OpenFieldYashimagakuen University in Yokohama is Japan's pioneering online-integrated university dedicated to lifelong learning, professional librarian certification, museum curatorship, and adult social education.
Founded in 2004 in Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Yashimagakuen University was established as Japan's first university approved to grant bachelor's degrees and national professional certifications through flexible synchronous and asynchronous e-learning. The university is acclaimed nationwide as Japan's top training institution for National Certified Librarians (Shisho) and Museum Curators (Gakugeiin).
Admission to the Faculty of Lifelong Learning requires secondary school graduation credentials (or qualifying adult life experience equivalency). There is no paper written entrance examination; admissions are based on holistic evaluation of application essays, learning motivation statements, and online orientation interviews. Tuition is calculated affordably per credit enrolled.
Flexible 4-year degree (or 2-year transfer program) exploring adult pedagogy, community education centers (Kominkan), citizen engagement, and digital distance learning design.
Japan's leading distance certification course qualifying graduates for the National Certified Librarian (Shisho) qualification, covering Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC), digital library archives, and reference services.
Accredited curriculum leading to the Japanese National Museum Curator (Gakugeiin) credential, featuring museum exhibition curation, cultural artifact conservation, museum educational programming, and museum law.
Qualifies graduates for appointment as Social Education Directors in municipal boards of education, organizing regional lifelong learning workshops, volunteer networks, and youth activities.
Online certificate covering basic counseling techniques, active listening, workplace mental health support, and crisis intervention for community peer counselors.
Institutional financial assistance scheme supporting adult learners balancing full-time employment, childcare, or caregiving while earning bachelor's degrees or professional licenses.
Professor of Lifelong Education and Community Learning · Faculty of Lifelong Learning
Prof. Dr. Tanaka is a prominent scholar of Japanese social education policy, analyzing the community revitalizing roles of Kominkan learning centers and digital asynchronous adult learning methodologies.
View research profile ↗Professor of Library and Information Science · Department of Library and Information Studies
Prof. Dr. Sugiyama investigates digital archival curation in municipal public libraries, reference interview interaction dynamics, and information accessibility for older library patrons.
View research profile ↗Professor of Museology and Cultural Heritage Conservation · Department of Museum Studies
Prof. Dr. Nemoto specializes in preventive microclimate conservation in Japanese historical museums, participatory exhibition design, and community cultural asset documentation.
View research profile ↗University profile compiled from official Yashimagakuen University academic bulletins and institutional directories reviewed on 2026-10-15. OpenField is an independent research guide.