The materials held by this center are on display in the Kokugakuin University Museum (Shibuya Campus). We look forward to welcoming you to view the materials soon.

New Events

FY2009 – Triangular mirror depicting gods and beasts, source region unknown, pre-Kofun period (created from a mold as the Gifu Prefecture Nagatsuka Kofun mirror and the Mie Prefecture Tsutsuno Kofun Mirror)

FY2010 – Delicate copper sword, source region unknown, Mid-Yayoi Period

FY2011 – Shakokidogu clay figure, Tohoku region, Late-Jomon period

FY2011 – Feminine haniwa figure, said to be from Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, Late-Kofun Period

The Kokugakuin University Museum was founded when Dr. Kiyoyuki Higuchi, then an undergrad student, donated approximately 4,000 archeological resources collected in Nara Prefecture to the University in April 1928. Originally, the Museum was called the “Archeological Showroom,” and was housed in a small area of approximately 30 square meters. In 1932, the materials were moved from the library to the National History Research Office, and renamed the “Archeology Museum.” Dr. Kiyoyuki Higuchi, at the time a research assistant, took charge of the museum, laying the foundation for the museum organization that we have today. The museum at that time was a center within the Ancient Culture Association founded by Dr. Ryuzo Torii (which later became the Kokugakuin University Archeological Society), and was a gathering point for archeology students who would later go on to join the Inyukai alumni association. The “Museum Chorus” written at that time is still sung today by Archeology students in the Archeology Department of the Faculty of Letters and the University’s Literary Research Department. In 1952, the Office was recognized as a facility equivalent to a museum by the Museum Act. As a result, a system was established within the University to allow students to learn what they need to know about museums for the curation courses required to obtain art curator licensing. In addition, in 1975, the Office was again renamed as the Museum of Archeology.

As part of commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of Kokugakuin University, the Shinto Museum was established in May 1963. This was renamed as the Shinto Resource Exhibition Hall in 1978, and again as the Shinto Museum again in 1990. This facility has not only plays a role as a research and education organization for the Department of Shinto in the Faculty of Letters (currently known as the Faculty for Shinto Studies) and the Kokugakuin Literary Research Department, it also works to promote and publish resources related to Shinto.

At the time of the expansion and reorganization of the Japanese Culture Research Center into the Organization for the Advancement of Research and Development in 2007, these two buildings were merged into the Academic Museum, a shared use research organization within that Institute, signaling a new start for each organization. In 2008, they were moved to the completed AMC building in Jobanmatsu. Over the course of this long history, the Kokugakuin University Museum has developed a collection of 10,000 items. Many of those are now on display in the Museum in the archeology and Shinto sections.

For an overview of archeological research at Kokugakuin University and a history of that research, including the activities of this Center, please see the following link.

April 1928 – Established by Professor Emeritus Kiyoyuki Higuchi.

April 1949 – Annex created in the Kokugakuin University Senior High School.

December 1952 – Designated as a facility equivalent to a museum.

July 1960 – Museum moved to the second floor of the library.

August 1965 – Collection established on the ground floor of Jobanmatsu Building 1.

September 1968 – Completion of Jobanmatsu Building 2. Research Office, Curation Office, Exhibition Office, Collection Office, and Archeology/Museum Learning Office established.

April 1980 – Along with the new construction of the library collection archives, second and third archives, as well as new office established.

April 2007 – Reorganization as the Kokugakuin Academic Resource Center (Museum of Archeology Division).

March 2008 – Completion of Academic Media Center building. Display of collection in the Traditional Culture Research Center Museum.

April 2013 – Formation of the Kokugakuin University Museum.