During the final days of the Edo period, Jo Niijima risked his life to travel to America in search of freedom. Fortunately, with the support of many kind-hearted individuals in this new land, he was able to receive a democratic and advanced education across three different schools.

While studying abroad, Niijima realized that for Japan to become a modern nation, it was essential to have an education system that fostered individuals filled with autonomy, freedom, and a strong conscience. Upon returning to Japan, he dedicated himself to transplanting an American-style school into his homeland, taking on the challenge of establishing Japan's first private university.

Ultimately, his ambition and dream of founding a university were not realized during his lifetime. However, that dream has been continuously passed down and lives on within the students, alumni, and faculty of present-day Doshisha.