Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2025

Japan has 5,713 scientists on the 2025 single-year Top 2% list, up 1.9% from 5,609 in 2024. That places Japan 10th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 1 place. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (378), followed by Tohoku University (230).

Single Year

5,713

+104 (+1.9%) vs 2024

Career Data

8,730

+469 (+5.7%) vs 2024

World rank by count

#10

down 1 place vs 2024

Institutes

924

+109 (+13.4%) vs 2024

Scientists in Japan on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 27% since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+20.8%

2022+1.5%

2023+3.6%

2024-1.5%

2025+1.9%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	4,484		6,316
2021	5,416	+20.8%	7,362	+16.6%
2022	5,496	+1.5%	7,630	+3.6%
2023	5,694	+3.6%	8,126	+6.5%
2024	5,609	-1.5%	8,261	+1.7%
2025	5,713	+1.9%	8,730	+5.7%

Top 10 institutes in Japan

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2025

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo378
2Tohoku University230
3The University of Osaka201
4Graduate School of Medicine188
5Institute of Science Tokyo173
6Kyushu University143
7Hokkaido University137
8Kyoto University127
9Nagoya University117
10National Institute for Materials Science89

All 5,713 scientists

Single-year list2025

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in Japan	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	94	KM Kanehisa, Minoru I.	Institute for Chemical Research	Bioinformatics	Rank 3
2	123	MN Mizushima, Noboru N.	Faculty of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 2
3	283	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 3
4	309	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 3
5	336	AS Akira, Shizuo	The University of Osaka	Immunology	Rank 10
6	374	Sharifi, Ayyoob	Hiroshima University	Energy	Rank 14
7	425	AH Akaike, Hirotsugu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 10
8	466	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 12
9	854	Sakaguchi, Shimon	Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences	Immunology	Rank 23
10	861	TM Tseng, Minglang	Asia University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 17
11	892	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 8
12	905	GJ Gong, Jian Ping	Hokkaido University	Polymers	Rank 5
13	1,043	HH HOSONO, Hideo	Institute of Science Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 23
14	1,058	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 24
15	1,104	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science	Applied Physics	Rank 29
16	1,233	EM Ezawa, Motohiko	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 31
17	1,247	TK Tone, Kaoru	National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies	Operations Research	Rank 8
18	1,257	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 7
19	1,314	IA Inoue, Akishisa	Josai International University	Materials	Rank 27
20	1,319	BJ Baselga, José M.	Kindai University School of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 23
21	1,363	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 36
22	1,546	YS Yamanaka, Shinya	Kyoto University	Developmental Biology	Rank 41
23	1,552	TA Togo, Atsushi	National Institute for Materials Science	Applied Physics	Rank 43
24	1,601	KK Kario, Kazuomi	Jichi Medical University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 41
25	1,680	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Institute of Science Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 17
26	1,786	TY Tanaka, Yoshiya	University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 9
27	1,965	HK Hashimotoa, Kenji	Chiba University	Psychiatry	Rank 41
28	2,035	KY Kanda, Yoshinobu	Jichi Medical University	Immunology	Rank 45
29	2,050	Kitagawa, Susumu	Kyoto University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 20
30	2,117	NS Nosé, Shuichi	Keio University	Chemical Physics	Rank 38
31	2,119	IA Isogai, Akira	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 13
32	2,139	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 30
33	2,187	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	BioDynamics Research Foundation	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 53
34	2,263	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 60
35	2,308	BK Bliokh, Konstantin Yu	RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research)	General Physics	Rank 20
36	2,335	MW McDonough, William F.	Tohoku University	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 22
37	2,390	ST Someya, Takao	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 65
38	2,421	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 92
39	2,479	AM Aziz, Muhammad	The University of Tokyo	Energy	Rank 68
40	2,623	Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad	Tokai University	Energy	Rank 71
41	2,630	NS Nojiri, Shin'ichi N.Ichi	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 29
42	2,636	NS Nagata, Shigekazu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 41
43	2,675	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka	Immunology	Rank 55
44	2,732	AS Amari, Shunichi	Teikyo University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 147
45	2,881	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Institute of Science Tokyo	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 9
46	2,951	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Institute of Science Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 48
47	2,974	WK Watanabe, Kenji	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 113
48	3,010	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 61
49	3,137	SM Sugiyama, Masashi	Riken	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 170
50	3,192	ZH Zhou, Haoshen	University of Tsukuba	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 123
51	3,257	KG Kojima, Gotaro	Gotaro Kojima Department of Research	Geriatrics	Rank 6
52	3,273	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 15
53	3,463	GL Greer, Lindsay Lindsay	Tohoku University	Materials	Rank 62
54	3,696	NM Niinomi, Mitsuo	Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University	Materials	Rank 70
