History of Excellence

Wayo has received recognition for its excellence in women's education since it was founded.

In an era when education was not open to women, Chiyo Horikoshi founded Wayo Sewing Women's Institute in 1897. The Institute focused on teaching both Japanese dressmaking and western dressmaking, which was new at that time in Japan. The Institute's educational goal was to teach sewing skills for domestic life and to groom women to teach. As a result, Wayo produced many excellent home economics teachers, some of whom later became the founders and presidents of women's universities, which is one of Wayo's greatest contributions to Women's education.

The sewing institute grew into a technical college that aimed to prepare women to be independent and play vital roles in modernizing Japan.

In 1949, Wayo Women's University was organized under the new Japanese educational system. Wayo started to expand into new educational areas. Of all the universities in Japan, Wayo is one of the 150 that have met the new, rigorous standards of the Japan University Accreditation Association. Over its long history, Wayo has graduated many leaders and outstanding women.

For these reasons, Wayo has been appreciated in Japanese women's education since it was founded over 110 years ago.

Logo Mark

To commemorate the 110th anniversary of Wayo Women’s University, the logo mark of the university was renewed.
The stately frame expresses tradition and education philosophy, which is the basic foundation unshaken by the changes of time. On the other hand, the shape of a flower inside the frame, represents the initial for Wayo, and expresses innovation and flexibility, which is the mission statement of the university. The flower also symbolizes students who grow up to be adults with a sense of gentle hospitality and the ability to communicate which will allow them to contribute to society in many ways.
The combination of straight and soft lines, the stately frame, and the gentle flower is related to the spirit of the university “Japanese virtues and Western learning.” Wayo Women’s University has strongly wished to educate women who can communicate on an equal footing with people all over the world while having pride and confidence as Japanese women.
The color pink was chosen after the name of a flower, “the pink,” to express the gentleness and strength of women educated in such traditions, and the innovation of the university is symbolized by a darker pink frame.

History

1897	Wayo Sewing Women's Institute was founded in Iidabashi, Tokyo by Chiyo Horikoshi. At that time, Wayo only taught dressmaking.	Founder Chiyo Horikoshi
1928	Wayo Sewing Women's School became Wayo Women's Vocational School.
1946	The school was relocated to Konodai Campus in Ichikawa because all buildings were destroyed by WWII air raids in Tokyo.
1949	Wayo Women's University was organized under the new Japanese educational system. It consisted of the School of Home Economics only.
1950	Wayo Women's Junior College was organized. Its Department of Home Economics included a teacher-training course for home economics and health.
1953	Wayo was designated as a dietitian training institution.	Meiji era Alumni
1954	The Department of Japanese Literature was added to the junior college.
1961	The Department of English was added to the university and the name was changed to the School of Literature and Home Economics of Wayo Women's University.
1965	The Department of Japanese Literature was added to the university.
1966	The Department of English was added to the junior college.
1967	The university was designated as a management dietitian training institution.
1992	The Museum of Wayo Women's University was opened.
1997	Wayo celebrated its centennial anniversary.	The Centennial Anniversary ceremony
1998	The university was reorganized into the Faculty of Humanities with the departments of English, Japanese Literature, and International Social Studies and the School of Home Economics with the departments of Costume and Art, Health and Nutrition, and Life and Environment. The junior college was reorganized to include the departments of Japanese Literature, English Language and Cultural Studies, Costume and Human Life, and Food and Nutrition.
2002	Wayo's junior college stopped admitting new students. Wayo Graduate School was established to offer master's degrees in English Language and Literature, Japanese Literature, and Human Life Science. The Faculty of Humanities added the Department of Human Development and the Department of Life and Environment added social welfare studies.
2003	The Department of Human Development was added to the Faculty of Humanities.
2004	The Wayo Women's University Library and the Information-processing Center was unified.
	The South Building The East Building The West Building
2007	Wayo celebrated its 110th anniversary. 110th Anniversary International Symposium was held.
2008	Wayo was reorganized into a new integrated academic structure with two schools, 6 departments, 9 majors and 8 specializations. To facilitate expanded research capabilities, faculty members are also assigned to one of 13 separete research groups. Wayo was accredited by the Japan University Accreditation Association.
2009	Wayo was designated as a hursery teacher training institution. Wayo Graduate School was established to offer doctoral Program in Human Ecology Department.