Tokyo Keizai University (TKU) — International Student Guide: Admissions, Tuition, Campus Life & Careers

Thinking about studying in Japan but unsure where to start? Tokyo Keizai University (TKU) is a student-centered private university in west Tokyo with strengths in business, economics, communication, and law—plus a practical “learn by doing” ethos. This guide walks you through TKU’s profile, programs, tuition in ¥, international support, exchange options, campus life, climate, career outcomes, and data you can actually use. It’s written for overseas applicants and their families, with official sources linked for every key claim. Bookmark, compare, and plan with confidence.

Tokyo Keizai University — Free-to-Use Symbolic Photos (English captions)

Quick Facts: Tokyo Keizai University (TKU)

Use this high-level snapshot to compare TKU with your other options. Data points include type, student size, campuses, faculties, tuition (¥), gender ratio, international student share, and students per staff. Source links open in new tabs.

Type	Private university
Total Students	Approx. 7,000–8,000 (latest public data; see University Data)
Campuses	Kokubunji (main); Musashimurayama (athletics & facilities). Access: Kokubunji / Musashimurayama
Faculties/Schools	Economics; Business Administration; Communication (Media Studies / International Communication); Contemporary Law. Graduate Schools in Economics, Business Administration, Communication, Law. Graduate overview (EN)
Tasse scolastiche	Undergrad benchmark: ~¥1,200,000–1,300,000/year (varies by faculty & year); official updates: Tuition (JP) / Grad fees: Graduate Tuition (JP)
Gender Ratio	Male ~60–65% / Female ~35–40% (varies by faculty; see University Data; related initiative: WOW! Project (JP))
Intl-Student %	1.5% (100 international students out of 6,795 total; as of May 1, 2025) ; year-by-year details in University Data
Students per Staff	39:1 overall; see staffing data/financials (Institutional Financials, JP)

Campus Maps

Kokubunji Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 1-7-34 Minami-cho, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8502, Japan

Musashimurayama Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 5-22-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Founded in 1900 by industrialist Okura Kihachirō as Ōkura Commercial School, Tokyo Keizai University (TKU) has evolved into a comprehensive social-sciences university emphasizing practical, ethical, and globally minded education. The university’s motto, often summarized as “Forward Forever (進一層) with honesty and responsibility,” shows up not only in its curriculum but also in its strong seminar (ゼミ) culture and hands-on programs. TKU sits in Kokubunji, a green, residential city of western Tokyo—historically connected to the Okura family and the refined design heritage later seen at The Okura Tokyo hotel area in central Tokyo. For quick background, see Wikipedia and the university’s institutional brochures (2025, 2024), and accreditation/quality assurance (JUAA evaluation summary: English / JP PDF: link).

The founding spirit was born in Japan’s late-Meiji modernization and commercial expansion. Okura—whose ventures connected Japan with global trade—pushed for applied learning that prepared students to build organizations, manage risk, communicate across cultures, and steward trust. TKU’s long-running seminar system, capstone projects, and career design initiatives keep this spirit alive. A century later, the university organizes four faculties (Economics; Business Administration; Communication; Contemporary Law) and four graduate schools, with a steady pipeline from fundamentals to specialized research. See campus access for Kokubunji e Musashimurayama.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Data-Driven Business Administration & Career Design (Flagship)

If you want employability-centered studies with real-world practice, TKU’s Business Administration faculty and the university-wide Career Design Program form a strong combo. Curricula emphasize management, accounting, finance, marketing & distribution—mapped clearly in official syllabi and “履修要項” (curriculum handbooks). For reference, see the BA Handbook 2024 (JP, PDF) (also a 2025 version is available) and Career Design materials; faculty expertise is searchable in the researchers’ database (sample profiles in English available).

If multiple “flagships” fit you

TKU’s Economics faculty is a solid path for policy and data analysis; Communication offers “Media Studies” and “International Communication”; Contemporary Law focuses on practical, modern legal literacy. Check each handbook (Economics/Communication/Law) to see course sequences and seminar offerings.

Seminar (ゼミ) Culture & Small-Group Learning

Small seminars run across all faculties, building discussion, presentation, and project management skills. This is also where students connect with professors for research and career advice. See the researchers’ database (EN entries available) for potential supervisors and research themes (e.g., management, international communication, media, economics).

International Exchange & Partner Network

TKU maintains exchange agreements across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. Priority is placed on sending students abroad for language and subject immersion, with multiple “★” (dispatch) partners. See the latest partner list at International Exchange (JP).

Location Advantage: West Tokyo Green Belt

Kokubunji campus offers a calm study base with quick rail access to central Tokyo. Living costs are generally lower than downtown wards, with the benefits of parks and residential neighborhoods. Athletics and large facilities are linked to the Musashimurayama site. Access pages: Kokubunji / Musashimurayama.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles Welcome Newcomers

Explore TKU’s cultural clubs (Bunka-kai) and athletic clubs (Taiiku-kai). Many circles actively recruit international students. Campus magazine “Hanamichi” highlights stories and events (link).

International Support Offices

Dedicated staff support visas, housing, scholarships, and counseling. See the official page for inbound students (JP): International Student Support. Language-exchange lounges and peer mentoring are advertised via the International Exchange section (Coto Patio / All exchange pages).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

TKU’s partner network prioritizes outbound mobility. Students can aim for semester exchanges or short programs with institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Check the current partner list and eligibility on this page (JP), which marks dispatch-eligible schools (★).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Patterns (Recent Years)

Tokyo has humid summers and mild winters. Using recent data, you can expect summer highs often above 30°C and winter lows near 0–5°C. Verify month-by-month with the Japan Meteorological Agency’s data table for Tokyo (JMA monthly stats) and independent visualization resources (WeatherSpark 2024; station archive at Meteostat). For national trends, see English digests on Nippon.com (e.g., 2024 was a record-hot year: report).

Living Environment, Safety, and Costs

Kokubunji and neighboring cities offer relatively balanced rent levels vs. central Tokyo, abundant supermarkets, and access to parks. University support covers housing introductions and, for eligible students, tuition reduction or scholarships (see International Student Support for current terms).

International Student Statistics

International enrollment at TKU typically sits in the single-digit percentage range for undergraduates, with variation by year and faculty. For the most recent breakdown (including gender and totals), check the official University Data (JP). TKU’s recruitment and support structures mean the mix skews to Asia (China, Vietnam, etc.) with growing links to North America and Europe.

Career & Graduate Prospects

TKU publishes career outcome dashboards that summarize placement by industry, company size, and job function. Expect strong pipelines into finance, services, manufacturing, logistics, media, and public organizations, reflecting TKU’s business and economics strengths. See the latest career data page (JP): Career Outcomes. University financials and governance disclosures are also public (institutional reports), and independent profiles like THE provide third-party snapshots (profile).

Practical Details & Useful Links

• University profile pages: THE / Graduate schools (EN): TKU Graduate
• Tuition & scholarships (JP): Tuition / Intl Support
• University data (enrollment, gender, etc.): TKU Data
• Access: Kokubunji / Musashimurayama