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History of Edo-Rhenania

“Ex oriente lux”

In 1951, Yujiro Shinoda, a Japanese student at Cologne University, was inducted as a member of the Catholic fraternity, AV Rheinstein. Thus, Shinoda also became the first foreigner to be inducted into the Cartellverband, an umbrella association of German, Catholic fraternities. After writing his dissertation in 1957 (the first Japanese student to do so since the end of the Second World War), Shinoda returned to Japan to become a professor of European Arts at Sophia University in Tokyo. In 1963, an envoy of about 80 AV Rheinstein members visited Shinoda in Japan, and, by the end of their visit, decided to found a subsidiary of their fraternity in Tokyo with Shinoda as its first chairman. On May 26, 1963, AV Edo-Rhenania was founded. One year later, Edo-Rhenania was officially recognized as an associated member of the Cartellverband. This inception of Edo-Rhenania was a bold and progressive move for the German fraternity system at the time, and remains a source of pride for both AV Edo-Rhenania and AV Rheinstein.

 

Since its inception in 1963, Edo-Rhenania has expanded throughout Tokyo and has grown to include members from around the world. The history of Edo-Rhenania and the legacy of Prof. Dr. Yujiro Shinoda (†1992) represent the lively academic and cultural discourse between Germany and Japan, as well as other countries – a tradition we proudly continue to this day.

The Cartellverband

Union of Catholic German Student Fraternities (CV)

The Union of Catholic German Student Fraternities, known as the Cartellverband, was founded to strengthen and unify Catholic students throughout Germany as a reaction to the growing nationalist, anti-Catholic sentiment of Kulturkampf. While Catholic fraternities existed in Germany before the Cartellverband, an official united front did not exist until an alliance between the fraternities Aenania München and Winfridia Breslau on December 6, 1856. Both fraternities shared the same principles of religio, scientia, and amicitia (our principles), which laid the groundwork for the traditions of the Cartellverband. In 1907, the fourth principle, Patria, was added, completing the list of guiding principles that Cartellverband fraternities are founded upon. As such, while the Cartellverband followed the decorum of existing fraternities, unique customs and traditions were developed and continued to evolve. 
    
Since its inception in 1856, the Cartellverband has grown to include members from around the world in 129 member fraternities. In 1964, the Cartellverband official inducted Edo-Rhenania as an associate member fraternity. Although Edo-Rhenania benefits from the Cartellverband community and the spirit of our fraternity is guided by the four principles, Edo-Rhenania holds the privilege to welcome non-Catholic students. Therefore, Edo-Rhenania presents a unique opportunity for students from all walks of life to experience the over 150 year old traditions of the Cartellverband. 

Our Principles

Religio

Scientia

Amicitia

Patria

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