Tohoku University

is a public research university in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is colloquially referred to as or .

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 ()," "Open-Doors ()," and "Practice-Oriented Research and Education ()."

History

thumb|240px|[[Albert Einstein visiting Tohoku Imperial University in 1922]]

thumb|200px|Tohoku University (Katahira campus Main Gate)

On 22 June 1907 (Mēji 40), 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 , 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. The Aobayama, Katahira, Amamiya, and Kawauchi campuses are all at least 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.

Campuses

<div style="font-size: 85%;">File:City locator 14.svg Campus locations</div>

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Principal four campuses are in the Sendai City, Japan;

:Administration Unit. and Principal institutes

:North-Kawauchi; The freshmen and sophomore of all undergraduates

:South-Kawauchi; Law, Education, Economics, Letters

:Medicine, Dentistry

:Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture

Amamiya campus and some institutes transferred to the new extension at Aobayama campus in April 2017 [http://campus.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/en_tu_campus.php].

旧東北帝国大学化学教室.jpg|Administration Unit of Tohoku university

Tohoku university - Kawanai campus entrance.JPG|Kawauchi north campus

Seiryo campus of Tohoku University in 2012.jpg|Seiryo campus

Science-Complex-C Building, Tohoku University School of Science, 2025.jpg|The building of the faculty of science in Aobayama north campus

Aobayama New Campus, Tohoku University, 1st Nov 2025①.jpg|Aobayama new campus

</gallery>

Research institutes

Tohoku University has several research centers and institutes:

:National Collaborative Research Institute

:World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)

Centers and facilities

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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

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)

|valign="top"|

Collaborating institutions

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

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 2026, it is ranked 103rd globally, making it the third-highest-ranking university in Japan, after the University of Tokyo (26th) and Kyoto University (61st). The Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings, which is entirely based on teaching, resources, educational outcome, environment, and engagement, unlike the world university rankings, placed Tohoku University 1st in Japan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025 (no ranking in 2024).

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Tohoku University is ranked 109th globally and fifth in Japan, after UTokyo, KyotoU, OsakaU, and Tokyo Tech.

Subject rankings

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"

|+ QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

! Subject !! Global !! National

! data-sort-value="268" |  =268

! data-sort-value="7" |  7

| Linguistics

| data-sort-value="201–250" |

| data-sort-value="7–9" |

| Archaeology

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="5–6" |

| Architecture and Built Environment

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="5–7" |

| History

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="4–6" |

| Modern Languages

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="6" |

! data-sort-value="89" |  89

! data-sort-value="4" |  4

| Engineering – Chemical

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="4–7" |

| Engineering – Civil and Structural

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="4–5" |

| Computer Science and Information Systems

| data-sort-value="201–250" |

| data-sort-value="7" |

| Engineering – Electrical and Electronic

| data-sort-value="111" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

| Engineering – Mechanical

| data-sort-value="85" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

! data-sort-value="155" |  =155

! data-sort-value="4" |  4

| Agriculture and Forestry

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="5" |

| Anatomy and Physiology

| data-sort-value="51–100" |

| data-sort-value="3–4" |

| Biological Sciences

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="4–7" |

| Dentistry

| data-sort-value="51–100" |

| data-sort-value="2–4" |

| Medicine

| data-sort-value="167" |

| data-sort-value="6" |

| Pharmacy and Pharmacology

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="3–6" |

! data-sort-value="97" |  =97

! data-sort-value="5" |  5

| Chemistry

| data-sort-value="101" |

| data-sort-value="6–7" |

| Earth and Marine Sciences

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="3–6" |

| Environmental Sciences

| data-sort-value="201–250" |

| data-sort-value="5–6" |

| Geology

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="3–6" |

| Geophysics

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="3–6" |

| Materials Sciences

| data-sort-value="50" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

| Mathematics

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="4–7" |

| Physics and Astronomy

| data-sort-value="50" |

| data-sort-value="5" |

! data-sort-value="295" |  =295

! data-sort-value="8" |  8

| Economics and Econometrics

| data-sort-value="351–400" |

| data-sort-value="11" |

| Law and Legal Studies

| data-sort-value="201–250" |

| data-sort-value="7–8" |

| Sociology

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="5" |

| Statistics and Operational Research

| data-sort-value="201–250" |

| data-sort-value="5" |

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"

|+ THE World University Rankings by Subject 2024

! Subject !! Global !! National

| Arts & humanities

| data-sort-value="251–300" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

| Clinical & health

| data-sort-value="126–150" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

| Computer science

| data-sort-value="126–150" |

| data-sort-value="4–5" |

| Engineering

| data-sort-value="59" |

| data-sort-value="3" |

| Life sciences

| data-sort-value="101–125" |

| data-sort-value="4" |

| Physical sciences

| data-sort-value="101–125" |

| data-sort-value="3" |

| Social sciences

| data-sort-value="251–300" |

| data-sort-value="3–4" |

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"

