Hirao Hachisaburo was born into a Samurai family. In the business world, Hirao made major contributions to the establishment and modernization of the property insurance industry in Japan and to the rebuilding of the KAWASAKI Shipyard. As a social benefactor, he also established the KONAN Hospital. Hirao's superb leadership was evident in political circles and he served for a time as Minister of Education, making a significant contribution to the modernization of Japan's educational system. He brought his greatest passion and dedication to the work he did in the educational world. He founded KONAN Kindergarten and KONAN Elementary School, followed by KONAN Middle School and KONAN High School based on the ideals of character building, physical fitness and respect for the individual. 1918 Konan Gakuen Middle School opens 1919 Konan Middle School opens 1923 Konan High School (7-year system) opens 1947 In accordance with the reorganization of Japan's educational system,Konan Junior High School opens. 1948 In accordance with the reorganization of Japan's educational system,regular classes discontinued Konan High School (pre-war 7-year system) 1951 Konan University opens, Arakatsu Bunsaku is appointed its first Principal Faculty of Humanities and Sciences established 1952 Faculty of Economics (Department of Economics) established 1955 Konan University's first graduating class. 1957 Faculty of Humanities and Sciences is abolished Faculty of Letters ( Department of Japanese, Department of English, Department of Sociology) established Faculty of Science (Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry, Department of Biology) established 1959 Faculty of Science (Department of Management Science)established 1960 Faculty of Law (Department of Law) and Faculty of Business Administration (Department of Business Administration) established 1962 Faculty of Science (Department of Applied Physics and Department of Applied Chemistry) established 1963 Konan High School and Junior High School move from Okamoto to Ashiya 1964 Faculty of Science (Department of Applied Mathematics) established Konan University Graduate School established Master's Programs established: Graduate School of Humanities (Japanese Literature, English Literature, Applied Sociology) Graduate School of Natural Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) Doctoral Programs established: Graduate School of Humanities (English Literature and Language) Graduate School of Natural Science (Physics) 1965 Graduate School of Social Science (Master's programs in Economics, Law and Business Administration) established 1969 Konan Gakuen celebrates its 50th Anniversary 1970 Faculty of Letters (Department of German) established 1971 Graduate School of Humanities (Doctoral programs in Japanese Literature and Applied Sociology) established Graduate School of Social Science (Doctoral program in Business Administration) established 1976 Electronic Calculating Center established Konan Illinois Center established 1990 Graduate School of Natural Science (Doctoral program in Life and Functional Materials Science) established International Exchange Center established 1991 Lycee-College Konan de Touraine in France opens (High School and Junior High School) 1993 Faculty of Letters (Department of German) closes Graduate School of Natural Science (Master's program in Information and Systems Science) established 1994 Faculty of Law (Department of Business Law) established 1995 Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake destroys approximately half of campus buildings Names of Departments of Japanese and English changed to Department of Japanese Literature and Language and Department of English Literature and Language Names of Graduate School degree programs in Japanese Literature and English Literature changed to Japanese Literature and Language and English Literature and Language Science and Mathematics Course established at Konan High School 1996 Faculty of Letters (Department of Human Sciences) established 1997 Counseling Center established 1999 Graduate School of Humanities (Master's program in Human Sciences) established Konan Gakuen celebrates its 80th Anniversary 2001 Name of Faculty of Science changed to Faculty of Science and Engineering and departments reorganized as Department of Physics, Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Functional Molecules, and Department of Information Science and Systems Engineering Faculty of Letters (Department of History and Culture) established Graduate School of Humanities (Doctoral program in Human Sciences) established 2002 EBA Program is incorporated into Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Graduate School of Social Science (Master's program) and Business Administration Business Course (night school) established Institute of Human Sciences established 2003 Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER) established 2004 Law School established Frontier Research Promotion Organization for new themes (FRONT) established