Tohoku University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tohoku University

東北大学
Motto	研究第一主義 (research first principle) 門戸開放 (open-door policy) 実学尊重 (respect for practical studies)
Type	Public (National)
Established	June 22, 1907
Academic affiliations	APRU, AEARU, HeKKSaGOn, T.I.M.E., RENKEI
Endowment	US$1.3 billion (JP¥120,138 billion)
President	Teiji Tominaga
Administrative staff	5,756
Undergraduates	11,094
Postgraduates	7,704
Other students	1,346 (international students)
Location	Sendai, Miyagi , Japan
Campus	Urban, 250 ha (620 acres)
Colors	Violet      Black
Sporting affiliations	TCAA, SEN6 [ja]

Tohoku University (東北大学, Tōhoku daigaku) is a public research university in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is colloquially referred to as Tohokudai (東北大, Tōhokudai) or Tonpei (トンペイ, Tompei).

Established in 1907 as the third of the Imperial Universities, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, it initially focused on science and medicine, later expanding to include humanities studies as well.

In 2016, Tohoku University had 10 faculties, 16 graduate schools and 6 research institutes, with a total enrollment of 17,885 students. The university's three core values are "Research First (研究第一主義)," "Open-Doors (門戸開放)," and "Practice-Oriented Research and Education (実学尊重)."

The Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings, focusing more on teaching and engagement than its world university rankings, placed Tohoku University 1st in Japan in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. In its 2024 world university rankings, it is ranked 130th globally, making it the third highest ranked university in Japan, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.

History

Albert Einstein visiting Tohoku Imperial University in 1922

Tohoku University (Katahira campus Main Gate)

On 22 June 1907 (Mēji 40), Tohoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學, Tōhoku teikoku daigaku) was established by the Meiji government as the third Imperial University of Japan, after Tokyo Imperial University (1877) and Kyoto Imperial University (1897). From its inception, it advocated 'Open-door' policies, becoming the first university in Japan to accept both female students in 1913, and foreign students.

It was not until 1911 that teaching and research activities started in Sendai. When the university was founded in 1907 it only had one faculty (college), the College of Agriculture, in Sapporo, Hokkaido. This college, originally founded in 1875 as the Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農學校, Sapporo nō gakkō), precedes the establishment of the university, and in 1918, it became independent to form another imperial university, Hokkaido Imperial University, in its own right. The School of Science was established in Sendai in 1911, followed by the School of Medicine (formerly Sendai Medical College) in 1915, the Faculty of Engineering in 1919, and the Faculty of Law and Literature in 1922.

In 1947, during the post-war educational reform, the university dropped the word 'imperial' along with other imperial universities, and assumed its current name, Tohoku University. It was also this year that the university's academic scope came to cover agriculture again, with the establishment of a new Faculty of Agriculture in Sendai. In 1949, the Faculty of Law and Literature was split to form independent faculties of Law, Literature, and Economics. A Faculty of Education was added in 1949, Dentistry in 1965, and Pharmacy in 1972. Tohoku has been a National University Corporation since April 2004.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake

Subsequent to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the university was declared closed until further notice, but with a tentative re-opening date of the end of the following April.

The Aobayama, Katahira, Amamiya, and Kawauchi campuses are all at least 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) from the ocean, towards the mountains, and therefore suffered no damage resulting from the tsunami. No deaths or serious injuries within the faculty and student body were reported on campus grounds. However, earthquake damage lead to the closure of 27 buildings and caused millions of dollars of damage to equipment. Classes have resumed normally since early May 2011 and plans for restoring, reinforcing or replacing damaged buildings are underway.

The radiology department has been actively measuring radiation levels throughout the city of Sendai since the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant meltdown, which is about 100 kilometers south. So far no alarming levels of radiation have been detected.

