Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2022

Japan has 5,496 scientists on the 2022 single-year Top 2% list, up 1.5% from 5,416 in 2021. That places Japan 9th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 1 place. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (339), followed by Graduate School of Medicine (251).

Single Year

5,496

+80 (+1.5%) vs 2021

Career Data

7,630

+268 (+3.6%) vs 2021

World rank by count

down 1 place vs 2021

Institutes

808

+4 (+0.5%) vs 2021

Scientists in Japan on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 23% 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 list2022

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo339
2Graduate School of Medicine251
3Tohoku University219
4Osaka University173
5Tokyo Institute of Technology157
6Hokkaido University136
7Riken127
8Nagoya University126
9Kyushu University122
10National Institute for Materials Science104

All 5,496 scientists

Single-year list2022

The first 100 are free to browse.

Export CSV

Rank in Japan	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	58	MN Mizushima, Noboru	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 2
2	102	AS Akira, Shizuo	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 4
3	139	KM Kanehisa, Minoru	Institute for Chemical Research	Bioinformatics	Rank 3
4	189	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 3
5	234	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 4
6	289	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 11
7	393	Sakaguchi, Shimon	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 16
8	450	AH Akaike, Hirotugu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 9
9	487	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 4
10	559	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 19
11	732	IA Inoue, A.	Josai International University	Materials	Rank 11
12	791	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 8
13	828	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	BioDynamics Research Foundation	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 24
14	946	EM Ezawa, Motohiko	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 30
15	962	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 31
16	1,044	HH Hosono, Hideo	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 32
17	1,049	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 11
18	1,108	Kitagawa, Susumu	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 5
19	1,227	GJ Gong, Jian Ping	Hokkaido University	Polymers	Rank 6
20	1,308	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 9
21	1,471	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	Riken	Applied Physics	Rank 46
22	1,564	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 47
23	1,574	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 5
24	1,585	IA Isogai, Akira	Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 7
25	1,628	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 50
26	1,718	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 46
27	1,842	HK Hashimoto, Kenji	Chiba University	Psychiatry	Rank 43
28	1,846	NS Nagata, Shigekazu	Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 50
29	2,125	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 9
30	2,230	KM Kuro-o, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 10
31	2,293	LB Le Bihan, Denis	National Institutes of Natural Sciences - National Institute for Physiological Sciences	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 148
32	2,344	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 70
33	2,359	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 62
34	2,432	KM Katoh, Masaru	National Cancer Center Japan	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 79
35	2,480	KY Kanda, Yoshinobu	Jichi Medical University	Immunology	Rank 68
36	2,582	KH Kimura, Hideo	Sanyo-Onoda City University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 67
37	2,644	BK Bliokh, Konstantin Y.	Riken	General Physics	Rank 20
38	2,707	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 12
39	2,835	TK Tone, Kaoru	National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies	Operations Research	Rank 10
40	2,985	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo	Riken	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 25
41	2,989	NM Niinomi, Mitsuo	Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University	Materials	Rank 49
42	3,017	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 85
43	3,136	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 116
44	3,254	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 112
45	3,321	FA Fujishima, Akira	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 60
46	3,442	KS Komaba, Shinichi	Kyoto University	Energy	Rank 65
47	3,594	KK Kario, Kazuomi	Jichi Medical University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 117
48	3,600	ST Someya, Takao	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 95
49	3,751	YM Yamamoto, Masayuki	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 94
50	3,770	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Nagoya University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 61
51	3,822	NS Nosé, Shuichi	Keio University	Chemical Physics	Rank 73
52	3,927	AS Amari, Shun ichi	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 139
53	4,075	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 138
54	4,088	TT Taniguchi, Takashi	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 132
55	4,136	MY Matsuzawa, Yuji	Sumitomo Hospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 138
56	4,186	NE Niki, Etsuo	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 103
