Kobe College (神戸女学院大学, Kobe jogakuin daigaku), abbreviated to KC or Shinjo (神女), is a private non-sectarian liberal arts college located in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan. Chartered in 1948, it is the first women's college with university status in West Japan. Kobe College was built by William Merrell Vories, who was born in 1880 in Kansas. He was a Christian missionary, who came to Japan to proselytize and sell Mentholatum. He constructed many of the modern university buildings used by Kobe college, as well as many other famous buildings including Daimaru at Shinsaibashi, Osaka and Kwansei Gakuin University. Kobe College was originally located on Yamamoto Street in Kobe, Japan, but it is now located in Okadayama City, Nishinomiya on the Hankyu Train Line. The school is approximately fifteen minutes walking distance from the train station. Kobe College is also located near Seiwa College. Roofs: Kobe College’s roofs are unique in color and shape. Therefore, it was very difficult to repair the roof tiles after the Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe. Floors: Similarly, unlike most Japanese universities, the floors are of many of the buildings are made of cut marble.