Campuses

Kawauchi

Aobayama

Katahira

Seiryo

Campus locations

Principal four campuses are in the Sendai City, Japan;

• Katahira (片平, Katahira)

Administration Unit. and Principal institutes

• Kawauchi (川内, Kawauchi)

North-Kawauchi; The freshmen and sophomore of all undergraduates

South-Kawauchi; Law, Education, Economics, Letters

• Seiryo (星陵, Seiryō)

Medicine, Dentistry

• Aobayama (青葉山, Aobayama)

Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture

Amamiya campus and some institutes transferred to the new extension at Aobayama campus in April 2017 [1].

Research institutes

• Research Institute of Electrical Communication (電気通信研究所, 通研, Denki Tsūshin Kenkyūsjo, Tsūken)
• Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (加齢医学研究所, Karei Igaku Kenkyūjo)
• Institute of Fluid Science (流体科学研究所, Ryūtai Kagaku Kenkyūsyo)
• Institute for Materials Research,IMR (金属材料研究所, 金研, Kinzoku Zairyō Kenkyūsjo, Kinken)

National Collaborative Research Institute

• Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (多元物質科学研究所, Tagen Busshitsu Kagaku Kenkyūjo)
• International Research Institute of Disaster Science (災害科学国際研究所, Saigai Kagaku Kokusai Kenkyūjo)
• Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (東北メディカル・メガバンク機構, Tōhoku Medikaru Megabanku kikō)

Centers and facilities

Academic rankings

Tohoku University has a high reputation, and this is recognised as shown in the rankings below.

General rankings

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, it is ranked 130th globally, making it the third-highest-ranking university in Japan, after the University of Tokyo (29th) and Kyoto University (55th). The Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings, which focus more on teaching and engagement than the world university rankings, placed Tohoku University 1st in Japan in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

In the QS World University Rankings 2024, Tohoku University is ranked 113th globally and fifth in Japan, after UTokyo, KyotoU, OsakaU, and Tokyo Tech.

Subject rankings

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 Subject Global National Arts & Humanities  =268  7 Linguistics  201–250  7–9 Archaeology  151–200  5–6 Architecture and Built Environment  151–200  5–7 History  101–150  4–6 Modern Languages  101–150  6 Engineering and Technology  89  4 Engineering – Chemical  101–150  4–7 Engineering – Civil and Structural  151–200  4–5 Computer Science and Information Systems  201–250  7 Engineering – Electrical and Electronic  =111  4 Engineering – Mechanical  =85  4 Life Sciences & Medicine  =155  4 Agriculture and Forestry  101–150  5 Anatomy and Physiology  51–100  3–4 Biological Sciences  151–200  4–7 Dentistry  51–100  2–4 Medicine  =167  6 Pharmacy and Pharmacology  151–200  3–6 Natural Sciences  =97  5 Chemistry  =101  6–7 Earth and Marine Sciences  101–150  3–6 Environmental Sciences  201–250  5–6 Geology  101–150  3–6 Geophysics  101–150  3–6 Materials Sciences  =50  4 Mathematics  151–200  4–7 Physics and Astronomy  50  5 Social Sciences & Management  =295  8 Economics and Econometrics  351–400  11 Law and Legal Studies  201–250  7–8 Sociology  151–200  5 Statistics and Operational Research  201–250  5 THE World University Rankings by Subject 2024 Subject Global National Arts & humanities  251–300  4 Clinical & health  126–150  4 Computer science  126–150  4–5 Engineering  59  3 Life sciences  101–125  4 Physical sciences  101–125  3 Social sciences  251–300  3–4

ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023 Subject Global National Natural Sciences Mathematics  201–300  3–5 Physics  151–200  4–5 Chemistry  151–200  7–8 Earth Sciences  101–150  2–4 Ecology  401–500  4–5 Atmospheric Science  301–400  7–9 Engineering Mechanical Engineering  76–100  1 Electrical & Electronic Engineering  301–400  4–8 Telecommunication Engineering  51–75  1–2 Computer Science & Engineering  201–300  3–4 Civil Engineering  201–300  2–6 Chemical Engineering  201–300  2–5 Materials Science & Engineering  151–200  3–5 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology  201–300  2–4 Energy Science & Engineering  151–200  2–5 Environmental Science & Engineering  401–500  6 Biotechnology  151–200  1–2 Metallurgical Engineering  25  1 Life Sciences Biological Sciences  301–400  6–10 Human Biological Sciences  401–500  9–11 Veterinary Sciences  201–300  1–6 Medical Sciences Dentistry & Oral Sciences  76–100  5 Medical Technology  301–400  1–6 Social Sciences

