Gakushūin
The Gakushūin (学習院) or Peers School (Gakushūin School Corporation) is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners. Notable alumni include Shōwa Emperor Hirohito, the reigning emperor Akihito, Yukio Mishima, and Yoko Ono.
After World War II, the Gakushūin became a private institution and subsequently established new educational affiliates, the most important of which is Gakushuin University. Although it is often said that Gakushūin University is not to be confused with the original school for children of the peerage, members of the Imperial Family are still studying there. The only difference is that it now accepts students from all levels of society.
Presidents
| No. | Name | Year | Title | Military rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tachibana Taneyuki | 1877–1884 | Viscount | – | Last lord of Miike Domain. |
| 2 | Tani Tateki | 1884–1885 | Viscount | Lieutenant General (IJA) | Former president of Imperial Japanese Army Academy |
| 3 | Ōtori Keisuke | 1885–1887 | Baron | – | Member of Privy council. |
| 4 | Miura Gorō | 1887–1891 | Viscount | Lieutenant General (IJA) | |
| 5 | Iwakura Tomosada | 1891 | Duke | – | |
| 6 | Tanaka Mitsuaki | 1891–1894 | Viscount | Major General (IJA) | |
| 7 | Konoe Atsumaro | 1894–1903 | Duke | – | The heir of Konoe family. The president of House of Peers (1892–1905) |
| 8 | Kikuchi Dairoku | 1903–1904 | Baron | – | Mathematician and Minister of Education (1901–1903). |
| 9 | Yamaguchi Einosuke | 1905–1906 | – | – | Physicist. |
| 10 | Nogi Maresuke | 1906–1912 | Count | General (IJA) | Emperor Showa entered school in 1908 and graduated in 1914. |
| 11 | Osako Naoharu | 1912–1917 | Viscount | General (IJA) | |
| 12 | Hōjō Tokiyuki | 1917–1920 | – | – | Mathematician. Former president of Tohoku Imperial University (1913–1917). |
| 13 | Ichinohe Hyoe | 1920–1922 | – | General (IJA) | The Inspectorate General of Military Training |
| 14 | Fukuhara Ryojirō | 1922–1929 | – | – | Former president of Tohoku Imperial University (1917–1919) |
| 15 | Araki Torasaburō | 1929–1937 | – | – | Medical scientist. Former president of Kyoto Imperial University (1915–1929) |
| 16 | Nomura Kichisaburō | 1937–1939 | – | Admiral (IJN) | |
| 17 | Yamanashi Katsunoshin | 1939–1946 | – | Admiral (IJN) |
Notable alumni and faculty members
Teachers
- Kanō Jigorō—taught at Gakushūin
- Inagaki Manjirō—taught briefly at Gakushūin
Alumni
- About alumni of Gakushuin University, see: Gakushūin University#Notable alumni
- Yukio Mishima—graduated from Gakushūin High school
- Ton Satomi author
- Yoko Ono
In Fiction
In the novel Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima set in the early 1910's the characters Kiyoaki Matsugae and Shigekuni Honda attend the Peers School.