Brief History of Ibaraki Christian Education Community
As with many institutions of service and education, Ibaraki Christian University has a fascinating history. Situated near the Pacific Ocean in the small town of Omika, Ibaraki Christian University has developed into an important academic institution including: Graduate Schools of Literature (2 programs: Language & Linguistics, Education), Life Sciences, and Nursing, The College of Literature, The College of Life Sciences, The College of Nursing, and from 2011 the College of Business Administration and two new graduate schools: Life Sciences (with Food Sciences and Human Nutrition Programs) and Nursing (with Basic Nursing Sciences and Practical Nursing Studies programs).
The evolution of the institution can be traced to the opening of a kindergarden in Taga in 1948 and a high school and junior college on our current campus. The founders of the school included both Japanese and Americans. Shunzo Asano and Sakari Nagano were employees of Hitachi Manufacturing Company. They were men of business who recognized that Japan needed a spiritual as well as financial recovery from the war. Ryohachi Shigekuni and Shoichi Oka were two other Christian visionaries who dedicated their talents to the establishment of the school. The American founders included such names as Orvil Dean Bixler, Harry Robert Fox, Sr. (both served in Japan as missionaries before the war), E. W. McMillan (a minister in Memphis, Tennessee) and the sons of H.R. Fox, Sr: Harry Robert Fox, Jr, and Logan Fox. The institution has had an international focus from its inception.
In the early days, the schools were largely funded by contributions from American Christians, and the campus was a training ground for evangelists. Ibaraki Christian University is no longer a mission school, but we remain a school with a mission: educating and equipping students from diverse backgrounds in order that they might contribute to the advancement of society. Although the majority of present students and faculty come from non-Christian backgrounds, the university encourages respect for its unique heritage, and continues to base its education on principles found at the heart of the Christian faith.
| 1948 | Establishment of Shion Campus |
| 1949 | Establishment of Shion Junior College and Senior High School |
| 1950 | College name changed to Ibaraki Christian Junior College (ICJC) |
| 1951 | Department of Home Economics established (ICJC) |
| 1955 | Counseling Center (Present Institute of Counseling) established |
| 1962 | Junior High School established |
| 1967 | Ibaraki Christian College established (ICC) |
| 1974 | Department of Japanese Literature established (ICJC) |
| 1982 | Department of Elementary Education established (ICC) |
| 1987 | The Institute of Language and Culture established (ICC) |
| 1995 | Graduate School of Literature established (ICC) (Education, and English Literature and Linguistics) |
| 1998 | Department of Cross-Cultural Studies established (ICC) |
| 2000 | College of Life Sciences established (Department of Human Welfare and Department of Food Sciences) Institutional name changed to Ibaraki Christian University with initials of IC |
| 2004 | College of Nursing established (IC) (Department of Nursing) |
| 2011 | College of Business Administration (IC) (Department of Business Administration) |
| 2011 | Graduate School of Life Sciences (IC) (with Food Sciences and Human Nutrition Programs) |
| 2011 | Graduate School of Nursing (IC) (with Basic Nursing Sciences and Practical Nursing Studies programs) |