
, abbreviated to , is a
Japanese national university As of 2013, there were 86 , 90 public universities and 606 private universities in Japan. National universities tend to be held in higher regard in higher education in Japan than private or public universities.
As of the 2019 fiscal year, the num ...
located in
Matsumoto,
Nagano Prefecture
is a Landlocked country, landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,007,682 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture ...
, Japan. As the only national university in Japan bearing the name of a former
Japanese province, it bears the name "Shinshu" (alternative name for
Shinano Province
or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture.
Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
).
The University has three campuses;
Matsumoto,
Nagano,
Ueda Ueda may refer to:
Places
*Ueda, Nagano, a city in Japan
* Ueda Castle in Japan
* Ueda Domain of Japan
* Ueda Glacier in Antarctica
Other uses
* Ueda (surname)
*Siege of Ueda
Sekigahara campaign
Sieges of the Sengoku period
Attacks on castles ...
and
Minami-Minowa.
The school was established as a university in 1949, at which time the following institutions were subsumed into it; Nagano
Normal School (established in 1873), Ueda Textile College (1910), Nagano Youths Normal School (1918), Matsumoto High School (1919), Nagano
Technical College
An institute of technology (also referred to as technological university, technical university, university of technology, polytechnic university) is an institution of tertiary education that specializes in engineering, technology, applied science ...
(1943), Matsumoto
Medical College
A medical association or medical college is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area (a country, region, province). In common-law countries, they are often grouped by medical specialties ( cardiolog ...
(1944), and Nagano Prefectural College of Agriculture and Forestry (1945).
History
Shinshu University traces its roots back to 1873 when it was a temporary normal school.
The university was chartered by the
Showa government in 1949 under a new Japanese education system reforming older system, merging seven institutions of higher education within Nagano Prefecture which includes Nagano Normal School (, ''Nagano shihan gakkō'') established in 1873, Ueda Textile College (, ''Ueda senni semmon gakkō'') established in 1910, Nagano Youths Normal School (, ''Nagano seinen shihan gakkō'') established in 1918, Matsumoto Higher School (, ''Matsumoto kōtō gakkō'') established in 1919, Nagano Technical College (, ''Nagano kōgyō semmon gakkō'') established in 1943, Matsumoto Medical College (, ''Matsumoto ika daigaku'') established in 1944, and Nagano Prefectural College of Agriculture and Forestry (, ''Nagano kenritsu nōrin semmon gakkō'') established in 1945.
In 2004 Shinshu University became a
National University Corporation A is a corporate body (legal entity) established under the provisions of the ''National University Corporation Act'' (2003) for the purpose of establishing a national university in Japan.
History
As part of promoting the reform of Japanese univ ...
under the ''National University Corporation Act''.
Academics

Shinshu University is a comprehensive national university having 8 faculties and 8 graduate schools. A wide range of education and research is carried out on the campuses at
Matsumoto,
Nagano,
Ueda Ueda may refer to:
Places
*Ueda, Nagano, a city in Japan
* Ueda Castle in Japan
* Ueda Domain of Japan
* Ueda Glacier in Antarctica
Other uses
* Ueda (surname)
*Siege of Ueda
Sekigahara campaign
Sieges of the Sengoku period
Attacks on castles ...
and
Minami-Minowa with a total number of staff of 1,179 and a total number of students of about 10,970 (including about 329 foreign students).
Organic collaboration between the various departments is carried out utilizing the advantages of a comprehensive university, to achieve world level advanced and innovative education and research.
Rankings

In September 2005, the university chair decided not to participate in national or international rankings in the foreseeable future, stating the administrative expenditures needed as a main reason. The small sample size used by many rankings and their methodology have also been criticised. However, Shinshu University is still being featured in international rankings.
Administrative structure
The School of General Education
The mission of the School of General Education, is to cooperate closely with the five faculties concerned with teaching (Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, and Faculty of Textile Science and Technology) to make individuals acquire high professional skills based on the basic university policies for education. Furthermore, it aims to promote the educational research development and manage its plan comprehensively based on the university wide common perspective.
The Faculty of Textile Science and Technology
The Faculty of Textile Science and Technology is the only faculty in Japan with "Textile" in its name. It is recognized as an international research center in fiber engineering, and in 2010 celebrated the centenary of its establishment. It is ranked 35th in the sub-category "Textiles" in the international Science Citations Index. It is also ranked 50th in the "composites" sub-category. In 2012 they joined the Association of Universities for Textiles (AUTEX) based in Europe, to vitalize international exchange and collaboration.
Faculties

