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The University Of Tokyo

Top University in Asia

The University of Tokyo was born in 1877, and it was the first national comprehensive university and the highest overall ranked institution in Japan. The University has several campuses, including Hongo, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane, and Nakano, with 10 academic departments, 15 graduate schools, and 11 affiliated research institutes.

The University of Tokyo 東京大学 (Todai 東大, or UTokyo) was founded in 1877 as a result of the merger of Tokyo Kaisei School and Tokyo Medical School. As Japan’s first national comprehensive university, it began with four departments: law, science, literature, and medicine. Today, it ranks first among all universities in Japan and has 10 departments, 15 graduate schools, and 11 affiliated research institutes, making it the dream of all Japanese students.

The University has several campuses, including Hongo, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano, of which Hongo Campus 本郷地区 is the birthplace of the University of Tokyo, with historic attractions such as Akamon (Red Gate), Yasuda Auditorium , and Sanshiro Pond.

Manywhere Trivia:
Todai’s most famous symbol, Akamon the Red Gate, is not actually the main gate of the university, while the main gate is the White Gate of the Hongo campus not far away.

The Akamon 赤門, the Red Gate is a side gate on the west side of Todai, which was originally the Goshoden Gate of the old Maeda clan and has been in place for nearly two hundred years; The Gothic architecture Yasuda Auditorium 安田講堂 is the symbol of the University of Tokyo, where most of the important events and ceremonies are held. The Sanshiro Pond 三四郎池 was originally called Ikutoku-en Garden, and the pond and the surrounding gardens were built by the lord of the Maeda clan. Natsume Soseki’s popular novel “Sanshiro” gave it its current name.

Manywhere Trivia:
Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, has become a project researcher of the University of Tokyo’s museum since April 1st, 2016.

The University of Tokyo also has a University Museum of General Studies, which is free and open to students and visitors. The museum is small in size, but has top-class exhibits and collections.