Tohoku University

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Tohoku University

東北大学
Motto	研究第一主義 (Research First Principle)
Type	Public (National)
Established	June 22, 1907
Endowment	US$1.3 billion (JP¥120,138 billion)
President	Hideo Ohno
Administrative staff	5,756
Undergraduates	11,094
Postgraduates	7,704
Other students	1,346 (international students)
Location	Sendai , Miyagi , Japan
Campus	Urban, 2.5 km²
Colors	Purple
Athletics	TCAA,  [ja]
Affiliations	APRU, AEARU, HeKKSaGOn, T.I.M.E., RENKEI
Website	www.tohoku.ac.jp

Tohoku University (東北大学, Tōhoku daigaku), or Tohokudai (東北大, Tōhokudai), located in Sendai, Miyagi in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It was the third Imperial University in Japan, the first three Designated National University along with the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University^[1] and selected as a Top Type university of Top Global University Project by the Japanese government. In 2020 and 2021, the Times Higher Education Tohoku University was ranked No. 1 university in Japan.^[2][3]

In 2016, Tohoku University had 10 faculties, 16 graduate schools and 6 research institutes, with a total enrollment of 17,885 students.^[4] 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)."

History[]

On June 22, 1907, the university was established under the name Tohoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學, Tōhoku teikoku daigaku) by the Meiji government as the third Imperial University of Japan, following the Tokyo Imperial University (1877) and the Kyoto Imperial University (1897). From its start, it has advocated "Open-door" policies—it was the first university in Japan to accept female students (in 1913)^[5] and foreign students.

In September 1907, it set up the faculty of Agriculture in Sapporo; the Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農學校, Sapporo nō gakkō).

It set up the Science Department in 1911, and the Medical Department (formerly the Sendai Medical College) in 1915. In 1918 it ceded the Faculty of Agriculture to Hokkaido Imperial University. It subsequently launched Faculties of Engineering in 1919, and Law and Literature in 1922.^[6]

In 1947 the university assumed its current name, Tohoku University, acquired a new Faculty of Agriculture. In 1949, the Faculty of Law and Literature was split to form new 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.^[6]

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.^[7]

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[]

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].

Organization[]

Faculties (10)[] Arts and Letters Education Law Economics Science Medicine Dentistry Pharmaceutical Sciences Engineering Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Information and Intelligent Systems Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Bio molecular Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Civil Engineering and Architecture Agriculture

Graduate Schools (15)[] Arts and Letters Education Law Economics and Management Science Medicine Dentistry Pharmaceutical Sciences Engineering Agricultural Sciences International Cultural Studies Information Sciences Life Sciences Environmental Studies Educational Informatics Research Division / Education Division Professional graduate schools (3)[] Law School School of Public Policy Accounting School

The University's is represented on the national Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction.^[8]

Research institutes[]

• (電気通信研究所, 通研, Denki Tsūshin Kenkyūsjo, )^[9]
• Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (加齢医学研究所, Karei Igaku Kenkyūjo)^[10]
• Institute of Fluid Science (流体科学研究所, Ryūtai Kagaku Kenkyūsyo)^[11]
• Institute for Materials Research,IMR (金属材料研究所, 金研, Kinzoku Zairyō Kenkyūsjo, )^[12]

National Collaborative Research Institute

• Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (多元物質科学研究所, Tagen Busshitsu Kagaku Kenkyūjo)^[13]
• International Research Institute of Disaster Science (災害科学国際研究所, Saigai Kagaku Kokusai Kenkyūjo)^[14]

Centers and facilities[]

University library[] Tohoku University Library Medical Library Kita-Aobayama Library Engineering Library Agricultural Library University hospital[] Tohoku University Hospital Seiryo Inter-Department Institutes for Education and Research (9)[] Center for Northeast Asian Studies Center for the Advancement of Higher Education Health Administration Center University Counseling Center Admission Center Center for Career Support Center for Culture and Language Education The Center for Academic Resources and Archives Tohoku University Museum Tohoku University Archives Tohoku University Botanical Gardens Institute for International Advanced Research and Education Organization Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center New Industry Creation Hatchery Center（NICHe） Center for Interdisciplinary Research Technology Center for Research and Education Activities Center for Low-Temperature Science High-Voltage Electron Microscope Laboratory Information Synergy Organization Information Synergy Center (National Collaboration Institution)

