Everything at BFGU fosters the talent needed to breathe new life
into the competitive global fashion industry.

The fashion business in Japan has come to occupy a certain position in the world. Yet, it faces a string of problems that designers and modelists do not have sufficient understanding about management and the management levels in companies, on the contrary, often lack understanding of design and technology. When considering fashion as a global business, it is necessary to incorporate different perspectives such as management, finance, production control, quality control, as well as original designs and excellent technologies. It is, hence, necessary to nurture more future leaders for the fashion industry from the two perspectives of “creation” and “management”. BFGU was established in 2006 as the first fashion professional school in Japan combining the achievements and know-how of Bunka Gakuen, a school corporation that has been playing the leading roles in the fashion education in Japan for more than 100 years. The school bridges up theories and practical techniques; its greatest objective is to establish a unique brand and business model so as to fostering “new creators” as proactive global leaders in the fashion industry for future generations.

What is a Professional Graduate School?

A Professional Graduate School is a new type of graduate school that has been newly established in 2003. Traditionally, graduate schools have focused on training students to become researchers. However, professional graduate schools focus on specialized training so the students can become business leaders with high professional business ability. A major feature of professional graduate schools is the promotion of high level, professional training and practical business education through practical lessons, by inviting professors and lecturers who play an active role in the forefront of their field.

Bunka Fashion Graduate University was founded in order to cultivate talent in individuals who can develop intellectual property for the fashion industry, bring creative visions into reality, and establish business models for unique fashion brands that will be globally relevant.

We form talented people who are not only able to
create ‘fashion’ but also capable of creating ‘fashion business’

As Japan’s only graduate university that aims to nurture fashion professionals, BFGU offers unique and excellent features. First, it integrates the field of fashion creation with fashion management to learn the practical skills required to manage creative and design skills. With the unprecedented combination of these two divisions, the graduate school implements high-level education to foster the growth of professionals. Second, the graduate students can make extensive use of the world-leading premises and facilities that Educational Foundation Bunka Gakuen has developed and accumulated over the years. Third, the graduate university organizes various industry-academia collaborative projects to offer students opportunities to gain practical business experience. Based on this enriched, well-rounded environment for education and research, students are able to acquire not only theories but also practical knowledge and techniques enabling them to take their first steps as job-ready professionals in the fashion industry.

Division, Course

At BFGU, we provide two divisions of specialization, Fashion Creation and Fashion Management within the Graduate School of Fashion Business. The aim is to educate talented people who have the intellect and skills to prevail in the world’s fashion market. In agreement with the previously mentioned three fields of study in fashion business, we have established three courses: Fashion Design Course, Fashion Technology Course, and Fashion Business Administration Course.

Structure Chart of Graduate School

To be more responsive to new needs in the age of globalization, BFGU works on various international exchange programs.

Participation in “KOYORI PROJECT 2024” in Thailand

Students from the Fashion Design Course participated in the field trip program of the “KOYORI PROJECT 2024.” This international initiative connects students from Japan and Thailand and aims to preserve and modernize traditional crafts in the mountainous regions of Thailand. As part of the program, students collaborated with Thai students in workshops and stayed with local artisans for two days in various villages in Northern Thailand. Through these immersive homestays, they experienced local craftsmanship firsthand and deepened their understanding of traditional production methods.

Exchange project with the Parsons School of Design, USA.

Our Fashion Business Administration course has implemented an exchange program with graduate students from the Parsons School of Design, USA, since 2022 focusing on the unique trends in the US-Japan fashion market to provide in-depth knowledge for participating students. A global macro point of view for the future of the fashion industry can definitely be nurtured through the search for similarities and features on the US-Japan fashion consumer market.

Holding Global Seminars

The Global Seminar, planned and held by the Bunka International Communication Center for Bunka Gakuen students, invites industry professionals such as teachers and designers from overseas partner schools. It is always an opportunity to learn the latest global standards, as well as to improve communication skills in English and become aware of the need to do so.

BFGU conducts a number of collaborative projects with the fashion industry and government agencies.

Participation in the “Feel the Ocean in Shibuya” Project

The Fashion Design Course joined the “Feel the Ocean in Shibuya” project organized by the non-profit organization SWiTCH. This initiative raises awareness of marine environmental issues in urban settings and encourages sustainable action for the future. Our graduate school contributed to one of the six featured projects: “From the OCEAN,” a large-scale plankton-shaped art installation designed by artist Lemie Saza, made from Netplus®, a recycled material derived from discarded fishing nets. In addition, one of our faculty members participated in a talk event to introduce our approach to sustainability education and industry-academia collaborations.

BFGU × Kanbo Pras Corporation Upcycling Project

In our Fashion Technology Course, we have an “Upcycling Project” collaboration with Kanbo Pras Corporation which manufactures, processes, and sells special functional materials such as tarpaulin and canvas. The project provides special lectures about the disposal of a huge number of offcuts and waste materials in the current manufacturing process and from the end products. Participants then work in groups to plan new products from selected waste materials to create innovative sample works. The creation process of environmental-friendly products is a winning experience to learn about teamwork and problem-solving.

Participation in the “Iwate Apparel Festa”

Students from the Division of Fashion Creation took part in the “Iwate Apparel Festa,” an event organized by Iwate Prefecture to promote the regional apparel industry. They exhibited their works and conducted a hands-on workshop where children created rosette-style corsages using sewing machines—offering an engaging introduction to garment-making. Additionally, students from the Fashion Technology Course supported the event by producing garment patterns for selected entries in a contest held during the festival.