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THE Japan University Rankings
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THE Japan University Rankings 2025

Times Higher Education World University Rankings · · Methodology · Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings official website · Editorial Standards

Evaluates Japanese universities for teaching resources, student engagement, and internationalization.

THE evaluates universities across five pillars — Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook — making it one of the most comprehensive ranking systems.

How does THE Japan University Rankings evaluate universities?

THE Japan University Rankings, published by Times Higher Education World University Rankings, evaluates universities worldwide using key indicators such as Resources, Engagement, Outcomes, Environment, each assigned a distinct weight according to a publicly documented methodology. Data sources combine academic peer reviews, employer surveys, bibliometric databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, and institutional self-reported statistics, all independently verified by the publisher's research team. The 2025 edition assessed 172 universities from 1 countries and regions, covering teaching quality, research output, internationalization, and graduate employability across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. Times Higher Education World University Rankings recollects raw data annually and cross-checks results to ensure the rankings reflect each institution's most current performance in faculty strength, scholarly productivity, global reach, and student outcomes, providing a reliable reference for prospective students, parents, and education researchers.

Which are the top universities in THE Japan University Rankings 2025?

The top universities in THE Japan University Rankings 2025 are: Hosei University, Kagoshima University, Gunma University, St Luke’s International University, Juntendo University. This edition, published by Times Higher Education World University Rankings, evaluated 172 universities from 1 countries and regions using indicators such as Resources, Engagement, Outcomes, Environment. Rankings reflect weighted performance across multiple dimensions; students should consider methodology differences and their own academic priorities when interpreting results.

How does THE Japan University Rankings differ from other ranking systems?

THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings is among the most comprehensive, evaluating universities across teaching (30%), research environment (30%), research quality (30%), industry income (2.5%), and international outlook (7.5%), with 18 fine-grained indicators. Data sources combine the Elsevier Scopus bibliometric database, academic reputation surveys, and institution-reported statistics. The methodology underwent a major 2024 revision, adding a Research Quality category to reduce reliance on sheer output volume. In comparison, QS leans more on reputation surveys, ARWU is built solely on objective research metrics (Nobel Prizes, highly cited researchers), and US News centers on research productivity and citation impact. THE suits applicants seeking a balanced view of a university's combined research and teaching strength.

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🇯🇵 Japan
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Total 172 universities