Collaborating Institutions (8)[] Office of Cooperative Research and Development Office for Strategic Promotion of Basic Research Center for Research Strategy and Support(CRESS) Environment Conservation Research Institute Center for International Exchange Archaeological Research office on the Campus Global Operations center Campus Planning office Administration Unit[] Tohoku University Overseas Office[] Tohoku University US Office Tohoku University China Office Biomedical Engineering Research Organization[] e-learning system[] Internet School of Tohoku University (ISTU) Dormitories[] Ibun-ryo (以文寮, Ibun ryō) Josyun-ryo (如春寮, Josyun ryō) Seifu-ryo (霽風寮, Seifū ryō) Nissyu-ryo (日就寮, Nissyū ryō) Meizen-ryo (明善寮, Meizen ryō) Matsukaze-ryo (松風寮, Matsukaze ryō) University House Sanjo (ユニバーシティ・ハウス三条, University House Sanjo) International House (国際交流会館, Kokusai kōryū kaikan)

The 21st Century Center Of Excellence Programs[]

Fiscal Year	Field	Program Title
2002	Life Sciences	Future Medical Engineering based on Bio-nanotechnology
	Chemistry, material sciences	International Center of Research & Education for Unexplored Chemistry
		International Center of Research & Education for Materials
	Information sciences, electrical and electronic engineering	System Construction of Global-Network Oriented Information Electronics
	Humanities	A Strategic and Education Center for an Integrated Approach to Language and Cognition
2003	Medical sciences	Center for Innovative Therapeutic Development for Common Diseases
	Mathematics, physics, earth sciences	Exploring New Science by Bridging Particle-Matter Hierarchy
		Advanced Science and Technology Center for the Dynamic Earth
	Mechanical, civil, architectural and other fields of engineering	The Exploration of the Frontiers of Mechanical Science Based on Nanotechnology
		International COE of Flow Dynamics
	Social sciences	Center for the Study of Social Stratification and Inequality
		Gender Law and Policy Center
2004	New scientific fields	Comprehensive Research and Education Center for Planning of Drug Development and Clinical Evaluation

Academic rankings[]

University rankings

Toyo Keizai National[15]	General	7
[ja] National[16]	General	5
T. Reuters National[17]	Research	4
[ja] National[18]	Employment	21
Shimano National[19]	Selectivity	SA
QS Asia (Asian Ranking version)[20]	General	9
ARWU Asia[21]	Research	8
THE World[22]	General	132
QS World[23]	General	77
ARWU World[21]	Research	101-150
ENSMP World[3]	Alumni	13

Program rankings

Social Sciences & Humanities
LAW
Asahi National[24]	Research	8
BE Success National[25]	Qualification	10
BE Pass rate National[26]	Qualification	9
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT
Eduni MBA National[27]	General	15
Eduni MBA World[28]	General	536
Natural Sciences & Technology
Engineering
[ja] National[29]	General	5
QS World[30]	General	56
MATERIALS SCIENCE
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	1
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	3
PHYSICS
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	2
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	10
CHEMISTRY
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	4
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	20
BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	7
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	113
ARCHITECTURE
[ja] National[32]	Qualification	17
Life Sciences
IMMUNOLOGY
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	6
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	142
PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
T.Reuters National[31]	Research	3
T.Reuters World[31]	Research	64
* T. Reuters World rankings include non-educational institutions

Tohoku University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.

General rankings[]

Tohoku university has been ranked 1st in the 2020 Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings.^[33]

According to 2011 QS World University Rankings^[34] the university rose to 70th having dropped out of the top 100 in 2010 to 102nd, and having been 97th in the 2009 THE-QS World University Rankings (in 2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings parted ways to produce separate rankings).

