University of Tokyo ranked 29th globally by Times Higher Education

Sep 29, 2023 | News On Japan

Sep 29, 2023 (NHK) - Two leading Japanese universities have risen in global rankings compiled by a British educational journal.

Times Higher Education released its annual World University Rankings on Wednesday. The evaluations are based on a set of indicators that measure performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

The survey ranked the state-run University of Tokyo in 29th position, up ten places from last year. Kyoto University is in 55th place, up from 68th last year.

The top 10 is dominated by British and US universities again this year.

The University of Oxford tops the rankings for the eighth year in a row. Stanford University moves up to second place, up one rank from last year.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology climbed two places to number three. Harvard University was ranked fourth, down two places from last year. The University of Cambridge slipped to fifth place after having shared the number three position with Stanford last year.

For the first time, China has two universities in the top 15. Tsinghua University is ranked 12th, and Peking University is 14th.

Times Higher Education quotes an educational expert as saying that the Chinese government's generous funding and other factors have helped the nation's universities to rise in the global rankings.

Takaichi Gets 5 Hours Sleep for 'First Time in a While'

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn criticism over a social media post describing five hours of sleep as a rare luxury, as the extended Diet session prepares to begin Upper House debate on a controversial bill to establish secondary capitals outside Tokyo.

Japan Introduces Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving

Japan began applying a new numerical alcohol threshold for dangerous driving offenses on July 21, introducing a clearer standard for cases involving impaired driving that could lead to fatal accidents.

Mount Fuji Filmed From a Helicopter

Breathtaking 4K footage filmed from a helicopter offers a sweeping aerial view of Mount Fuji and its majestic surrounding landscape.

Japan Scrambles for Oil

A covert network of shuttle tankers is carrying crude through the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran disrupts shipping and raises concerns over how Japan will secure the oil it needs.

Russia Calls Japan-Ukraine Drone Cooperation a Clear Hostile Act

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has criticized moves by Japanese and Ukrainian companies to cooperate on drone technology, warning that such ties would be regarded by Moscow as a "clear hostile act."

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Tuition-Free Policy Drives Shift Toward Private High Schools in Hokkaido

Hokkaido saw a marked shift toward private high schools among students entering in fiscal 2026 after tuition at private institutions became effectively free from April, according to an analysis by the Hokkaido Board of Education.

Will Japan Impose Social Media Ban for Children?

The Japanese government is considering new rules to protect children from the risks of social media and plans to compile concrete measures by the end of 2026, but officials and experts remain cautious about introducing a blanket age restriction like those pursued in Australia and the European Union.

National Academic Test Shows Persistent Writing Challenges in Japanese

Japanese elementary and junior high school students continue to struggle with written-response questions in Japanese, while average accuracy rates in arithmetic and mathematics remained in the 50% range, according to nationwide academic test results released by the education ministry on July 16.

The Long History of Intimate Goods in Japan

Japan’s relationship with intimate goods is far older than the modern online adult shop. Long before discreet packaging, digital payments, and private home delivery, Japanese artists, writers, merchants, and townspeople were already exploring the boundaries between desire, humor, privacy, and everyday life.

Young Doctors Flock to Cosmetic Medicine

A growing number of young doctors in Japan are moving directly into cosmetic medicine after obtaining a medical license and completing their initial clinical training, raising concern that the trend may be worsening staff shortages in insurance-covered medical care.