Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2021: Career-Long List

Japan has 7,362 scientists on the 2021 career-long Top 2% list, up 16.6% from 6,316 in 2020. That places Japan 5th in the world by number of listed scientists. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (414), followed by Tohoku University (315).

Single Year

5,416

+932 (+20.8%) vs 2020

Career Data

7,362

+1,046 (+16.6%) vs 2020

World rank by count

No change vs 2020

Institutes

1,141

+200 (+21.3%) vs 2020

Scientists in Japan on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 17% since 2020.

Career-long list, change on the previous year

2021+16.6%

2022+3.6%

2023+6.5%

2024+1.7%

2025+5.7%

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

Career-long list2021

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo414
2Tohoku University315
3Osaka University290
4Kyoto University287
5Tokyo Institute of Technology224
6Graduate School of Medicine175
7Nagoya University167
8Kyushu University163
9Hokkaido University158
10National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology157

All 7,362 scientists

Career-long list2021

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	22	AS Akira, Shizuo	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 1
2	51	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 4
3	226	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 13
4	248	Sakaguchi, Shimon	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 18
5	273	MN Mizushima, Noboru	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 19
6	277	NS Nagata, Shigekazu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 20
7	363	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 22
8	492	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Nagoya University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 14
9	508	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Developmental Biology	Rank 41
10	519	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 3
11	548	KS Kobayashi, Shū	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 16
12	581	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 2
13	676	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	BioDynamics Research Foundation	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 25
14	700	MY Matsuzawa, Yuji	Sumitomo Hospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 39
15	747	TM Takeichi, Masatoshi	Riken	Developmental Biology	Rank 60
16	763	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 27
17	777	HH Hosono, Hideo	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 28
18	892	FM Fujita, Makoto	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 27
19	965	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 4
20	993	IM Irie, Masahiro	Rikkyo University	General Chemistry	Rank 18
21	1,052	KM Kanehisa, Minoru	Institute for Chemical Research	Bioinformatics	Rank 5
22	1,090	AH Akaike, Hirotugu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 8
23	1,116	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 19
24	1,245	HN Hirokawa, Nobutaka	Graduate School of Medicine	Developmental Biology	Rank 91
25	1,379	NS Nakanishi, Shigetada	Osaka Bioscience Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 76
26	1,508	Kitagawa, Susumu	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 12
27	1,554	MK Miyazono, Kohei	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 85
28	1,578	SS Shinkai, Seiji	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 47
29	1,672	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 26
30	1,740	NS Narumiya, Shuh	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 89
31	1,853	NY Nishizuka, Y.	Kobe University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 95
32	1,863	AT Ando, Tsuneya	Tokyo Institute of Technology	General Physics	Rank 16
33	2,062	IY Ikada, Yoshito	Kyoto University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 10
34	2,107	AS Amari, Shun ichi	Riken	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 47
35	2,273	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 72
36	2,287	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 104
37	2,356	FA Fujishima, Akira	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 22
38	2,410	MN Miyaura, Norio	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 66
39	2,437	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 15
40	2,477	TY Tsujimoto, Yoshihide	Osaka International Cancer Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 129
41	2,484	KK Kataoka, Kazunori	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 12
42	2,523	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 41
43	2,533	KT Kadowaki, Takashi	Toranomon Hospital	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 89
44	2,565	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 137
45	2,573	TT Taniguchi, Tadatsugu	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Immunology	Rank 101
46	2,672	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 59
47	2,718	NE Niki, Etsuo	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 146
48	2,781	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	Riken	Applied Physics	Rank 89
49	2,799	TK Takeda, Kiyoshi	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 110
50	2,876	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Tokyo Institute of Technology	General Chemistry	Rank 38
51	2,890	HA Harada, Akira	Osaka University	Polymers	Rank 18
52	2,943	TH Tanaka, Hajime	Institute of Industrial Science	General Physics	Rank 26
53	2,968	SA Suzuki, Akira	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 82
