HYOGO, Jul 30 (News On Japan) - Mukogawa Women's University in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, has announced it will become coeducational starting in the 2027 academic year. The move highlights a growing crossroads for Japan’s women's universities.
With nearly 10,000 students across 13 faculties, Mukogawa is one of the largest women's universities in Japan. On July 29th, the university held a press conference to confirm the shift to coeducation and announced that it will change its name to Mukogawa University, dropping the word "Women's" from its official title.
Some students voiced opposition to the change.
A second-year student said, "I was shocked. I'm against it."
A fourth-year student added, "I chose a women’s university because it felt easier to be myself without worrying about how I act around boys. This feels suffocating."
Despite these concerns, Mukogawa Women's University decided to move forward with coeducation. At the press conference, Ryo Okawara, chair of the Mukogawa Gakuin board, explained the rationale behind the decision.
"With the accelerating decline in the birthrate, universities are entering an era of intense competition," said Okawara. "There's a clear trend among high school students of moving away from women’s universities. We can no longer ignore the harsh outlook for institutions that serve only female students."
According to the university, the number of applicants through the general entrance exam has halved compared to fiscal 2020. It warns that without changes, it may not be able to maintain its current scale in four to six years.
Some women’s universities that have already become coeducational report improved enrollment rates, making coeducation a key strategy for financial sustainability.
While more women’s universities are shifting in this direction, others are choosing to reaffirm their identity. At Kyoto Women’s University, one of Kansai's most prestigious women’s institutions, the main entrance prominently displays a "Women’s University Declaration," which is posted throughout campus.
President Eiko Takeyasu said, "I've heard many concerns from current students who are unsure about their future. I felt we had to first ease their anxiety and restore calm."
The university believes that providing an environment for women to grow freely is essential in Japanese society.
A third-year student commented, "Having boys around might make you more self-conscious or cause you to hold back."
A first-year student said, "Compared to when I was in a coed high school, I can truly be myself every day here. I feel free to express my individuality."
Takeyasu added, "In this society, women often unconsciously put on the ‘feminine’ mask. But in a women-only environment, they can shed that and discover capabilities they didn't realize they had. It allows them to grow into who they really are."
As more institutions see coeducation as a lifeline, women’s universities must now make a difficult choice: maintain tradition or adapt to survive.
Anchor Chiaki Kuroki asked why women's universities are declining.
Announcer Mikiyasu Watanabe presented the situation at major women’s universities in Kansai. Mukogawa Women's University, which officially announced its coeducational plan on July 29th, cited a sharp drop in applicants as a key reason. After announcing the coeducation plan in June, the number of visitors to its open campus events increased by 1.5 times compared to the previous year.
Other schools are following suit. Kyoto Koka Women's University will become coeducational in the 2026 academic year. Kobe Kaisei Women’s University and Kyoto Notre Dame University have already halted student recruitment, with Kobe Kaisei having done so starting in 2024.
Asked why students are turning away from women’s universities, Watanabe pointed to declining birthrates and changes in admissions systems. He also cited an expert opinion: “With the 2015 enactment of the Act on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, more women are aiming for career-track positions. This has made them more likely to choose academically prestigious coed universities, contributing to the decline in women’s universities.”
Kuroki then asked how universities view the role of women’s education.
Watanabe presented two perspectives. Mukogawa’s chair Okawara stated, “To succeed in society, women need to collaborate with men. This is increasingly expected, so it’s important to foster such collaboration from the university level.”
In contrast, Kyoto Women’s University President Takeyasu said, “Even if systems change, gender disparities persist beneath the surface. Women-only institutions help eliminate those disparities and offer a nurturing environment—something essential in Japanese education.”
Kuroki concluded, "While it's important to provide various options, there will always be women who need a women-only learning environment. Offering a broad range of choices is key for society as a whole."
Source: YOMIURI
