Sophia University, Japan’s oldest Catholic university, is positioned within the rich religious traditional cultures of East Asia. Based on these distinctive characteristics, it plays an important role in promoting dialectic mutual understanding between Christianity and other religions. This Institute was established as a principal section for implementing this mission conducted in cooperation with other organizations within the University. As of July 1, 2025, this Institute included eight regular researchers, two collaborative fellows, two visiting researchers, and five honorary members, all engaged in the interdisciplinary study of Christianity. It aims to spread knowledge of Christianity in Japanese culture and contribute to mutual understanding with Eastern religions, particularly those in Japan.

• Hosting of ongoing lecture sessions (Theme for 2025: “Bioethics and Religion in an Era of Change: How Should Religion Engage with New Forms of Life?”)

• Hosting of Bible lectures (Theme for 2025: “Rethinking the Wisdom Literature: Wisdom for Living Life in the ‘Here and Now’”)
• Collection and public access to library materials related to Christianity and other religions (Library holdings: 14,074 volumes in Japanese, 8,031 volumes in foreign languages, and 163 periodical titles)
• This institute belongs to the“Catholic University and Christian Culture Research Institute Communication Council”and the Catholic university“Ecumencial Group for the Study of Interfaith Dialog (EGSID)”, and sponsors cooperative projects with these organizations
• Bulletin (Issue no.43 in FY 2025)
• Publication of lectures and seminars (“Rethinking the Wisdom Literature”2025 to be published)