Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2023

Japan has 5,694 scientists on the 2023 single-year Top 2% list, up 3.6% from 5,496 in 2022. That places Japan 8th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 1 place. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (329), followed by Graduate School of Medicine (255).

Single Year

5,694

+198 (+3.6%) vs 2022

Career Data

8,126

+496 (+6.5%) vs 2022

World rank by count

up 1 place vs 2022

Institutes

923

+115 (+14.2%) vs 2022

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 list2023

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo329
2Graduate School of Medicine255
3Osaka University198
4Tohoku University198
5Tokyo Institute of Technology158
6Hokkaido University138
7Kyushu University127
8Nagoya University125
9National Institute for Materials Science110
10Kyoto University91

All 5,694 scientists

Single-year list2023

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	78	MN Mizushima, Noboru	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 2
2	109	KM Kanehisa, Minoru	Institute for Chemical Research	Bioinformatics	Rank 3
3	145	AS Akira, Shizuo	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 6
4	192	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 2
5	281	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 2
6	324	AH Akaike, Hirotogu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 9
7	339	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 11
8	525	Sakaguchi, Shimon	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 20
9	622	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 7
10	633	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 17
11	771	BJ Baselga, José	Kindai University School of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 20
12	811	HH Hosono, Hideo	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 23
13	910	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	Jichi Medical University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 24
14	986	GJ Gong, Jian Ping	Hokkaido University	Polymers	Rank 6
15	992	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 30
16	1,078	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 8
17	1,144	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 11
18	1,227	IA Isogai, Akira	Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 7
19	1,296	YS Yamanaka, Shinya	Center for iPS Cell Research and Application	Developmental Biology	Rank 44
20	1,337	TK Tone, Kaoru	National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies	Operations Research	Rank 8
21	1,402	EM Ezawa, Motohiko	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 42
22	1,416	Kitagawa, Susumu	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 5
23	1,562	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science	Applied Physics	Rank 45
24	1,627	Sharifi, Ayyoob	Hiroshima University	Energy	Rank 42
25	1,682	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 59
26	1,767	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 50
27	1,804	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 40
28	2,069	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 6
29	2,203	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 49
30	2,229	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 55
31	2,268	NS Nagata, Shigekazu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 50
32	2,292	CA Clark, Andy	University of Sussex	Experimental Psychology	Rank 39
33	2,323	NS Nosé, Shuichi	Keio University	Chemical Physics	Rank 44
34	2,370	KK Kario, Kazuomi	Jichi Medical University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 78
35	2,484	MW McDonough, W. F.	Tohoku University	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 34
36	2,520	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 68
37	2,539	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 15
38	2,644	KY Kanda, Yoshinobu	Jichi Medical University	Immunology	Rank 65
39	2,936	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 81
40	2,967	NM Niinomi, Mitsuo	Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University	Materials	Rank 55
41	3,079	ST Someya, Takao	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 83
42	3,136	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo	RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 28
43	3,173	AS Amari, Shun Ichi	Teikyo University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 131
44	3,512	KM Katoh, Masaru	National Cancer Center Japan	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 114
45	3,535	KM Kuro-o, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 17
46	3,601	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 14
47	3,660	DY Doi, Yohei	Fujita Health University School of Medicine	Microbiology	Rank 69
48	3,663	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 11
49	3,666	KG Kojima, Gotaro	Gotaro Kojima Department of Research	Geriatrics	Rank 7
50	3,915	TT Taniguchi, Takashi	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 136
51	3,946	SM Sugiyama, Masashi	The University of Tokyo	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 155
52	3,998	FA Fujishima, Akira	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 87
53	4,007	MY Murakami, Yukitaka	Kyushu University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 39
54	4,084	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Keio University School of Medicine	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 10