|+ ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

! Subject !! Global !! National

! colspan="3" | Natural Sciences

| Mathematics

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="3–5" |

| Physics

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="4–5" |

| Chemistry

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="7–8" |

| Earth Sciences

| data-sort-value="101–150" |

| data-sort-value="2–4" |

| Ecology

| data-sort-value="401–500" |

| data-sort-value="4–5" |

| Atmospheric Science

| data-sort-value="301–400" |

| data-sort-value="7–9" |

! colspan="3" | Engineering

| Mechanical Engineering

| data-sort-value="76–100" |

| data-sort-value="1" |

| Electrical & Electronic Engineering

| data-sort-value="301–400" |

| data-sort-value="4–8" |

| Telecommunication Engineering

| data-sort-value="51–75" |

| data-sort-value="1–2" |

| Computer Science & Engineering

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="3–4" |

| Civil Engineering

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="2–6" |

| Chemical Engineering

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="2–5" |

| Materials Science & Engineering

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="3–5" |

| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="2–4" |

| Energy Science & Engineering

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="2–5" |

| Environmental Science & Engineering

| data-sort-value="401–500" |

| data-sort-value="6" |

| Biotechnology

| data-sort-value="151–200" |

| data-sort-value="1–2" |

| Metallurgical Engineering

| data-sort-value="25" |

| data-sort-value="1" |

! colspan="3" | Life Sciences

| Biological Sciences

| data-sort-value="301–400" |

| data-sort-value="6–10" |

| Human Biological Sciences

| data-sort-value="401–500" |

| data-sort-value="9–11" |

| Veterinary Sciences

| data-sort-value="201–300" |

| data-sort-value="1–6" |

! colspan="3" | Medical Sciences

| Dentistry & Oral Sciences

| data-sort-value="76–100" |

| data-sort-value="5" |

| Medical Technology

| data-sort-value="301–400" |

| data-sort-value="1–6" |

! colspan="3" | Social Sciences

Research performance

Tohoku University is one of the top research institutions in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, Tohoku University is the ninth most innovative university in the Asia-Pacific area. 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

{| class="wikitable"

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

! !! Ranking

! Japan

| 3rd (out of 788 universities in Japan as of 2021)

! Source

| 2021 Nikkei Survey to all listed (3,714) and leading unlisted (1,100), totally 4,850 companies

</gallery>

Shintaro Uda, an inventor of the Yagi-Uda antenna 1926, the ubiquitous television antenna
Masayoshi Esashi, engineer, the global authority of Microelectromechanical systems
Toshitada Doi, a pioneer in digital audio, originated Aibo the pet robot
Fumihiko Imamura, civil engineer, the natural disaster expert for NHK after 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Masataka Nakazawa, pioneer of optical solitons in high-speed optical communication in fiber optic networks and rare earth-doped optical amplifiers (such as EDFA)

Literature and arts

File:LuXun1930.jpg|Lu Xun, the greatest writer in modern China

File:Tanabe_Hajime.jpg|Hajime Tanabe, philosopher of science, member of Kyoto School

File:井土霊山_Ido_Reizan.jpg|Ido Reizan, a journalist, writer, poet, and involved in Freedom and People's Rights Movement

File:Kita_Morio.jpg|Morio Kita, novelist, 1960 Akutagawa Prize winner

File:Terumi_Tanaka_at_the_Nobel_Peace_Prize_Ceremony_Oslo_2024-61445_(cropped).jpg|Terumi Tanaka former professor, Representative of Nihon Hidankyo, 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo, Norway

</gallery>

Ben Goto, a Japanese writer
, a Taiwanese author
, novelist, 1938 Naoki Prize winner
, novelist, 1978 Naoki Prize winner
, novelist, 1994 Naoki Prize winner
, novelist, 1999 Naoki Prize winner
Toh EnJoe, author, 2012 Akutagawa Prize, Nihon SF Taisho Award, and 2013 Seiun Award winner
Yuichi Kodama, a Japanese video director
Kazumasa Oda, one of the most famous musicians in pop music in Japan since the 1970s
Kōtarō Isaka, a mystery fiction writer, Japan Booksellers Award and Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize winner
Hideaki Sena, a science fiction writer and Nihon SF Taisho Award winner
Chūsei Sone, a Japanese film director and screenwriter
Kenji Suzuki, an announcer of the NHK
Chinggeltei (1924–2013), a Mongolist, the former vice-rector of Inner Mongolia University

Mathematics, economics and business

File:Hirofumi_Uzawa.jpg|Hirofumi Uzawa, an economist, the father of Theoretical Economics in Japan

File:Shizuo_Kakutani.jpg|Shizuo Kakutani, mathematician, professor at Yale, known for Kakutani fixed-point theorem

File:SonyFair2008_Opening_Ryoji_Chubachi.jpg|Ryōji Chūbachi, a Japanese businessman, former vice chairman and president of Sony Corporation

</gallery>

Nobuhiko Kawamoto, CEO of Honda Motor until 1995
Su Buqing, a Chinese mathematician and former president of Fudan University
Chen Jiangong, pioneer of modern Chinese mathematics
Yasumasa Kanada, a mathematician most known for his numerous world records over the past two decades for calculating digits of π
Shigeo Sasaki, a professor emeritus and mathematician who introduced the Sasaki manifold

Politics

File:Matsumae_Shigeyoshi.JPG|Shigeyoshi Matsumae, a Japanese politician, electrical engineer, and founder of Tokai University

File:Yukio Edano in SL Square on 2017 - 4 (cropped).jpg|Yukio Edano, a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet

File:Eisuke_Mori.jpg|Eisuke Mori, a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party

File:Masako Mori 20170510.jpg|Masako Mori, a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party

</gallery>

Kenya Akiba, a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party
Masayuki Aoyama, Japanese politician in the House of Representatives
Yoshihisa Inoue, Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party
Akira Koike, a Japanese politician of Japanese Communist Party
Sōichirō Miyashita, governor of Aomori Prefecture
Mitsuru Sakurai, Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan
, Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan
Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Sendai, 2009–2017

References

External links

Tohoku University
Annual review 2006
Links

History

Campuses

Research institutes

Centers and facilities

University library

University hospital

Inter-department institutes for education and research

Collaborating institutions

Administration unit

Tohoku University Overseas Office

Biomedical Engineering Research Organization

e-learning system

Dormitories

Academic rankings

General rankings

Subject rankings

Research performance

Graduate school rankings

Alumni rankings

Popularity and selectivity

Evaluation from business world

Literature and arts

Mathematics, economics and business

Politics

See also

References

External links