Please enjoy this drone footage of a misty, quiet April Sunday over the J.F. Oberlin campus in Machida. The cherry blossoms are almost in full bloom. (April 2016)

Inspiring global citizens through person-to-person international exchanges and cross-cultural study.

Obirin Gakuen Foundation of America’s (OGFA’s) purpose is to further cultural and educational understanding among the peoples of the Pacific Rim, especially in North America and Japan's J.F. Oberlin University, and to foster in students and others, a mutual appreciation of one another's cultures, especially varying global perspectives on the arts, social issues, the environment, and lifestyles. OGFA enables students and others from the Pacific Rim to develop the skills that will empower them to play a positive role in today's increasingly complex and international world.

The Fuchinobe international dormitory 第一国際寮

J.F. Oberlin’s international students exchanging ideas on the way to class 国際色豊かなキャンパス

Keyaki no Hiroba (main campus square, Machida campus) けやきの広場（町田キャンパス）

J.F. Oberlin University, Machida campus 桜美林大学町田キャンパス

Great place to meet and share language and cultural experiences - The lounge (Meimeikan 1F) 国際交流の場となる学生ラウンジ（明々館1F）

One of many informal discussion groups where Int’l students and Professors can interact outside the classroom クラスの枠を超え教授とカジュアルなディスカッションを楽しむ留学生たち

Int’l students enjoy participating in Japanese cultural events - 日本文化を学ぶ海外からの留学生

Creating friendships and learning experiences - Lake Yamanaka International Camp 富士山を望む環境で国際交流。山中湖インターナショナルキャンプ

J.F. Oberlin University's Partner Universities (partial listing)

United States, West

Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR

Northwest University
Kirkland, WA

CSU Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA

CSU Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

Whitter College
Whitter, CA

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

United States, MidWest

University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX

Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS

University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University of Missouri - St. Louis
St. Louis, MO

Webster University
St. Louis, MO

United States, South

University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN

University of Memphis
Memphis, TN

Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA

Mercer University
Atlanta, GA

Valdosta State University
Valdosta State, GA

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

United States, East

Towson University
Baltimore, MD

University at Albany, SUNY
Albany, NY

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD

Canada

Okanagan College
Kelowna, BC

University of Victoria
Victoria, BC

Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, BC

University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba

– About our Logo –

Mutual Understanding and Harmony

Beginning with the Japanese flag, this logo is inspired by the idea that the future of Japan invites a relationship with the global community and that their young people are “global citizens.” The foundation's goal is to foster understanding and exchange experiences for students in Japan, the Pacific Rim, and the United States which are reflected in this mark. The individual elements make up a greater unified whole; and secondly, the elemental variety speaks to an understanding of the value of diversity.