55	4,260	YK Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, Kazuko	Tokyo University of Agriculture	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 40
56	4,271	TK Takanabe, Kazuhiro	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 62
57	4,498	HW Hamilton, W. D.	Kyushu University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 36
58	4,499	NE Niki, Etsuo	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 97
59	4,545	SH Sakakibara, Hitoshi	Nagoya University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 44
60	4,632	KS Komaba, Shinichi	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 102
61	4,653	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 159
62	4,677	TK Takeda, Kiyoshi	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 120
63	4,705	NS Nojiri, Shin'ichi	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 38
64	4,738	TH Tanaka, Hajime	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	General Physics	Rank 33
65	4,751	MY Matsuzawa, Yuji	Sumitomo Hospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 154
66	4,786	TD Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A.	Independent Researcher	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 53
67	4,867	KH Kimura, Hideo	Sanyo-Onoda City University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 104
68	4,908	SY Saito, Y.	Chiba University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 55
69	5,092	IM Irie, Masahiro	Rikkyo University	General Chemistry	Rank 26
70	5,132	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 209
71	5,185	SH Shimokawa, Hiroaki	International University of Health and Welfare	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 172
72	5,210	YM Yamamoto, Masayuki	Tohoku University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 110
73	5,272	MT Miyasaka, Tsutomu	Toin University of Yokohama	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 163
74	5,400	KK Katoh, Kazutaka	Research Institute for Microbial Diseases	Developmental Biology	Rank 174
75	5,422	YT Yoshimori, Tamotsu	Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 115
76	5,426	AS Anantharaj, Sengeni	Waseda University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 168
77	5,432	WK Watanabe, Kenji	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 169
78	5,474	FT Furukawa, Toshiaki A.	Kyoto University School of Public Health	Psychiatry	Rank 134
79	5,583	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 29
80	5,639	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Nagoya University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 75
81	5,746	FM Fujita, Makoto	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 77
82	5,771	KR Kubo, Ryogo	The University of Tokyo	General Physics	Rank 36
83	5,841	Managi, Shunsuke	Kyushu University	Economics	Rank 103
84	5,905	FK Fukui, Kenichi	Institute for Fundamental Chemistry	Chemical Physics	Rank 104
85	5,967	YN Yabuuchi, Naoaki	Yokohama National University	Energy	Rank 127
86	6,001	CA Coad, Alex	Waseda Business School	Business & Management	Rank 154
87	6,077	OK Ohno-Matsui, Kyoko	Tokyo Medical and Dental University	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 20
88	6,087	TF Tajima, Fumio	The University of Tokyo	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 49
89	6,096	KK Kabashima, Kenji	Graduate School of Medicine	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 18
90	6,114	CD Cyranoski, David	Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology	Developmental Biology	Rank 195
91	6,116	JM Jakovljevic, Mihajlo	Hosei University	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 120
92	6,522	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 255
93	6,554	YY Yano, Yuichiro	Shiga University of Medical Science	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 220
94	6,684	ZD Zhao, Dapeng	Tohoku University	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 94
95	6,815	TS Tsujikawa, Shinji	Waseda University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 61
96	6,858	MK Miyazono, Kohei	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 148
97	6,959	NH Nishiura, Hiroshi	Kyoto University School of Public Health	Microbiology	Rank 143
98	6,986	IH Iso, Hiroyasu	Graduate School of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 231
99	7,068	NM Nangaku, Masaomi	Graduate School of Medicine	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 39
100	7,072	OS Ogawa, Seishi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 185
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2023

Canada7,889 scientistsin 2023

Australia7,600 scientistsin 2023

Italy7,099 scientistsin 2023

France5,588 scientistsin 2023

India4,635 scientistsin 2023

Netherlands4,291 scientistsin 2023

Explore other countries

Single-year list2023

China23,487 scientistsin 2023

South Korea3,240 scientistsin 2023

Hong Kong1,452 scientistsin 2023

Taiwan1,420 scientistsin 2023

Macau105 scientistsin 2023

Iran2,141 scientistsin 2023

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Japan are in the 2023 Stanford Top 2% list?

5,694 scientists affiliated with Japan are on the 2023 single-year list, and 8,126 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2023 single-year list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 329. It is followed by Graduate School of Medicine with 255.

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 5,694 in 2023, a change of +27.0%.

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.