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University
Country
54 Hosei University Hosei University 🇯🇵 Japan 53.2 35.6 74.3 39.4 62.5
55 Kagoshima University logo Kagoshima University 🇯🇵 Japan 53.1 49.8 69.2 41.7 44.0
56 Gunma University logo Gunma University 🇯🇵 Japan 53.0 54.7 63.1 32.3 51.3
57 = St Luke’s International University St Luke’s International University 🇯🇵 Japan 52.9 68.1 48.2 - 66.0
60 Juntendo University Juntendo University 🇯🇵 Japan 52.5 64.2 48.2 29.8 44.3
61 Yamagata University logo Yamagata University (YU ) 🇯🇵 Japan 52.4 46.3 72.3 47.0 26.4
62 Soka University Soka University 🇯🇵 Japan 52.3 35.2 48.2 31.1 91.7
63 = Chuo University Chuo University 🇯🇵 Japan 51.9 37.8 74.5 41.4 50.6
63 = Utsunomiya University logo Utsunomiya University (UDAI) 🇯🇵 Japan 51.9 40.8 69.0 43.1 52.1
66 = Kindai University logo Kindai University 🇯🇵 Japan 51.7 39.6 77.0 37.4 45.8
70 Kobe City University of Foreign Studies logo Kobe City University of Foreign Studies (KCUFS) 🇯🇵 Japan 51.3 21.3 66.7 27.3 86.6
71 = Nara Women’s University Nara Women’s University 🇯🇵 Japan 51.2 53.7 64.6 30.2 43.7
73 = Gifu University logo Gifu University 🇯🇵 Japan 50.7 56.5 58.3 33.4 43.4
73 = Saitama University logo Saitama University 🇯🇵 Japan 50.7 42.2 63.7 43.5 51.3
73 = Shimane University logo Shimane University 🇯🇵 Japan 50.7 50.1 64.2 12.4 53.0
76 University of Toyama logo University of Toyama 🇯🇵 Japan 50.6 47.9 64.1 38.7 44.6
77 Yamaguchi University logo Yamaguchi University 🇯🇵 Japan 50.4 46.1 67.8 30.7 47.4
78 Kagawa University logo Kagawa University 🇯🇵 Japan 50.0 55.9 63.2 37.6 26.4
79 Tottori University logo Tottori University 🇯🇵 Japan 49.8 53.6 67.3 30.5 26.4
80 = Kochi University of Technology logo Kochi University of Technology (KUT) 🇯🇵 Japan 49.6 39.4 73.5 44.3 26.4
80 = Toyo University logo Toyo University 🇯🇵 Japan 49.6 21.3 74.8 31.5 72.2
83 University of Fukui University of Fukui 🇯🇵 Japan 49.1 57.6 48.2 27.8 40.6
84 = University of Hyogo logo University of Hyogo (UH) 🇯🇵 Japan 48.8 47.6 60.7 40.3 39.7
84 = Mie University logo Mie University 🇯🇵 Japan 48.8 52.2 48.2 35.7 42.6
86 Ehime University logo Ehime University 🇯🇵 Japan 48.7 47.2 64.8 33.8 39.0
87 University of Yamanashi logo University of Yamanashi 🇯🇵 Japan 48.5 54.8 48.2 28.4 47.0
88 Aichi Prefectural University logo Aichi Prefectural University 🇯🇵 Japan 48.3 38.6 62.3 34.8 54.4
89 Tokushima University logo Tokushima University 🇯🇵 Japan 48.1 52.7 62.2 39.4 -
90 = Iwate University logo Iwate University 🇯🇵 Japan 47.9 40.1 66.0 41.8 39.0
90 = University of Miyazaki logo University of Miyazaki 🇯🇵 Japan 47.9 54.5 60.5 30.1 26.4
92 = Hamamatsu University School of Medicine logo Hamamatsu University School of Medicine 🇯🇵 Japan 47.8 81.8 - - 26.4
92 = Toyota Technological Institute logo Toyota Technological Institute (TTI) 🇯🇵 Japan 47.8 69.6 48.2 - 44.0
94 = Ibaraki University logo Ibaraki University 🇯🇵 Japan 47.7 44.0 66.2 42.5 26.4
94 = Shizuoka University logo Shizuoka University 🇯🇵 Japan 47.7 41.1 65.3 38.0 40.5
96 Hirosaki University logo Hirosaki University 🇯🇵 Japan 47.6 49.6 71.5 12.4 26.4
99 Nagoya University of Commerce & Business Nagoya University of Commerce & Business 🇯🇵 Japan 47.1 - 69.3 12.4 87.4
100 Shiga University of Medical Science logo Shiga University of Medical Science (SUMS) 🇯🇵 Japan 47.0 76.5 - - 26.4
101-110 Kōchi University Kōchi University 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 51.4 48.2 40.8 26.4
101-110 Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 81.4 - - -
101-110 Meiji Gakuin University logo Meiji Gakuin University 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 21.3 65.4 36.2 62.4
101-110 University of Niigata Prefecture logo University of Niigata Prefecture (UNP) 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 21.3 61.5 30.2 69.5
101-110 Ryukoku University logo Ryukoku University 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 21.3 66.6 37.2 55.6
101-110 University of the Ryukyus logo University of the Ryukyus 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 44.6 63.7 12.4 42.6
101-110 Seinan Gakuin University Seinan Gakuin University (SGU) 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 21.3 73.7 32.6 59.3
101-110 University of Shizuoka logo University of Shizuoka 🇯🇵 Japan 45.8 48.4 62.2 26.0 26.4
111-120 Jikei University School of Medicine logo Jikei University School of Medicine 🇯🇵 Japan 44.5 74.6 48.2 - -
111-120 Kyoto Sangyo University logo Kyoto Sangyo University 🇯🇵 Japan 44.5 21.3 69.0 34.2 50.2
111-120 Nippon Medical School Nippon Medical School 🇯🇵 Japan 44.5 76.7 - - 26.4
111-120 University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan 🇯🇵 Japan 44.5 71.8 - 12.4 26.4
111-120 Sapporo Medical University logo Sapporo Medical University (SMU) 🇯🇵 Japan 44.5 73.3 59.5 - -