University Emblem and Kokushikan Logo

The maple leaf, chosen by common consensus Kokushikan University moved near Shoin Shrine in Setagaya in 1919 from Azabu Kogai-cho (present day Minami-aoyama). The previous year, the founding members of Kokushikan University visited Shoin Shrine. These men greatly revered Shoin Yoshida, a man who lived a spartan life as a philosopher and educator during the turbulent late Edo period. They wanted the newly established Kokushikan University to be an academy in the same lineage as Shōkasonjuku Academy. There is a cherry tree on the shrine grounds representing the spirit of Japan and an old maple tree symbolizing Shoin's fiery passion. On the morning of the ceremony establishing Kokushikan High School (the predecessor to the modern day university), founding headmaster Tokujiro Shibata is said to have secretly chosen the maple leaf for the school symbol upon being reminded of Shoin's true heart after looking at a maple tree appearing crimson red in the morning sun. In the spring of 1920, headmaster Shibata presented this idea to the student's association (a student-run organization) and they were in favor. The seven-leaf maple leaf symbolizing unfailing devotion to the nation was thus chosen as the school symbol through common consensus.

The Kokushikan Symbol has two rectangles representing "history" and "future hope" overlapping an arc, symbolizing the "earth". This in turn represents Kokushikan's initial "K". Kokushikan aims to establish an energetic academic environment with people using their own culture, knowledge and skills dynamically and in a way open to the community and global society. The School color "Kokushikan Red" is inspired by the deep red of the maple leaf and expresses our passion and delight.