Aoyama Gakuin University

is a private Christian university in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Originally established in 1874 by missionaries from the Methodist Episcopal Church, it was reconfigured in its current form in 1949 as part of Aoyama Gakuin. Aoyama Gakuin University is one of Japan's oldest higher education facilities. Among the notable alumni of Aoyama Gakuin University are Shin Dong-bin, the current president of Lotte Group, and his brother, Shin Dong-ju. Other distinguished graduates include Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder and CEO of Rakuten; Yoshito Hori, founder of Globis University and Globis Capital Partners; former Prime Ministers of Japan, Yukio Hatoyama and Junichiro Koizumi; acclaimed singer-songwriter Yuko Ando; actress, model, and singer Emi Takei; and Masakazu Tokura, Chairman and CEO of Sumitomo Chemical. The university's undergraduate and graduate programs include courses on literature, law, economics, business, international politics, economics, communication, science, engineering and cultural studies. The university graduate programs include international management, law and professional accounting. Aoyama Gakuin University has participated in Hakone Ekiden, an annual university relay race between Tokyo and Hakone in Japan. Recently they won the races in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.