It was also ranked 49th worldwide according to the Global University Ranking in 2009.^[35]

Research performance[]

Tohoku is one of the top research institutions in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, Tohoku is the 4th best research university in Japan.^[17] Its research excellence is especially distinctive in Materials Science (1st in Japan, 3rd in the world), Physics (2nd in Japan, 10th in the world), Pharmacology & Toxicology (3rd in Japan, 64th in the world) and Chemistry (6th in Japan, 20th in the world).^[36]

Weekly Diamond also reported that Tohoku has the 11th highest research standard in Japan in terms of research funding per researchers in COE Program.^[37] In the same article, it's also ranked 9th in terms of the quality of education by GP funds per student.

In addition, Nikkei Shimbun　on 2004/2/16 surveyed about the research standards in Engineering studies based on Thomson Reuters, Grants in Aid for Scientific Research and questionnaires to heads of 93 leading Japanese Research Centers, and Tohoku was placed 3rd (research planning ability 9th//informative ability of research outcome 2nd/ability of business-academia collaboration 2nd) in this ranking.^[38]

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), 5th(national).^[39]

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.^[40]

Graduate school rankings[]

Tohoku Law School is one of the most famous Law schools in Japan, as it was ranked 9th in the passing rate of Japanese Bar Examination in 2010.^[41]

Eduniversal ranked Tohoku Business school as 6th in the rankings of "Excellent Business Schools nationally strong and/or with continental links " in Japan.^[42]

Alumni rankings[]

According to the Weekly Economist's 2010 rankings, graduates from Tohoku have the 21st best employment rate in 400 major companies in Japan.^[43]

Mines ParisTech : Professional Ranking World Universities ranks Tohoku University as 13th in the world in 2011 in terms of the number of alumni listed among CEOs in the 500 largest worldwide companies.^[3]

Popularity and selectivity[]

Tohoku is one of the most selective universities in Japan. Its entrance difficulty is usually considered as one of the top in Japan.^[44][45]

Evaluation from Business World[]

The university ranking of the ratio of "president and chief executive officer of listed company" in Japan

	Ranking
all universities in Japan	16th[46]　out of all the 744[47] universities which existed as of 2006
Source	2006 Survey[46] by Weekly Diamond 〈ja〉 on the ranking of the universities which produced the high ratio of the graduates who hold the position of "president and chief executive officer of listed company" to all the graduates of each university

The university ranking according to the ratio of the number of the officers & managers produced by each university to the number of graduates

	Ranking
all universities in Japan	40th[48]　out of all the 778[49] universities which existed as of 2010
Source	2010 Survey[48] by Weekly Economist 〈ja〉 on the ranking of universities according to the ratio of the number of the officers & managers produced by each university to the number of graduates

The university ranking according to the order of the evaluation by Personnel Departments of Leading Companies in Japan

	Ranking
Japan	5th[50] (out of 781[51]　universities in Japan as of 2020)
Source	2020 Nikkei Survey[52] to all listed (3,714[53]) and leading unlisted (1,100), totally 4,814 companies[52]

People[]

Successive presidents[]

1st Masataro Sawayanagi (澤柳 政太郎) 2nd (北条 時敬) 3rd (福原 鐐二郎) 4th Masataka Ogawa (小川 正孝) 5th (井上 仁吉) 6th Kotaro Honda (本多 光太郎) 7th (熊谷 岱蔵) 8th (佐武 安太郎) 9th (高橋 里美) 10th (黒川 利雄) 11th (石津 照璽)

12th (本川 弘一) 13th (加藤 陸奥雄) 14th (前田 四郎) 15th (石田 名香雄) 16th (大谷 茂盛) 17th Jun-ichi Nishizawa (西澤 潤一) 18th (阿部 博之) 19th (吉本 高志) 20th (井上 明久) 21st Susumu Satomi (里見進) 22nd Hideo Ohno (大野 英男)

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), geophysicst, 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.^[54]
• 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.

• 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^[55]
• 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.

Mathematic, 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

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tohoku University.

Scholia has an organization profile for Tohoku University.

• Tohoku University
• Annual review
• Links

Coordinates: 38°15′15″N 140°52′25″E / 38.25417°N 140.87361°E / 38.25417; 140.87361