The Department of Oriental History was founded in 1907 and consisted of three Professorships for the purpose of research and instruction in the history of China and neighboring regions such as Inner Asia and Korea. After the foundation was consolidated by Naito Konan, Kuwabara Jitsuzo, Haneda Toru and several other scholars, the academic tradition based on thorough philological training and deep historical knowledge has continued until the present day.

In addition to the above-mentioned staff, many academic members of the Institute for Research in Humanities and other sections are also responsible for lectures and seminars.

The department is the center of activities of the Society of Oriental Researches (Toyoshi-Kenkyu-kai) which publishes Toyoshi-Kenkyu (The Journal of Oriental Researches) quarterly and collaborates in the publication of Toyoshi-Kenkyusokan (The Oriental Research Series).