Hibiya High School
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese high school
founded in 1878 as the . It was well known in the 1950s and 1960s for the large proportion of graduates who gained admission to the prestigious University of Tokyo
; though it suffered a decline in the 1970s, as of 2005 it was once again being referred to as the "best public high school in Japan".
; soon after, it moved to Kanda-ku
, and moved several more times in the next two decades. Its establishment was the result of the Meiji Restoration
drive to modernise the model of education in order to catch up with Western Europe and the United States.The Meiji era government and Tokyo Imperial University requested the thickened as a part route to Tokyo Imperial University though Tokyo First did not lay weight at first on the side of going on to school.
The school came to attract students not just from within Japan, but overseas as well; in 1904, out of 50 students granted scholarships by Korea's Joseon Dynasty
for overseas study
, 44 of them enrolled at Tokyo First Middle School. However, they were all expelled due to a protest they organised in 1905 over the signing of the Eulsa Treaty
, which effectively made the Korean Empire
a protectorate of the Empire of Japan
. 25 were permitted to re-enrol the following year, but the leaders of the protest, including Choe Nam-seon (who would later become active in the Korean independence movement
), were permanently expelled.
By 1918, only four decades after its founding, Tokyo First had already become the first step on the "escalator course
" which students expected would lead them to Tokyo Imperial University
.
After World War II
, Tokyo First Middle School went through a number of changes; it officially changed its name to Hibiya High School on 26 January 1950, and began admitting female students
in April of the same year. Its first coeducational class enrolled 300 boys and 100 girls.
Though First Tokyo's track record for getting its students into higher schools and university in the pre-war period was beneath that of other elite middle schools (specifically Fourth Tokyo Middle School), between 1953 and 1967, Hibiya High School consistently ranked first in the number of graduates entering the top-ranked University of Tokyo
, and due to its reputation for excellence, enrolled students from as far away as Kyūshū
. In common with the rest of the Tokyo public school system, its prestige declined during the early 1970s. Until 1974, at least 20 graduates were admitted to the University of Tokyo each year (down from the peak of 193 graduates in 1964), but according to one account, the school had "dropped out of the spotlight altogether" by 1975. In 1993, not a single student from Hibiya High School gained admission to the University of Tokyo. However, under the leadership of the new principal Nagasawa, appointed in 2001, the school underwent a "renaissance". In 2005, it was once again described by the Dong-a Ilbo
, a South Korean newspaper, as "the best public school in Japan"; the following year, 12 students gained admission to the University of Tokyo, and two years later, that figure more than doubled to 28.
Education in Japan
In Japan, education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Approximately 98% of all students progress to the upper secondary level, which is voluntary . Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the upper...
founded in 1878 as the . It was well known in the 1950s and 1960s for the large proportion of graduates who gained admission to the prestigious University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
; though it suffered a decline in the 1970s, as of 2005 it was once again being referred to as the "best public high school in Japan".
History
Tokyo First Middle School was established on 26 September 1878 in Tokyo's Hongō-kuHongo
Hongō is a district of Tokyo located in Bunkyō-ku, due north of the Tokyo Imperial Palace and west of Ueno. Hongō was a ward of the former city of Tokyo until 1947, when it merged with another ward, Koishikawa, to form the modern Bunkyō....
; soon after, it moved to Kanda-ku
Kanda, Tokyo
See also Kanda, Fukuoka and the disambiguation page for Kanda. is a district in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It encompasses about thirty neighborhoods...
, and moved several more times in the next two decades. Its establishment was the result of the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
drive to modernise the model of education in order to catch up with Western Europe and the United States.The Meiji era government and Tokyo Imperial University requested the thickened as a part route to Tokyo Imperial University though Tokyo First did not lay weight at first on the side of going on to school.
The school came to attract students not just from within Japan, but overseas as well; in 1904, out of 50 students granted scholarships by Korea's Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
for overseas study
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
, 44 of them enrolled at Tokyo First Middle School. However, they were all expelled due to a protest they organised in 1905 over the signing of the Eulsa Treaty
Eulsa Treaty
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905....
, which effectively made the Korean Empire
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...
a protectorate of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. 25 were permitted to re-enrol the following year, but the leaders of the protest, including Choe Nam-seon (who would later become active in the Korean independence movement
Korean independence movement
The Korean independence movement grew out of the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. After the Japanese surrendered, Korea became independent; that day is now an annual holiday called Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, and Chogukhaebangŭi nal in North Korea.-Background:In...
), were permanently expelled.
By 1918, only four decades after its founding, Tokyo First had already become the first step on the "escalator course
Feeder school
Feeder school is a name applied to schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions that provide a significant number of graduates who intend to continue their studies at specific schools, or even in specific fields....
" which students expected would lead them to Tokyo Imperial University
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Tokyo First Middle School went through a number of changes; it officially changed its name to Hibiya High School on 26 January 1950, and began admitting female students
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
in April of the same year. Its first coeducational class enrolled 300 boys and 100 girls.
Though First Tokyo's track record for getting its students into higher schools and university in the pre-war period was beneath that of other elite middle schools (specifically Fourth Tokyo Middle School), between 1953 and 1967, Hibiya High School consistently ranked first in the number of graduates entering the top-ranked University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
, and due to its reputation for excellence, enrolled students from as far away as Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. In common with the rest of the Tokyo public school system, its prestige declined during the early 1970s. Until 1974, at least 20 graduates were admitted to the University of Tokyo each year (down from the peak of 193 graduates in 1964), but according to one account, the school had "dropped out of the spotlight altogether" by 1975. In 1993, not a single student from Hibiya High School gained admission to the University of Tokyo. However, under the leadership of the new principal Nagasawa, appointed in 2001, the school underwent a "renaissance". In 2005, it was once again described by the Dong-a Ilbo
Dong-a Ilbo
The Dong-a Ilbo is one of three major South Korean newspapers with over 2 million daily circulation...
, a South Korean newspaper, as "the best public school in Japan"; the following year, 12 students gained admission to the University of Tokyo, and two years later, that figure more than doubled to 28.