54	3,020	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo	Riken	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 20
55	3,086	MW McDonough, William F.	Tohoku University	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 29
56	3,113	AM Anpo, Masakazu	Osaka Prefecture University	Chemical Physics	Rank 102
57	3,131	KT Katsuki, Tsutomu	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 85
58	3,181	MK Morokuma, Keiji	Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry	Chemical Physics	Rank 105
59	3,295	ST Sugimura, Takashi	National Cancer Center Research Institute	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 150
60	3,301	ST Sakurai, Takeshi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 315
61	3,634	TY Tabata, Yasuhiko	Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 21
62	3,662	UK Uchida, Koji	Nagoya University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 196
63	3,698	YN Yamazoe, Noboru	Kyushu University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 15
64	3,780	HS Hirohashi, Setsuo	National Cancer Center Research Institute	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 173
65	3,782	YM Yanagisawa, Masashi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 350
66	3,837	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 109
67	3,898	MA Miyawaki, Atsushi	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 211
68	3,914	MM Makuuchi, Masatoshi	Koto Hospital	Surgery	Rank 16
69	3,915	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 26
70	3,918	TM Taketo, Makoto M.	Kyoto University	Developmental Biology	Rank 233
71	3,948	HT Honjo, Tasuku	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 158
72	3,970	SH Shimokawa, Hiroaki	Graduate School of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 201
73	3,971	YA Yoshimura, Akihiko	Keio University School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 159
74	3,995	OH Ohno, Hiroyuki	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology	Polymers	Rank 28
75	3,996	HT Hirano, Toshio	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 162
76	4,003	TK Tanaka, Keiji	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 215
77	4,053	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Keio University School of Medicine	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 18
78	4,141	MT Minami, Tadatsugu	Kanazawa Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 116
79	4,201	ŌS Ōmura, Satoshi	Kitasato University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 9
80	4,221	YK Yagi, Kunio	Nagoya University School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 221
81	4,498	KM Kawato, Mitsuo	Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 415
82	4,516	KT Kato, Takashi	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 33
83	4,522	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 184
84	4,586	NS Nojiri, S.	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 68
85	4,626	MK Mikoshiba, Katsuhiko	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 426
86	4,802	MN Murata, Norio	National Institutes of Natural Sciences - National Institute for Basic Biology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 33
87	4,896	SM Shibasaki, Masakatsu	Microbial Chemistry Research Center	Organic Chemistry	Rank 114
88	5,044	TS Tanabe, Shinsuke	Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 23
89	5,068	NT Nakamura, T.	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 264
90	5,082	KJ Kirschvink, Joseph L.	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 50
91	5,085	KM Katoh, Masaru	National Cancer Center Tokyo	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 234
92	5,086	FM Fukugita, Masataka	The University of Tokyo	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 79
93	5,088	OH Okano, Hideyuki	Keio University School of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 457
94	5,120	HW Hamilton, W. D.	Kyushu University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 70
95	5,170	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 269
96	5,247	IH Imahori, Hiroshi	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences	General Chemistry	Rank 48
97	5,265	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 98
98	5,287	OM Omata, Masao	The University of Tokyo	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 77
99	5,312	KM Kuro-o, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 46
100	5,405	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 83
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Ranks 101 to 7,362The whole list, not only the top 100.

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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2021

United Kingdom17,237 scientistsin 2021

Germany9,986 scientistsin 2021

Canada8,127 scientistsin 2021

China6,943 scientistsin 2021

Australia6,369 scientistsin 2021

France5,912 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Career-long list2021

South Korea1,751 scientistsin 2021

Taiwan1,479 scientistsin 2021

Hong Kong1,018 scientistsin 2021

Macau31 scientistsin 2021

India2,042 scientistsin 2021

Israel1,870 scientistsin 2021

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Japan are in the 2021 Stanford Top 2% list?

5,416 scientists affiliated with Japan are on the 2021 single-year list, and 7,362 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2021 career-long list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 414. It is followed by Tohoku University with 315.

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

On the career-long list, Japan went from 6,316 scientists in 2020 to 7,362 in 2021, a change of +16.6%.

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.