University Spotlight: University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. As a leading research university, the University of Tokyo offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity. The university aims to provide its students with a rich and varied academic environment that ensures opportunities for both intellectual development and the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.

The University of Tokyo has a faculty of over 4,000 and a total enrollment of about 29,000, evenly divided between undergraduate and graduate students. As of 2006 there were 2,269 international students, and over 2,700 foreign researchers come annually to the university for both short and extended visits. The University of Tokyo is known for the excellence of its faculty and students and ever since its foundation many of its graduates have gone on to become leaders in government, business, and the academic world.

The University of Tokyo is composed of three campuses: Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa. In addition, some University of Tokyo facilities are situated in other parts of both Tokyo and the country. The main campus of the university is located in Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo and occupies about 56 hectares of the former Kaga Yashiki, the Tokyo estate of a major feudal lord. Parts of the seventeenth century landscaping of the original estate have been preserved to provide greenery and open space. The campus is graced by the Kaga Estate's celebrated Akamon, or Red Gate, which dates from 1827 and has been designated as an 'Important Cultural Property' by the Japanese Government. Most of the faculties, graduate schools, and research institutes of the university are located on the Hongo Campus.

The University of Tokyo places strong emphasis on cooperation and links at all levels of research and education interfaculty, interdisciplinary, and with other universities both within Japan and abroad and is working hard to establish strong local and global research and education networks. As of May 2007 students and academics from the university take part in 277 official exchange programs and research collaboration agreements with over 200 institutions in 47 countries, and each year many come to the University of Tokyo as part of these exchanges. In April 2005 the university opened its first university-wide overseas liaison office in Beijing, signaling the start of a new phase in efforts to deepen and strengthen ties with Asia and the world.

The University of Tokyo currently has approximately 2,400 international students from around 100 countries, who are passionately engaged in the pursuit of studies and research.

For more information head to the University of Tokyo site.