As of 2013, there were 86 , 90

public universities A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national university ...

and 606 private universities in Japan. National universities tend to be held in higher regard in

higher education in Japan Higher education in Japan is provided at universities (大学 ''daigaku''), junior colleges (短期大学 ''tanki daigaku''), colleges of technology (高等専門学校 ''kōtō senmon gakkō'') and special training schools and community college ...

than private or public universities. As of the 2019

fiscal year A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is used in government accounting, which varies between countries, and for budget purposes. It is also used for financial reporting by businesses and other organizations. Laws in many ...

, the number of national universities, 86, is unchanged, while the number of public universities increased to 93 and private universities increased to 607 compared with 2013.

History

In 2004, the national university system underwent partial privatization. Since 2004, each national university has been incorporated as a and given limited autonomy in its operations.Keiko Yokoyama (2007) Changing Definitions of University Autonomy: The Cases of England and Japan, Higher Education in Europe, 32:4, 399-409, DOI: 10.1080/03797720802066294 Faculty and staff are no longer working for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. University names which shifted are .

Designated National Universities

In April 2017, an amendment to the National University Corporation Act enabled the classification of national university corporations as “Designated National University Corporations”, with the stated aims of significantly improving the education and research levels of Japanese universities. As of 2021 a total of 10 national universities have been thus selected by the

MEXT The , also known as MEXT or Monka-shō, is one of the eleven Ministries of Japan that composes part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Its goal is to improve the development of Japan in relation with the international community ...

. *

Hitotsubashi University is a national university located in Tokyo, Japan. It has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Chiyoda. One of the top 9 Designated National University in Japan, Hitotsubashi is a relatively small institution specialized solely in social science ...

(former Tokyo College of Commerce) * Kyoto University (former Kyoto Imperial University) * Nagoya University (former Nagoya Imperial University) * Osaka University (former Osaka Imperial University) * Tohoku University (former Tohoku Imperial University) *

Tokyo Institute of Technology is a national research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology, one of first five Designated National University and selected as ...

* Tokyo Medical and Dental University *

The University of Tokyo , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

(former Tokyo Imperial University) *

University of Tsukuba is a public research university located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It is a top 10 Designated National University, and was ranked Type A by the Japanese government as part of the Top Global University Project. The university has 28 colle ...

Kyushu University , abbreviated to , is a Japanese national university located in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu. It was the 4th Imperial University in Japan, ranked as 4th in 2020 Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings, one of the top 10 Design ...

(former Kyushu Imperial University)

National universities

Aichi University of Education is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture an ...

Akita University is a Japanese national university in Akita City, Japan. Established in 1949, it comprises four graduate schools and four undergraduate faculties. History Akita University was established in 1949 by the merger of Akita Normal School (established ...

Asahikawa Medical University , , or AMU, is a national university and medical school in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Established in 1973, the university has one faculty, Faculty of Medicine, consisting of Department of Medicine and Department of Nursing. The affiliated Asahi ...

* Chiba University *

Ehime University is a Japanese national university in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The university has one of the largest student populations in the Shikoku region. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Aidai was established in May 1949 among many other ...

Fukuoka University of Education (UTEF) is a national university in Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1876, and it was chartered as a university in 1949. The present name was adopted in 1966. Associated primary schools * Fukuoka University o ...

Fukushima University , abbreviated to , is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture (; ja, 福島県, Fukushima-ken, ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku r ...

Gifu University is a national university in the city of Gifu, Gifu, Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is sometimes abbreviated as Gidai (岐大) or Gifudai (岐阜大). National University Corporation The Tokai National Higher Education and Research System est ...

* The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) *

Gunma University , abbreviated to , is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Aramaki-machi, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. History Gunma University was established in 1949 by integrating the national colleges in Gunma Prefecture: , , ...

Hamamatsu University School of Medicine is a national university A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. Some national universities are associated w ...

Hirosaki University is a Japanese national university in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Established in 1949, it comprises five faculties: Faculty of the Humanities, Faculty of Education History, Hirosaki University Medical School History, Faculty of Science ...

* Hiroshima University *

Hokkaido University , or , is a Japanese national university in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It was the fifth Imperial University in Japan, which were established to be the nation's finest institutions of higher education or research. Hokkaido University is considered ...

(former Hokkaido Imperial University) *

Hokkaido University of Education is a national public university administered by the government of Japan. It has five campuses in Hokkaido, Japan. The main campus is on the outskirts of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo (HUES) is the la ...

* Hyogo University of Teacher Education * Ibaraki University *

Iwate University Iwate University ( ja, 岩手大学, ''Iwate Daigaku'', abbreviated as ''Gandai'' or ''岩大'') is a national university located in Morioka, Japan. Founded in 1876 as the , the school was formally established as Iwate University in 1949. With it ...

* Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) * Joetsu University of Education *

Kagawa University is a national university in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. The university was established in 1949 as a national university after the consolidation and reorganization of the Kagawa Normal School, the Kagawa Normal School for Youth and the Takamatsu ...

* Kagoshima University * Kanazawa University * Kitami Institute of Technology *

Kobe University , also known in the Kansai region as , is a leading Japanese national university located in the city of Kobe, in Hyōgo. It was established in 1949, but the academic origins of Kobe University trace back to the establishment of Kobe Higher Comme ...

Kochi University Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Ke ...

* Kumamoto University *

Kyoto Institute of Technology Kyoto Institute of Technology (京都工芸繊維大学, Kyōto Kōgei Sen'i Daigaku) in Kyoto, Japan is a Japanese national university established in 1949. The Institute's history extends back to two schools, Kyoto Craft High School (established i ...

