Imperial Universities
The Imperial Universities (Kyūjitai : 帝國大學, Shinjitai : 帝国大学, teikoku daigaku, abbr. : 帝大 teidai) were founded by the Empire of Japan between 1886 and 1939, seven in the Mainland Japan (now Japan), one in Korea under Japanese rule (now the Republic of Korea) and one in Taiwan under Japanese rule (now the Republic of China). They were run by the imperial government until the end of World War II. Today, they are often described as the former Imperial Universities (旧帝国大学, kyū-teikoku daigaku, abbr. : 旧帝大 kyū-teidai), and are viewed as some of the most prestigious in Japan. These former imperial universities are generally perceived as Japan’s equivalent of the U.S. Ivy League.
The alumni club of these nine imperial universities is Gakushikai (学士会).[1]
Members
 Imperial Universities
|
successor universities | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | Name | Image | Name at present | Location | Map | Colors | Motto |
| 1886 | Imperial University (帝國大學), renamed Tōkyō Imperial University (東京帝國大學) in 1897 |
|
University of Tokyo (東京大学) |  Bunkyō, Tokyo
|
35°42′48.39″N 139°45′44.03″E / 35.7134417°N 139.7622306°E | ||
| 1897 | Kyōto Imperial University (京都帝國大學) | File:Kyoto Imperial University-old1.jpg | Kyoto University (京都大学) | Kyoto, Kyoto
|
35°1′33.77″N 135°46′51″E / 35.0260472°N 135.78083°E | Freedom of academic culture (自由の学風) | |
| 1907 | Tōhoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學) | 
|
Tohoku University (東北大学) | Sendai, Miyagi
|
38°15′14.8″N 140°52′25″E / 38.254111°N 140.87361°E | Practice-Oriented Research and Education (実学尊重の精神) | |
| 1911 | Kyūshū Imperial University (九州帝國大學) | 
|
Kyushu University (九州大学) | Fukuoka, Fukuoka
|
33°37′21.9″N 130°25′31.1″E / 33.622750°N 130.425306°E | Opening the Door to a New Century of Knowledge (九大百年、躍進百大) | |
| 1918 | Hokkaidō Imperial University (北海道帝國大學) | 
|
Hokkaido University (北海道大学) | Sapporo, Hokkaidō
|
43°4′16.61″N 141°20′36.89″E / 43.0712806°N 141.3435806°E | Boys, Be Ambitious (少年よ、大志を抱け) | |
| 1924 | Keijō Imperial University (京城帝國大學) | 
|
Seoul National University (서울대학교)[2] |  Jongno, Seoul
|
37°34′47.7″N 127°00′10.3″E / 37.579917°N 127.002861°E | The truth is my light (Veritas lux mea) | |
| 1928 | Taihoku Imperial University (臺北帝國大學) | 
|
National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學)[4] |  Da'an, Taipei
|
25°1′2.45″N 121°32′26.55″E / 25.0173472°N 121.5407083°E | Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, Compassion (敦品勵學，愛國愛人) | |
| 1931 | Ōsaka Imperial University (大阪帝國大學) | 
|
Osaka University (大阪大学) | Suita, Osaka
|
34°49′7.23″N 135°31′26.23″E / 34.8186750°N 135.5239528°E | Live Locally, Grow Globally (地域に生き世界に伸びる) | |
| 1939 | Nagoya Imperial University (名古屋帝國大學) | 
|
Nagoya University (名古屋大学) | Nagoya, Aichi
|
35°9′15.8″N 136°57′55.73″E / 35.154389°N 136.9654806°E | Courageous intellectual (勇気ある知識人) | |
History
Athletic Competition
The athletic competition started among these seven schools in Japan under the sponsorship of Hokkaido University, formerly known as National Athletic Competition of the Seven Universities (全国七大学総合体育大会, zenkoku nana-daigaku sōgō taiiku-taikai) in 1962. Its name was later recoined as Seven Universities Athletic Meet (国立七大学総合体育大会, kokuritsu nana-daigaku sōgō taiiku-taikai)[5][6] in 2002. The competition is commonly called the Competition of the Seven Imperial Universities (七帝戦, shichi-tei sen) or the national athletic meet of the seven former imperial universities (七大戦, Nanadai-sen).[7]
See also
- List of territories occupied by Imperial Japan
- Golden triangle (universities) — grouping of leading English universities
References
- ^ 学士会について (学士会)
- ^ Changed its name to Kyongsong University after World War II, and dissolved on August 22, 1946, by U.S. Military Ordinance No. 102.
- ^ The original Keijo Imperial University and Seoul National University were located at Jongno-gu, Korea in the Daehangno area. Most of the departments of Seoul National University have moved to the Gwanak campus, founded 1975. The Seoul National University Yeongeon campus, consisting of the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the College of Dentisry, as well as the Seoul National University Hospital, remains in Jongno-gu. Some of the former site of Seoul National University now form the Marronnier Park (마로니에 공원)
- ^ The Chinese (Kuomintang) government took control of the university and renamed it.
- ^ 51st Seven Universities Athletic Meet Opening Ceremony (July 7, 2012) (Kyoto University)
- ^ UTokyo's Ice Hockey Team Wins at the Seven Universities Athletic Meet for the First Time in 46 Years (Student Support Group) (University of Tokyo)
- ^ Long-awaited overall victory in Nanadai-sen (University of Tokyo)