Joseph Hardy Neesima was a Japanese educator and missionary born on December 15, 1843, in the city of Kōchi. He is best known for founding Doshisha University in Kyoto, which became a significant institution for higher education in Japan. Neesima studied in the United States, where he was influenced by Western educational practices and Christian values. After returning to Japan, he dedicated his life to promoting education and fostering a spirit of inquiry among his students, bridging Eastern and Western cultures through his work.