This uniface plaquette shows a Japanese student, facing away towards rising sun, with arms lifted high in gesture of invocation; ocean and Japaneses buildings in background. Along left edge, Japanese characters; aling right edge, JOCHI = UNIVERSITY; signed at top right, Leo Z Moll
Sophia University, or Jochi Daigaku as it is called in Japanese, was founded by Jesuits in 1913. It began with the mission to build a bridge between Japan and the Christian West. It is located in the heart of Tokyo and still operates as a private Jesuit university bringing together the best of the Western and Asian intellectual traditions.
This handsome little plaquette came with a brochure that matched the plaquette in size. It reads:
The single Japanese is symbolic of the nation. The sun represents the light and guidance that Jochi University hopes to bring to the Country of the Rising Sun.
References: MACo 1931-016