57	4,219	TO Takeuchi, Osamu	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 115
58	4,226	NH Nishiura, H.	Kyoto University School of Public Health	Microbiology	Rank 85
59	4,229	NS Nojiri, Shin'Ichi	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 36
60	4,247	YT Yoshimori, Tamotsu	Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 104
61	4,279	TK Takanabe, Kazuhiro	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 69
62	4,348	HW Hamilton, W. D.	Kyushu University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 49
63	4,451	KM Komatsu, Masaaki	Niigata University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 114
64	4,480	WK Watanabe, Kenji	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 140
65	4,631	FM Fujita, Makoto	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 73
66	4,718	KR Kubo, Ryogo	The University of Tokyo	General Physics	Rank 27
67	4,815	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 23
68	4,875	TK Tanaka, Keiji	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 124
69	5,061	SH Sakakibara, Hitoshi	Nagoya University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 57
70	5,098	YK Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, Kazuko	Tokyo University of Agriculture	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 58
71	5,169	Sharifi, Ayyoob	Hiroshima University	Energy	Rank 97
72	5,506	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 187
73	5,551	KG Kojima, Gotaro	Department of Research, Dr. AGA Clinic	Geriatrics	Rank 10
74	5,576	MK Miyazono, Kohei	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 138
75	5,582	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Keio University School of Medicine	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 15
76	5,603	TH Tanaka, Hajime	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	General Physics	Rank 35
77	5,633	SY Saito, Y.	Chiba University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 67
78	5,687	TF Tajima, Fumio	The University of Tokyo	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 62
79	5,773	KK Katoh, Kazutaka	Research Institute for Microbial Diseases	Developmental Biology	Rank 223
80	5,779	MY Murakami, Yukitaka	Kyushu University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 55
81	5,822	MT Miyasaka, Tsutomu	Toin University of Yokohama	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 175
82	6,005	FT Furukawa, Toshi A.	Kyoto University School of Public Health	Psychiatry	Rank 149
83	6,061	TK Takeda, Kiyoshi	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 178
84	6,232	FK Fukui, Kenichi	Institute for Fundamental Chemistry	Chemical Physics	Rank 114
85	6,324	KK Kabashima, K.	Graduate School of Medicine	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 15
86	6,394	OS Ogawa, Seishi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 193
87	6,422	YN Yabuuchi, Naoaki	Yokohama National University	Energy	Rank 120
88	6,481	HK Honda, Kenya	Keio University School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 199
89	6,535	OK Ohno-Matsui, Kyoko	Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 20
90	6,560	TW Takahashi, Wataru	Keio University	General Mathematics	Rank 18
91	6,587	KS Kobayashi, Shu	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 93
92	6,720	HP Holme, Petter	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 43
93	6,749	TK Takahashi, Kazutoshi	Center for iPS Cell Research and Application	Developmental Biology	Rank 251
94	6,857	SM Sugiyama, Masashi	The University of Tokyo	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 226
95	6,990	TS Tsujikawa, Shinji	Waseda University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 73
96	7,079	ST Sakurai, Takeshi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 452
97	7,096	DK Domen, Kazunari	The University of Tokyo	Chemical Physics	Rank 120
98	7,109	SH Shimokawa, Hiroaki	Graduate School of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 236
99	7,157	HM Hara, Michikazu	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 101
100	7,296	KK Kataoka, Kazunori	Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion	Polymers	Rank 41
No scientists match this filter.

Showing 1 to 100 of the first 100 Show

Paid plans

See all 5,496 scientists in Japan

You are seeing the first 100. 5,396 more are on the 2022 single-year list.

Ranks 101 to 5,496The whole list, not only the top 100.

Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

Search the full listBy name, institute or sub-field.

CSV exportDownload the list for your own work.

View Plans & Upgrade Compare plans

Cancel anytime · Secure billing

Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2022

Australia7,349 scientistsin 2022

Italy6,839 scientistsin 2022

France5,509 scientistsin 2022

Netherlands4,214 scientistsin 2022

India3,761 scientistsin 2022

Spain3,712 scientistsin 2022

Explore other countries

Single-year list2022

China19,310 scientistsin 2022

South Korea2,980 scientistsin 2022

Taiwan1,340 scientistsin 2022

Hong Kong1,270 scientistsin 2022

Macau85 scientistsin 2022

Iran1,943 scientistsin 2022

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Japan are in the 2022 Stanford Top 2% list?

5,496 scientists affiliated with Japan are on the 2022 single-year list, and 7,630 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2022 single-year list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 339. It is followed by Graduate School of Medicine with 251.

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 5,496 in 2022, a change of +22.6%.

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.