Great East Culture Academy) and was an attempt to found a new school focused upon learning from Asian rather than Western influences.

It gradually became associated with the efforts of nationalists and militarists in the grand plan of a Pan-Asiatic Co-Prosperity Sphere, and graduates of the university, well versed in Asian languages and cultures, were seen as ideal colonial experts and administrators.

With defeat in war, Daito graduates petitioned the Occupation authorities to reform the university as a truly Pan-Asian liberal arts college to nurture peace and understanding throughout Asia.

The Faculty of International Relations (founded in 1986) is perhaps closest to the original liberal foundation principles of 1923, as all students are required to learn one of nine Asian languages (Chinese, Korean, Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, Persian, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese) for at least two of their four years of undergraduate study, in addition to one year of English.

Daito operates an Extension Center which is aimed at providing university-level education opportunities for non-university students as a form of corporate social responsibility and as a means to forge relations with local communities of its two campuses.

Daito Bunka is a little unusual in not having a single 'founder', dominant leader, founding family, or religious affiliation, all of which are common among Japanese private universities.