Bunka Fashion College

Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo is one of the top fashion schools in the world. Boasting an impressive alumni including Kenz? Takada, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe, Jun Takahashi, and Tsumori Chisato, the university has delivered some of the most influential players in the fashion industry.

Established in 1919 by Isabur Namiki as dressmaking school Namiki Dressmaking School, it now offers courses in fashion design, technology, business, and marketing. State-of-the-art facilities and hands-on training equip students with technical and creative skills essential for the fashion industry. “All students and staff members of Bunka Fashion College share an immense love for fashion,” college president Sachiko Aihara tells Vogue. “Our greatest achievement is that thousands of our graduates are working globally across different sectors. Despite the challenging period we’re all facing, we’ve continued to operate at a high standard and have effectively evolved along with the times.”

Bunka Fashion College has programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Technology, Fashion Marketing and Distribution, Fashion Accessories and Textiles. In 2012, Bunka Gakuen University, affiliated with the college, introduced a Master’s-level course, Global Fashion Concentration. This program, designed for International students, is taught in English. To ensure relevant design practices, the school creates mannequins based on the average measurements of its current students. Additionally, all students study human anatomy and movement to deepen their understanding of the silhouette.

Bunka places emphasis on the principles of Satori (enlightenment) and Kaizen (continuous improvement) in its educational philosophy. International students must pass a Japanese language proficiency test before enrolment, and part-time jobs are prohibited to ensure academic focus. For those needing language preparation, Bunka operates the Bunka Institute of Language, located on campus and under the same organisational group, Bunka Gakuen. This integration provides seamless support for overseas students transitioning into Bunka’s specialized programs.

The college was founded in 1919 by Isabur Namiki as a small dressmaking school for girls named Namiki Dressmaking School, at a time when European-style womenswear was only available for affluent families. In 1936, the name of the school became Bunka Fashion College, and it began publishing So-en, Japan's first fashion magazine. 

The Bunka Fashion College went through three major eras. First, it taught people and families how to make clothes. Then in the 1960s, fashion designers from the school such as Kenzo Takada (who enrolled in 1958) and Yohji Yamamoto emerged in the international fashion scene and drove the rise of modern Japanese fashion. Since the 2000s, the school has aimed to develop a more global and sustainable fashion industry.

Bunka has over 70 branches around Japan, but its main campus is in the western part of Tokyo's Shinjuku neighborhood. The main building includes facilities such as a library, costume museum, and a resource center. The College has produced about 300,000 alumni and has played a significant role in fashion education in Japan for about 100 years.

Bunka has programs focusing on Fashion Design, Fashion Technology, Fashion Marketing and Distribution, Fashion Accessories and Textiles.[6] In 2012, Bunka Gakuen University, the neighboring institute of higher education linked with the college, opened a Masters level course in Fashion Studies aimed at foreign students. This course is called the Global Fashion Concentration and is taught completely in English.

Every year, new mannequins are created that reflect the average measurements of the students of that year, in an effort to work on realistic physical figures. All students are required to study the human body shape and how human bodies move. The Bunka school values the Satori and the Kaizen in its education. One Master program is held in English.[3] Students must pass a Japanese language proficiency test, and part-time jobs are not allowed.

For oversea students who need to learn Japanese before enroll to the college. Bunka owns Bunka Institute of Language for them. It is in the same campus, and also belongs to the same group Bunka Gakuen.

Bunka Fashion College is consistently ranked among the top fashion schools globally. In CEOWORLD's 2025 rankings, it is listed at #12 with a score of 94.7. In the 2024 rankings, it was ranked #13, with an Alumni Network Rank of 90.49. According to Shiksha, it is also listed among the top ten fashion schools in the world in 2025. Rostrumedu also places it among the top 10 fashion design schools in the world. CEOWORLD magazine notes that Bunka is recognised worldwide for its avant-garde designs and strong focus on traditional Japanese craftsmanship. 

Bunka Fashion College is recognised for its strong focus on practical skills and job integration within the fashion industry. The college has a long history of producing highly skilled graduates like iconic designers Kenzo takada or Yohji Yamamoto who are sought after by fashion companies. Bunka emphasises a hands-on approach to education, using equipment and tools similar to those found in professional workplaces. The college also offers specialized courses and a tutoring system to help students develop their skills and prepare for their careers. 

Bunka Fashion College has produced many great designers working on the world stage. some of Bunka alumni WHO ARE active in Japan and IN THE international fashion industry include Hiroko Koshino, Kenzo Takada, Junko Koshino, Yohji Yamamoto, Chisato Tsumori, Junya Watanabe, Jun Takahashi, NIGO, Yoshiyuki Miyamae, Hiromichi Ochiai, Takuya Morikawa and Kanae Higashi. 

1. "Turning out the vanguard of Japan design,"International Herald-Tribune. 
2. "Kenzo Takada (7) A poor student's struggle with the sewing machine". Nikkei.com. 
3. "The Bunka Method". Businessoffashion.com. 
4. "Yoji Yamamoto," Women's Wear Daily.
5. "Bunka Fashion College". Fashionista. 
6. "Master's Program in Clothing Science Studies". Bunka Gakuen University. 
7. "Bunka Fashion College". Fashionista.com. 
8. "FEATURE OF B.I.L. | EN/BUNKA INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE". www.bunka-bi.ac.jp. 
9. "The best fashion schools of 2015". Harpersbazaar.com.au. 
10. "The top 50 fashion schools in the world". Fashionista.com.