Research performance

Tohoku University is one of the top research institutions in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, Tohoku University is the fourth best research university in Japan. Its research excellence is especially distinctive in Materials Science (1st in Japan, third in the world), Physics (2nd in Japan, tenth in the world), Pharmacology & Toxicology (3rd in Japan, 64th in the world) and Chemistry (6th in Japan, 20th in the world).

Times Higher Education also reported that Tohoku University was ranked 3rd in Japan (201st - 250th in the world) for the World University Rankings 2022 by Subject: social sciences. The social sciences ranking includes the weightings such as Research: volume, income and reputation (accounts for 32.6 per cent) and Citations: research influence (accounts for 25 per cent).

In addition, Nature Index ranked Tohoku University as 4th in Japan (90th in the world, 38th in Asia Pacific) on 2023 tables: Institutions. The 2022 tables are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Before the 2022 edition, Nature Index also ranked Tohoku University as 5th in Japan (77th in the world, 28th in Asia Pacific) on 2021 tables: Institutions, that are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020.

According to the Qs World university rankings　on 2012/9 surveyed about the general standards in Engineering&Technology field, Tohoku university was placed 56th (world), fifth (national).

As Tohoku University has been emphasizing 'practical' research, Tohoku received the top place for its number of patents accepted (324) during 2009 among Japanese Universities.

Graduate school rankings

Tohoku University Law School is one of the most famous Law schools in Japan, as it was ranked fifth in the passing rate of Japanese Bar Examination in 2020.

Alumni rankings

Mines ParisTech : Professional Ranking World Universities ranks Tohoku University as 13th in the world (5th in Japan) in 2011 in terms of the number of alumni listed among CEOs in the 500 largest worldwide companies.

Popularity and selectivity

Tohoku University is regarded as a selective university, with its faculty of medicine being particularly noted for its selectivity. It is usually ranked amongst the most selective STEM degrees in the country, alongside the medicine, engineering and science degrees at the University of Tokyo and the faculties of medicine of TMDU, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and Keio.

Evaluation from business world

People

Successive presidents

Akihisa Inoue (left) talked with James P. Zumwalt (chargé d'affaires) and Ann Kambara at Tohoku University in 2009.

Notable people associated with Tohoku University

Many world-class celebrities have attended or served at Tohoku University.

Sciences

• 

  Koichi Tanaka (田中 耕一), chemist, 2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner

• 

  Akira Endo (遠藤 章), biochemist, known for the discovery of first statin

• 

  Atsuto Suzuki (鈴木 厚人), physicist, 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics winner

• 

  Hideo Ohno (大野 英男), physicist, the 22nd president of Tohoku University

• Hitoshi Oshitani (押谷仁), scientist, virologist and public health expert
• Tetsuo Nozoe (野副 鉄男), chemist, known for hinokitiol
• Tsutomu Ōhashi (大橋 力), artist and scientist, Doctor of Agriculture
• Syun-Ichi Akasofu (赤祖父 俊一), geophysicist, the founding director of the International Arctic Research Center of UAF
• Hiroshi Maeda (前田 浩), pharmacologist and chemist, known for discovery of EPR effect
• Morio Kasai (葛西 森夫, 1922–2008), a surgeon who developed the Kasai procedure for biliary atresia
• Chen Wei-jao (陳維昭), a surgeon and president of National Taiwan University
• Lo Tung-bin (羅銅壁), biochemist, pioneer in the research on proteins in Taiwan
• Susumu Satomi (里見 進), a surgeon and president of Tohoku University
• Ryuta Kawashima (川島 隆太), neuroscientist, currently resident professor, the supervisor of Nintendo DS gamesofts; Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! and Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?
• Noriko Osumi (大隅 典子), neuroscientist, the vice president of Tohoku University (2018–)
• Mahmoud Nili Ahmadabadi, president of University of Tehran