Kyoto University of Education The is a national university in Kyoto, Japan. The school's predecessor was founded in 1876, and it was chartered as a university in 1949. History The Kyoto University of Education was established in 1949 from the merger of Kyōto shihan gakkō a ...

Kyushu Institute of Technology is one of the 87 national universities in Japan. Located in Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, it is dedicated to education and research in the fields of science and technology. It is earlier abbreviated to KIT and is now officially ab ...

* Mie University * Miyagi University of Education *

Muroran Institute of Technology , abbreviated as MuroranIT, MuIT, or Muroran Tech is a national university in Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan. History *1897 Sapporo Agricultural College Department of Civil Engineering Established *1918 Sapporo Agricultural College promoted to Hokkai ...

* Nagaoka University of Technology *

Nagasaki University is a national university of Japan. Its nickname is ''Chōdai'' (). The main campus is located in Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. History Nagasaki University was established in 1949 by incorporating several nation ...

* Nagoya Institute of Technology * Nara Institute of Science and Technology * Nara University of Education *

Nara Women's University is a national women's university located in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is one of two national women's universities in the country, the other being Ochanomizu University.For more about the legal status of "national universities" in Japan, s ...

* Naruto University of Education *

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies The , or GRIPS, is an elite, highly selective research graduate school located in Minato, Tokyo. Funded by the Japanese Government, it has the status of national university. It is also one of Asia's leading think tanks of policy scholars and socia ...

* National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya *

Niigata University is a national university in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1949 and has its major origins in Niigata Medical College (established in 1922) and in Niigata Higher School (established in 1919). It is one of the largest Jap ...

Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine is a university in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan, commonly referred to as Obihiro University. It was founded in 1941, as the Obihiro Technical School of Veterinary Medicine. As of 2009, the university employs 136 faculty members and a full-time sta ...

* Ochanomizu University *

Oita University is a national university in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the S ...

* Okayama University * Osaka Kyoiku University * Otaru University of Commerce * Saga University * Saitama University *

Shiga University , or is a national university in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, with campuses in the cities of Ōtsu and Hikone. Founded in 1874, it was chartered as a university in 1949. Faculties & Graduate Schools Shiga University has three faculties, the Fac ...

Shiga University of Medical Science is a national university in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan, founded in 1974. Notable faculty * Katsuo Nishiyama, professor emeritus See also * List of medical schools Medical schools are developed, monitored and credentialed by national organizations ...

* Shimane University *

Shinshu University , abbreviated to , is a Japanese national university located in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As the only university in Japan bearing the name of a former Japanese province, it bears the name "Shinshu" (alternative name for Shinano Pr ...

Shizuoka University is a List of national universities in Japan, national university in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Shizuoka University is well known in the field of engineering, in creative innovation, and in the invention of next generation technology, with ...

* Tokushima University *

Tokyo Gakugei University Tokyo Gakugei University (東京学芸大学, ''Tōkyō gakugei daigaku'') is a national university in Koganei, Tokyo. Founded in 1873, it was chartered as a university in 1949. It is also known as ''Gakudai'' (学大) and TGU, for short. In ad ...

* Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology * Tokyo University of Foreign Studies * Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology *

Tokyo University of the Arts or is the most prestigious art school in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju and Adachi, Tokyo. The university has trained renowned artists in the fields of painting, scul ...

* Tottori University * Toyohashi University of Technology *

Tsukuba University of Technology , or NTUT, is a national university in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the ...

University of Electro-Communications The is a national university in the city of Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. It specialises in the disciplines of computer science, the physical sciences, engineering and technology. It was founded in 1918 as the Technical Institute for Wireless-Commu ...

University of Fukui The is a national university of Japan located in the city of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. History University of Fukui was established in 1949 by integrating three national colleges in Fukui Prefecture: , and . The university at first had two facul ...

University of Miyazaki is a national university primarily in the Kibana neighborhood of southern Miyazaki city, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The name is sometimes shortened to the abbreviation "UoM" or the portmanteau "Miyadai." The predecessor of the school was founded ...

* University of the Ryukyus *

University of Toyama The is a Japanese national university in Toyama Prefecture established in 1949. The University of Toyama has three campuses, namely the Gofuku, Sugitani, and Takaoka campuses. The University of Toyama, Sugitani campus is the home to Institut ...

University of Yamanashi The , abbreviated to , is a university that has campuses in Kofu and Chūō, Japan. The University of Yamanashi has its origin in “Kitenkan” which was founded in 1795 as a branch school of “Shoheizaka-School” of Tokugawa Government (late ...

* Utsunomiya University *

Wakayama University , or , is a national university located in Wakayama, Japan. It was founded in 1949 and is organized in four faculties. Organization The university is divided into the following four faculties. *Faculty of Education & Graduate School of Educatio ...

* Yamagata University *

Yamaguchi University is a national university in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It has campuses at the cities of Yamaguchi and Ube. History The root of the university was , a private school founded by Ueda Hōyō (, 1769–1853) in 1815. In 1863 the school became a ...

Yokohama National University , abbreviated to or YNU, is a national university located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1876, it became a national university in 1949, and currently comprises five graduate schools and four undergraduate faculties. The univ ...

Although The Open University of Japan and

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology The is a private, interdisciplinary graduate school located in Onna, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The school offers a 5-year PhD program in Science. Over half of the faculty and students are recruited from outside Japan, and all education and r ...

are founded by the national government's initiatives and heavily subsidised by the government, they are classified as private.

References

{{reflist

External links

The Japan Association of National Universities
National