The International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo is one of an international group of schools and colleges under the direction of the religious of the Sacred Heart.

The Society of the Sacred Heart was founded in Amiens, France on November 21, 1800, by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat to meet the needs of a particular form of education for girls in a changing world. Liberal tendencies of thought, social upheavals and innumerable civil revolutions made it increasingly clear that women would assume added influence and importance in the future.

It was in response to this fast-changing social climate that Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat founded her educational system. Based on unchanging principles, it was aimed at the development of the spiritual, intellectual, moral and social qualities necessary to meet the challenge of not only the emerging 19th century, but also those to come.

Although Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's basic principles, founded upon moral concepts, would not change, provision was made for sufficient flexibility in their application to suit future needs.

From its early foundation in France, the Society of the Sacred Heart developed its work for the education of girls in academies and "free schools" throughout Europe. In 1818, the first American convent of the Sacred Heart was established by Saint Philippine Duchesne in St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.A. At the same site, the first free school in the United States west of the Mississippi was also established.

By May 25, 1865, the date of the Foundress' death, the Society numbered 3,500 Religious Sisters and 111 schools in Europe and America. Today, over 4,000 Religious Sisters conduct almost 200 institutes of learning in 35 countries.