University of Tokyo

Overview

Established in 1877, the University of Tokyo is a public research university based in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. The university is fondly called by faculty, staff, students, and the general public as UTokyo or Todai, an abbreviation. UTokyo is also the first imperial university to be established in the country, serving as a premier research destination for students and scholars alike.

In 1877, the Meiji government established the University of Tokyo. Originally, the organization was formed from a merger of traditional scholars, modern learning, and traditional government medical schools. It underwent two renamings: Imperial University in 1886 and Tokyo Imperial University the following year. It was after WWII, in 1947, that it recalled its original name after the Japanese defeat.

Today, UTokyo has 10 faculties. They are the (1) Faculty of Agriculture, (2) the College of Arts and Sciences, (3) Faculty of Economics, (4) Faculty of Engineering, (5) Faculty of Letters, (6) Faculty of Law, (7) Faculty of Medicine, (8) Faculty of Education, (9) Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the (10) Faculty of Science.

One unique feature of UTokyo undergraduate education is that it is split into two divisions: the Junior Division and the Senior Division. The former is made up of a student’s first two years, meant to be spent learning and developing the basic skills needed for further study. The latter two years are time set aside for undergraduate students to choose and work on their specializations.

In its research endeavors, UTokyo makes use of its university-wide centers, its advanced studies groups, and affiliated institutes.

It has two university-wide centers, namely the Biotechnology Research Center and the Asian Natural Environment Science Center. It also has three members in the UTAIS or the University of Tokyo Institutes of Advanced Studies. They are Tokyo College, the Kavli Institute for Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, and the International Research Center for Neurointelligence.

Affiliated institutes include the Historiographical Institute, the Institute of Cosmic Ray Research, and the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences.

UTokyo research in its variety of fields puts a heavy emphasis on giving back to society. In order to achieve this, the university sees to it that its environment is conducive to strong collaborative links between industry and academia. In fact, around 200 companies, a mix of Japanese and foreign ones, partner with UTokyo on nearly 100 research projects.

Additionally, UTokyo has many facilities for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy. It promotes social and cultural activities and learning through its eight museums, botanical gardens, conference halls, and athletic facilities.