# St. Thomas University, Japan

> Christian private university in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan

**Wikidata**: [Q7592003](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7592003)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_University,_Japan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/st-thomas-university-japan

## Summary
St. Thomas University, Japan, was a Christian private university located in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan, founded in 1962 and closed in 2015. It operated under multiple names, including 大阪聖トマス大学 (Osaka St. Thomas University) and 英知大学 (Sapientia University), reflecting its religious and academic focus.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1962  
- **Closed**: 2015  
- **Location**: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan (coordinates: 34.7494° N, 135.438° E)  
- **Type**: Christian private university  
- **Former Names**: 英知大学 (Sapientia University), 大阪聖トマス大学 (Osaka St. Thomas University)  
- **Identifiers**: ROR ID 022mc7478, VIAF ID 1926154329452726970002, NDL Authority IDs 01118948 and 00339868  
- **Website**: http://www.sapientia.ac.jp (Japanese, link rot noted)  
- **Dissolved**: 2015, after 53 years of operation  

## FAQs
### Q: When was St. Thomas University, Japan founded and closed?
A: The university was founded in 1962 and closed in 2015, operating for 53 years.

### Q: What were the university’s former names?
A: It was previously known as 大阪聖トマス大学 (Osaka St. Thomas University) and 英知大学 (Sapientia University).

### Q: Is St. Thomas University, Japan related to other institutions with similar names?
A: It is explicitly distinguished from the U.S.-based St. Thomas University to avoid confusion.

## Why It Matters
St. Thomas University, Japan, played a role in Christian higher education in Japan, a country where religious-affiliated universities are less common compared to secular institutions. Its closure in 2015 highlights challenges faced by smaller private universities in maintaining long-term sustainability. The institution’s dual naming history (reflecting both its religious identity and academic rebranding) adds complexity to its legacy, serving as a case study in institutional adaptation and the evolving role of religious education in Japan.

## Notable For
- **Christian Affiliation**: One of Japan’s private universities with explicit Christian roots.  
- **Name Evolution**: Transitioned from 大阪聖トマス大学 to 英知大学 (Sapientia University) during its history.  
- **Unique Identifiers**: Holds two NDL Authority IDs due to name changes, underscoring its institutional shifts.  
- **Closure**: Its 2015 dissolution marks a notable endpoint for a mid-20th-century educational venture in Japan.  

## Body
### Founding and Closure
St. Thomas University, Japan, was established in 1962 as a Christian private university in Amagasaki, Hyogo. It ceased operations in 2015, concluding a 53-year history. The closure is documented per references citing the Japanese Wikipedia page.  

### Names and Identity
The university operated under two primary names:  
- **大阪聖トマス大学** (Osaka St. Thomas University)  
- **英知大学** (Sapientia University), reflected in its NDL Authority ID 00339868 under the qualifier "former name."  

### Academic and Institutional Identifiers
Key identifiers include:  
- **ROR ID**: 022mc7478  
- **VIAF ID**: 1926154329452726970002  
- **NDL Authority IDs**: 01118948 (聖トマス大学) and 00339868 (英知大学)  
- **Identification Code for Japanese Universities**: 2230 (under the name 英知大学)  

### Location and Coordinates
The university was based in Amagasaki, Hyogo, at coordinates 34.7494° N, 135.438° E (per OpenStreetMap node ID 1423090509).  

### Digital Presence
Its official website (http://www.sapientia.ac.jp) is noted as potentially inactive due to "link rot," with content in Japanese.  

### Distinctive Notes
The entity is explicitly differentiated from the unrelated St. Thomas University in the United States, as cited in Wikidata references.

## References

1. CiNii Research
2. GRID Release 2016-05-31
3. [2004](http://kikakurui.com/x0/X0408-2004-01.html)