Outside Japan, our university has been widely known by the name “Sophia” instead of “Jochi” for years. Why is that? What do “Sophia” and “Jochi” signify? This time, we’re going to explore the meaning behind the university’s name.
１．“Jochi”, the university’s original name
The university’s original name was “Jochi,” but few documents detailing the decision-making process remain. We can only speculate about its origin based on several documents and letters. To explore the origin of the university’s name, we will examine letters written by Jesuit priests held in the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI), the General Curia archives of the Society of Jesus in Rome.
The Jesuit priests sent to Japan to establish the university were German Father Joseph Dahlmann (1861–1930), French Father Henri Boucher (1857–1939), and English Father James Rockliff (1852–1926). They frequently reported on their activities and daily life in Japan to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome through letters and other correspondence.
In response to a report sent from Tokyo in March 1909, four years before the university’s founding, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus replied stating, ‘The overall plan for the educational institution to be established in Japan is approved, and it is fitting for this school to be called “Sapientia.”’ This indicates the school was referred to as “Sapientia.” “Sapientia” is a Latin word meaning “wisdom.”
Meanwhile, in the same year, Father Rockliff reported the progress of establishing the educational institution to the Jesuit headquarters. Here, for the first time, he mentioned the Japanese name for the institution to be established. ‘The establishment of the corporation is progressing steadily. It will most likely be called Jô-chie. This has the same meaning as the French sagesse d’en Haut (wisdom from above).’ *1 This is the first appearance of the Japanese name “Jô-chie”.
However, in 1913, a letter also arrived from the Superior General of the Jesuits stating, “I wish to return to the name Sedes Sapientia given to the school by Father Rockliff….”
After various proposed names were considered, this educational institution was finally approved as “Jochi Daigaku” as a private university of Japan, under the Ministry of Education’s Vocational School Ordinance on March 28, 1913.
From 1909 to 1913, priests from different countries met to discuss how to express the name of a new institution in Japanese. This was based on letters and reports from that time. Ultimately, they selected the Japanese term Jochi”, meaning “supreme wisdom,” for the school’s name. Additionally, the term “Jochi” is synonymous with “Sedes sapientiae,” a designation used to refer to the Virgin Mary in the Christian prayer known as the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This may have added rich meaning to the name for Catholics and the faithful.
However, despite receiving approval from the Ministry of Education, the name was not initially well-received by students. One concern was that using the spelling “Jôchi” could be easily confused with “Joshi,” which implies the university was a “girls’ school.” Another concern was that it carried Buddhist connotations. This led to meetings being held to consider changing the name. Just before receiving university accreditation under the 1928 University Ordinance, Hermann Hoffmann, the first president (in office 1913–1937), mentioned the proposed name change in a letter to the Jesuit headquarters in Rome: “I plan to suggest ‘Showa University.’”^(*2) Additionally, during World War II, the Ministry of Education suggested merging with another university, which almost led to the dissolution of “Sophia” and its renaming as “Toa University.” However, the renaming issue was resolved in 1948. The third president, Yachita Tsuchihashi (in office: 1940-1946), argued that there was no need to change the name since it was already familiar to everyone. After that, the issue of renaming did not resurface, and the matter was settled.
２．”Sophia” Embraced by Overseas Communities
Proposals to rename the Japanese term “Jochi” arose because the name was difficult to identify internationally. This may have stemmed from the absence of the long vowel sound “jō,” overseas which often led to incorrect pronunciation. Consequently, the most commonly used alternative for the university name until around 1930 was “The Catholic University of Japan.” During this time, Father Joseph Eylenbosch(1886-1978), who had been teaching Greek since 1924, reportedly told his students that “Sophia” (ΣΟΦΙΑ) was the Greek equivalent of “Jochi.” The students then requested that the university adopt this name. President Hoffman initially opposed the idea but did not hold this view for long. In a 1925 letter to Rome, he wrote, “We have decided to use the kanji characters for ‘Jōchi’ with the katakana ruby ‘Sophia’ added.”⁴
In 1926, the Gakuyūkai,social organization for faculty, staff, and students published a magazine. The first issue featured the title “Sophia” written in Chinese characters. The second issue, published in 1927, featured the title “SOPHIA.” Then, upon the completion of Building 1 in 1932, a large sign displaying “SOPHIA UNIVERSITY” was installed above the entrance.
Starting in 1935, both “Jochi Daigaku (University)” and “SOPHIA UNIVERSITY” were used side by side in university brochures and pamphlets.
Furthermore, the name “SOPHIA UNIVERSITY” was introduced in the academic journal Monumenta Nipponica, published for an international audience starting in 1938. Thus, the name “Sophia” gradually became established in Japan and abroad.
References: Sophia University Historical Archives, Vol. 2 / Sophia University Historical Archives Editorial Committee, Published June 30, 1982, Sophia University
＊1 Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI): General Curia of the Society of Jesus Archives Document Number Jap.1001-VIII_006
＊2 Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI): General Curia of the Society of Jesus Archives Document Number Jap.1004-VI_005
＊3 After 1947, several Catholic universities were newly established within Japan. For this reason, the use of the term “Catholic” with this exclusive connotation was discontinued.
＊4 Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI): General Curia of the Society of Jesus Archives Document No. Jap.1004-VI_005