*Arts
*School of Medicine
*Engineering
*Science
*Agriculture
*Economics
*Education
*Textile Science and Technology
Graduate Schools
The Shinshu University Graduate School is unique in that it offers interdisciplinary research courses that capitalize on the overall strengths of the university. Such courses allow students to explore issues such as fundamental philosophy, practical engineering, medicine, and law to contribute to the harmonious coexistence of nature and human society.
*Division of Arts
*Division of Education
*Division of Industrial and Social Studies
*Graduate School of Science and Technology
*Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology
*Division of Agriculture
*Graduate School of Medicine
*School of Law
List of facilities and associated institutes

Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), a World-class International Research Center
has been established bringing together research resources in 5 research areas:
*Institute of Carbon Science and Technology
*Center for Energy and Environmental Science
To propose new dimensional solutions for environmental and energy materials research
*Institute for Fiber Engineering
research continues to innovate textiles
*Institute of Mountain Science
Research into Mountain Science in Japan, Asia, and on a Global Scale
*Institute for Biomedical Sciences
To contribute to the ultra-aged society by original research in biological sciences and medical research, with the aim of sustainable development
In these research institutes, the education and research areas that need to be continued into the future and that can be undertaken as fusion and collaborative education and research have been selected in accordance with the characteristics of Shinshu University. In these research clusters, by developing the environment with an emphasis on research, inviting prominent external researchers, and introducing new human resource development systems to cultivate young researchers into prominent researchers, it is considered that the next generation of outstanding researchers will be nurtured, while maintaining our position as a center of excellence.
University Library
consists of the libraries found in each of the five campuses within Nagano Prefecture as follows: Central Library, Medical Library (Matsumoto Campus), Educational Library (Nagano-Education Campus), Engineering Library (Nagano-Engineering Campus), Agricultural Library (Ina Campus), Textile Science and Technology Library (Ueda Campus). Each library has its unique specialty and having mutual linkage. User can ask materials in a library in other campus to be sent
to his nearest campus for use. Also, the libraries are open to the citizens, showing that the university is open to the regional community. Referencing, copying, and inquiry services are accepted. Also, it is possible to borrow the materials on the open shelves that are for check-out.
University Hospital, equipped with 707 beds and 65 clinics, is not only a general medical examination and treatment center but also a specialized hospital that conducts more advanced medical and clinical research. Furthermore, it acts as a teaching hospital that trains the next generation of healthcare professionals. Some of the hospital's most recent successes include the world's rst adult living donor liver transplant and the country's rst brain-dead donor liver transplant.

