The Institute of Comparative Law in Japan was founded in 1948, the first such institute in Japan. Since then, it has earned a great reputation for the leading research it has conducted in the field.

The Institute has been actively engaged in research, forming organizations comprising Institute staff as well as outstanding external researchers to undertake joint research projects that focus on a number of themes.

Research results are published in the quarterly journal Hikakuho Zasshi (Comparative Law Review; see Statistics) in the Institute's monographs, as well as in many other forums, such as research conferences.

The Institute is also actively involved in academic exchange with other universities and research facilities in and outside Japan. As well as pursuing exchange of papers and information, it also arranges international symposia and lectures by visiting foreign researchers.

Date of Founding : 1948 Number of Researchers : 57 staff researchers 20 visiting research fellows 181 contract researchers Publications : Hikakuho Zasshi (Comparative Law Review), Kenkyu Sosho (Research Monographs), Honyaku Sosho (Translated Monographs), Shiryo Sosho (Documentation Monographs) URL : http://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/chuo-u/ins_law/index_j.html

The Institute of Accounting Research was founded in 1948, for research into such fields as the practice and theory of corporate accounting, tax matters, and corporate legislation and regulation.

Eventually, the Research and Documents Section broke away to become the Institute of Business Research. Today, the Institute of Accounting Research focuses primarily on lectures designed to educate and provide guidance to students seeking to become professionals or wish to obtain bookkeeping certification, business owners or managers, or heads of accounting divisions. Its nature, therefore, is slightly different than the University's other institutes.

Lectures are offered at the Tama and Ichigaya Campuses as well as Chuo University Surugadai Memorial Hall. At the Tama Campus, lectures on public accounting and bookkeeping are offered for students intending to become public accountants. At the Ichigaya Campus, the Institute also provides private research rooms for students preparing for CPA examinations. At Surugadai Memorial Hall, lectures are offered in various specialist areas of accounting, including Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Taxation Accounting. There are also facilities for research meetings (for members only; known as the A&B Forum). Lectures are offered in an open university format to students and people in the workforce.

Date of Founding : 1948 (as a voluntary organization) Formally established in 1950 as a research institute affiliated with Chuo University Gakkohojin (educational foundation) Publications : Keiri Kenkyu (Journal) URL : http://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/chuo-u/ins_accounting/index_j.html

Founded in 1964, the Institute of Economic Research was initiated as a research institute attached to the educational foundation of Chuo University, with the objective of promoting joint research and studies into the realities of the Japanese and world economies, conducting research under contract, and holding seminars and lectures for the public.

The research engaged in by the Institute is primarily joint research conducted by project teams. The projects are of two types: research groups and working groups. Findings from research activities are published every three years, in the former case, in Kenkyu Sosho (Research Monographs), and in the latter case, in Keizai Kenkyujo Nenpo (Annual of the Institute of Economic Research).

The research project teams actively publicize their work, frequently holding public seminars and research meetings.

The Facility's library has a collection with a great emphasis on U.S. and U.K. government publications on economic issues and OECD documents.

Date of Founding : 1964 Number of Researchers : 122 staff researchers 164 visiting research fellows 44 assistant researchers Publications : Kenkyu Sosho (Research Monographs), Keizai Kenkyujo Nenpo (Annual of the Institute of Economic Research), Kenkyu Kaiho (Monograph Series), Research Papers, Discussion Papers URL : http://www2.chuo-u.ac.jp/keizaiken/home-e.htm

The Institute of Social Sciences commenced operation in April 1979, to undertake interdisciplinary joint research primarily in the social sciences. The social sciences comprise many fields in the study of social phenomena, including politics, economics, law, and sociology. The approach at the Institute, however, is to engage researchers from all manner of fields in the joint exploration of a single research theme from their respective angles. The Forum on Scientific Research was set up to promote such joint research efforts. It maintains an ongoing program of activities.

The Institute is also active in international research. In April 1996, it launched the International Network of European Studies to enable researchers in universities and institutes in Europe and Japan to engage in academic and research exchange, and to facilitate the free organization of research projects. In 1999, an agreement for cooperation on research activities was concluded between the Institute and universities in Italy and Belgium.

A feature of the Institute's library is its collection of newspapers and newsletters from political parties, labor organizations, and agricultural bodies. The collection includes documents and statistical reports from local governments, documents on labor, documents relating to the Tama region, basic statistical reports from other nations, and foreign-language magazines and back issues.

Date of Founding : 1979 Number of Researchers : 85 staff researchers 85 visiting research fellows 25 assistant researchers Publications : Kenkyu Sosho (Research Series), Kenkyu Hokoku (Research Reports), Kenkyu Nenpo (Annual Bulletin of the Institute of Social Sciences), Chosa Kenkyu Shiryoshu (Research Reports of the Institute of Social Sciences), ISSCU Occasional Papers URL : http://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/chuo-u/ins_socialscience/index_j.html