama
- Yoshiki Kuroda
- Yuki Kawauchi, Runner
- Yukio Mishima, Author
- Hayao Miyazaki, Director
- Keiko Nagaoka
- Hiroyuki Namba
- Shiono Nanami, Author
- Yoko Ono
- Yoshinobu Shimamura
- Yoshiki Tanaka, Author
- Satomi Ton
- Tokugawa Tsunenari
- Mona Yamamoto
- Akira Yoshimura, Author
In fiction
In the novel Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima, set in the early 1910s, the characters Kiyoaki Matsugae and Shigekuni Honda attend the school.
References
External links