Engineering

• 

  Kotaro Honda (本多 光太郎), former president, 1932 Nobel Prize in Physics nominee

• 

  Masataka Ogawa (小川 正孝), former president, known for the discovery of rhenium

• 

  Hidetsugu Yagi (八木 秀次), electrical engineer, mentor of Yagi–Uda antenna

• 

  Sumio Iijima (飯島 澄男), physicist, inventor of carbon nanotubes

• 

  Masatoshi Shima (嶋 正利), inventor of CPU Intel 4004

• 

  Masato Sagawa (佐川眞人), inventor of sintered NdFeB magnets, the winner of 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

• Shintaro Uda (宇田 新太郎), an inventor of the Yagi-Uda antenna 1926, the ubiquitous television antenna
• Jun-Ichi Nishizawa (西澤 潤一), the engineer known for inventing optical communication systems including optical fiber, laser diode and so forth, PIN diode and SIT/SITh
• Fujio Masuoka (舛岡 富士雄), the developer of Flash Memory
• Masayoshi Esashi (江刺 正喜), engineer, the global authority of Microelectromechanical systems
• Toshitada Doi (土井 利忠), a pioneer in digital audio, originated Aibo the pet robot
• Fumihiko Imamura (今村 文彦), civil engineer, the natural disaster expert for NHK after 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
• Masataka Nakazawa (中沢 正隆), pioneer of optical solitons in high-speed optical communication in fiber optic networks and rare earth-doped optical amplifiers (such as EDFA)

Literature and art

• 

  Lu Xun (魯迅), the greatest writer in modern China

• 

  Reizan Ido (井土 霊山), a journalist, writer, poet, and involved in Freedom and People's Rights Movement

• 

  Morio Kita (北 杜夫), novelist, 1960 Akutagawa Prize winner

Mathematics, economics and business

• 

  Shizuo Kakutani (角谷 静夫), mathematician, professor at Yale, known for Kakutani fixed-point theorem

• 

  Ryōji Chūbachi (中鉢良治), a Japanese businessman, former vice chairman and president of Sony Corporation

• Nobuhiko Kawamoto (川本 信彦), CEO of Honda Motor until 1995
• Hirofumi Uzawa (宇沢 弘文), an economist, the father of Theoretical Economics in Japan
• Su Buqing (蘇歩青), a Chinese mathematician and former president of Fudan University
• Chen Jiangong (陈建功), pioneer of modern Chinese mathematics
• Yasumasa Kanada (金田 康正), a mathematician most known for his numerous world records over the past two decades for calculating digits of π
• Shigeo Sasaki (佐々木 重夫), a professor emeritus and mathematician who introduced the Sasaki manifold

Politics

• 

  Shigeyoshi Matsumae (松前 重義), a Japanese politician, electrical engineer, and founder of Tokai University

• 

  Yukio Edano (枝野 幸男), a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet

• 

  Eisuke Mori (森 英介), a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party

• 

  Masako Mori (森 まさこ), a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party

• Masayuki Aoyama (青山 雅幸), Japanese politician in the House of Representatives
• Mitsuru Sakurai (桜井 充), Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan
• Kenya Akiba (秋葉 賢也), a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party
• Akira Koike (小池 晃), a Japanese politician of Japanese Communist Party
• Nori Sasaki (佐々木 紀), Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan
• Yoshihisa Inoue (井上 義久), Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party
• Emiko Okuyama (奥山 恵美子), Mayor of Sendai, 2009–2017

See also

• Tohoku Mathematical Journal
• Institute for Materials Research
• Sendai
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
• Tegula kusairo