55	3,701	FT Furukawa, Toshi A.	Kyoto University School of Public Health	Psychiatry	Rank 89
56	3,774	KS Komaba, Shinichi	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 97
57	3,921	HM Higashiwaki, Masataka	National Institute of Information and Communications Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 100
58	4,046	TD Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A.	Kagawa University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 32
59	4,084	KM Komatsu, Masaaki	Juntendo University School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 71
60	4,104	TK Takanabe, Kazuhiro	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 57
61	4,235	TT Taniguchi, Takashi	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 153
62	4,245	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 105
63	4,260	YM Yamamoto, Masayuki	Tohoku University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 75
64	4,281	SH Sakakibara, Hitoshi	Nagoya University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 36
65	4,490	Managi, Shunsuke	Kyushu University	Economics	Rank 96
66	4,537	KR Kubo, Ryogo	The University of Tokyo	General Physics	Rank 40
67	4,604	OK Ohno-Matsui, Kyoko	Institute of Science Tokyo	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 8
68	5,024	KM Kuro-O, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 30
69	5,112	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo Y.	RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 46
70	5,132	TS Tsujikawa, Shinji	Tokyo University of Science	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 56
71	5,168	ME Myers, Eugene Wimberly	Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University	Bioinformatics	Rank 21
72	5,180	IH Iso, Hiroyasu	The University of Osaka	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 143
73	5,276	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 17
74	5,305	MY Murakami, Yukitaka	Kyushu University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 51
75	5,332	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 138
76	5,473	SK Saito, Kazuki	RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 53
77	5,496	KT Kimoto, Tsunenobu	Kyoto University	Applied Physics	Rank 129
78	5,571	KK Katoh, Kazutaka	The University of Osaka	Developmental Biology	Rank 142
79	5,644	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 20
80	5,708	PC Pickard, Chris J.	Tohoku University	Chemical Physics	Rank 103
81	5,815	HW Hamilton, William D.	Kyushu University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 40
82	5,821	FK Fukui, Kenichi	Kyoto University	Chemical Physics	Rank 105
83	5,859	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 305
84	5,862	OR Ogawa, Rei	Nippon Medical School Hospital	Surgery	Rank 7
85	5,878	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 307
86	5,912	KM Katoh, Masaru	M & amp; M Precision Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 153
87	5,913	TH Tanaka, Hajime	Institute of Industrial Science	General Physics	Rank 50
88	5,975	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Tsubota Laboratory, Inc.	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 13
89	6,045	KH Kimura, Hideo	Sanyo-Onoda City University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 98
90	6,094	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 34
91	6,140	OM Oguri, Masamune	Chiba University	Astronomy & Astrophysics	Rank 42
92	6,216	MT Miyasaka, Tsutomu	Toin University of Yokohama	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 225
93	6,245	SK Shitara, Kouhei	National Cancer Center Hospital East	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 168
94	6,373	UM Ueda, Masahito	The University of Tokyo	General Physics	Rank 53
95	6,462	YK Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, Kazuko	The University of Tokyo	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 63
96	6,613	YA Yamada, Atsuo	The University of Tokyo	Energy	Rank 167
97	6,661	KR Kraichnan, Robert H.	Nagoya Institute of Technology	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 36
98	6,749	DK Domen, Kazunari	Shinshu University	Chemical Physics	Rank 120
99	6,773	KK Kabashima, Kenji	Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 21
100	6,825	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Japan Science and Technology Agency	Organic Chemistry	Rank 91
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Ranks 101 to 5,713The whole list, not only the top 100.

Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2025

Italy7,991 scientists

India6,236 scientists

France5,886 scientists

Netherlands4,727 scientists

Spain4,267 scientists

South Korea3,695 scientists

Explore other countries

Single-year list2025

China31,697 scientists

Hong Kong1,818 scientists

Taiwan1,470 scientists

Macau197 scientists

Iran2,534 scientists

Saudi Arabia2,110 scientists

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Japan are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?

5,713 scientists affiliated with Japan are on the 2025 single-year list, and 8,730 are on the career-long list.

Which institute in Japan has the most Top 2% scientists?

On the 2025 single-year list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 378. It is followed by Tohoku University with 230.

How has the number of Top 2% scientists in Japan changed since 2020?

On the single-year list, Japan went from 4,484 scientists in 2020 to 5,713 in 2025, a change of +27.4%.

What is the difference between the single-year and career-long lists?

The single-year list ranks scientists on the citations their work received in one year. The career-long list ranks them on citations across their whole career. Both lists are published every year, and a scientist can be on one, both or neither.

What is the official source of this data?

The rankings come from the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators published by Ioannidis et al. in the Elsevier Data Repository, updated every year. TOPSCINET, an independent platform, organises that data by country, year, institute and field, so you can compare and explore it.