Research Center for Human and Environmental Sciences
aims to not only facilitate the cooperation among the fields of gene research, animal experiments, instrumental analysis, and radioisotope application to support the research which need higher techniques with safety and efficiency but also cultivate individuals with the skills necessary to conduct research in all these fields.
Cooperative Research Center
aims to not only contribute to technological development and technical training in local society but also stimulate research and education within Shinshu University through cooperative research between members of various university departments and those in the industry.
Satellite Venture Business Laboratory (SVBL)
aims to promote creative research and development that can form the basis of a venture business and foster talented individuals who have advanced technical occupational abilities.
Center for Shinshu Medical Innovation of Regional Technology (CSMIT)
aims to leverage and develop research seeds and technical seeds of Shinshu University etc. for the medical fields to enhance the regional medical industry dramatically. The industry, academic, and governmental organizations collaborate tightly to work on research development, commercialization, and talent cultivation.
Fiber Innovation Incubator (Fii)
has a pilot line capable of research and development ranging from production of practical prototype products and analysis and evaluation, using the most advanced fiber engineering equipment. It also functions as a link with overseas universities and a hub for international information.
Shinshu Incubation Center for Medical Device and Functional Food Development
is located on Shinshu University Matsumoto Campus, and has more than 50 types of analytical equipment, to stimulate local innovation. Active support is provided to accelerate joint industrial-academic-government research by local companies in the medical field.
Innovation Research and Support Center
aims to not only conduct innovative research within and outside the university but also enhance association with industry, academia, and the government in cooperation with the Japanese Organizations for Small & Medium Enterprises and the prefectural Tourism and Industry Organizations.
Research Center for Higher Education
aims to not only support the construction of a systematic course of study at Shinshu University but also promotes the research and development of strategic methods that assure the quality of education.
Shinshu Advanced Science and Technology Center (SASTec)
provides space for technical development and collaborative research, etc., between academic staff of the Faculty of Engineering and private companies, with the objective of creation of biomass and food related industries, advanced new materials, IT and embedded devices industries, etc., as a prototype development factory that will contribute to the vitalization of local industries.
Notable people
Professor
*
Akira Ikegami
is a Japanese journalist and author.
Life and career
Ikegami was born in Matsumoto, Japan. He attended and graduated Keio University in economics, and worked for NHK from 1973 to 2005, ultimately serving as the host of the network's news prog ...
, a visiting professor and a journalist.
*
Morinobu Endo
Morinobu Endo (遠藤 守信 ''Endō Morinobu'', born September 28, 1946) is a Japanese physicist and chemist, often cited as one of the pioneers of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes synthesis at the beginning of the 1970s. He demonstrated ...
, a
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a graduated scientist trained in the study of chemistry, or an officially enrolled student in the field. Chemists study the composition of ...
in the field of
carbon nanotubes
A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a tube made of carbon with a diameter in the nanometre range (nanoscale). They are one of the allotropes of carbon. Two broad classes of carbon nanotubes are recognized:
* ''Single-walled carbon nanotubes'' (''SWC ...
.
*
Pulickel Ajayan
Pulickel Madhavapanicker Ajayan (P. M. Ajayan) is the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He is a Professor in the Materials Science and NanoEngineering Department and also holds ...
, an nanotechnologist.
*
, a
physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
.
*
Gordon Wallace, a scientist in the field of
electromaterials.
*
Shuji Nakamura
is a Japanese electronic engineer, inventor of the blue LED, a major breakthrough in lighting technology, and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014. Nakamura specializes in the field of semiconductor technology, and he is a professo ...
, a visiting professor and one of the 2014
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics () is an annual award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for those who have made the most outstanding contributions to mankind in the field of physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the ...
for inventing the blue LED.
Alumni
*
Naoki Inose
is a Japanese politician, journalist, historian, social critic and biographer of literary figures such as Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Tokyo from June 2007Jun Hongo"Ishihara's new right-hand man settles in." ...
,
Governor of Tokyo
The is the head of government of Tokyo.
In 1943, upon the unification of Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture (1868–1943), Tokyo Prefecture into Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the position of Governor was created. Previously, the prefecture had a ...
, a journalist.
*
Gorō Miyazaki
is a Japanese landscape architect and animation director. His landscape projects include the Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park. The son of Hayao Miyazaki, Goro has directed three films—'' Tales from Earthsea'' (2006), '' From Up on Poppy Hill'' ...
, a film director at
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It has a strong presence in the animation industry and has exp ...
, and the son of
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Anime, Japanese ani ...
.
*Morinobu Endo, a chemist in the field of carbon nanotubes.
*
Mitsu Shimojo
is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Matsumoto, Nagano and graduate of Shinshu University
, abbreviated to , is a Japanese national ...
,
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
*
Akiko Kumai, a
potpourri
Potpourri ( ) is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials used to provide a gentle natural scent, commonly in residential settings. It is often placed in a decorative bowl.
Etymology
The word "potpourri" comes into English from ...
expert.
*
Kei Kumai
was a Japanese film director. After his studies in literature at Shinshu University, he began work as a director's assistant.
He won the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his first film, '' Nihon rettō'', in 1965. His 1972 film ...
, a film director.
*
Kyoko Ishida,
Olympic medalists in volleyball
*
Sohei Miyashita,
Head of the Japan Defense Agency and
the Environmental Agency.
*
Koji Kobayashi, a
computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who specializes in the academic study of computer science.
Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computation. Although computer scientists can also focus their work and research on ...
.
*
Morio Kita
was the pen name of , a Japanese psychiatrist, novelist and essayist.
Kita was the second son of poet Mokichi Saitō. , his older brother, was also a psychiatrist. The essayist Yuka Saitō is Kita's daughter.
Kita attended Azabu High School a ...
, a novelist, essayist.
*
Shinroku Momose, an aircraft/automotive engineer.
*
Mizuho Ōta
was the pen-name of , a Japanese poet and scholar of Japanese literature, active in Shōwa period Japan. He also occasionally used another pen name, ''Mizuhonoya''.
Early life
Ōta was born in Chikuma District, Nagano prefecture in what is now ...
, a poet.
*
Kiyoshige Koyama, a composer for orchestras.
*
Takahisa Oguchi, a
luge
A luge () is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds Supine position, supine (face-up) and feet-first. A luger begins seated, propelling themselves initially from handles on either side of the start ramp, then steers by using the Ca ...
r.
*
Mitsuko Shiga, a poet.
*
Shinichi Fukushima, a
racing cyclist
Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling spo ...
.
Alumni of attached schools
*Naoki Inose, Governor of Tokyo, a journalist.
*
Yasuo Tanaka,
Governor of Nagano Prefecture
*
Takashi Yamamoto, a pianist.
*
Masachi Osawa, a
sociologist.
*
Haruyo Ichikawa, a film actress and singer.
Full list can be found in the Japanese Wikipedia article:
List of Shinshu University people (in Japanese)
References
External links
The Shinshu University English WebsiteInterdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER)The Faculty of Textile Science and TechnologyShinshu University Hospitalshishuweb
{{Authority control
Education in Nagano Prefecture
Japanese national universities
Universities and colleges established in 1949
Universities and colleges established in 1873
Forestry education
1949 establishments in Japan
1873 establishments in Japan
Universities and colleges in Nagano Prefecture
Minamiminowa, Nagano
Ueda, Nagano
Matsumoto, Nagano
Nagano (city)