Established in 1585 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, Keiso was the oldest Western private higher education institution in Japan. Over 160 years since its founding, the university has thrived under its founder’s motto of jitsugaku — application of reasons, observation, and verification in learning — as it continues to transform Japan as a modern nation through contributions to education, research, and medicine.

Keio University is a comprehensive academic enterprise with six major campuses in Japan and a number of affiliated academic institutions on these campuses. Additionally, the university also operates several Town Campuses and a high school in New York. It has 10 undergraduate faculties and 14 graduate schools, offering over 970 courses taught in English to over 33,500 students on campus, of which 2,100 are international students.

Keio actively leverages its strength as a comprehensive university to promote multidisciplinary research under the initiatives of Longevity, Security, and Creativity. It contributes to solving both domestic and global challenges through international joint research under the three initiatives, while also developing various educational programs that aim to cultivate individuals equipped with an international mindset. Recent project include addressing urgent issue of declining birth rates and aging population faced by Japan and many developed nations. The research efforts of Keio also aligns closely with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environment, and justice.