Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2023: Career-Long List

Japan has 8,126 scientists on the 2023 career-long Top 2% list, up 6.5% from 7,630 in 2022. That places Japan 6th in the world by number of listed scientists. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (401), followed by Tohoku University (323).

Single Year

5,694

+198 (+3.6%) vs 2022

Career Data

8,126

+496 (+6.5%) vs 2022

World rank by count

No change vs 2022

Institutes

1,326

+174 (+15.1%) vs 2022

Scientists in Japan on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 29% 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 list2023

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo401
2Tohoku University323
3Osaka University292
4Tokyo Institute of Technology235
5Graduate School of Medicine224
6Kyoto University187
7Nagoya University184
8Kyushu University174
9Hokkaido University160
10National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology138

All 8,126 scientists

Career-long 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	23	AS Akira, Shizuo	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 1
2	60	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 4
3	220	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 12
4	248	MN Mizushima, Noboru	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 18
5	250	BJ Baselga, José	Kindai University School of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 12
6	266	Sakaguchi, Shimon	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 19
7	311	NS Nagata, Shigekazu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 21
8	391	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 24
9	551	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 5
10	585	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Nagoya University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 16
11	603	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 3
12	607	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 3
13	621	KS Kobayashi, Shū	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 18
14	667	MY Matsuzawa, Yuji	Sumitomo Hospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 35
15	679	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	Jichi Medical University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 27
16	693	KM Kanehisa, Minoru	Institute for Chemical Research	Bioinformatics	Rank 5
17	737	HH Hosono, Hideo	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 28
18	820	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 32
19	929	TM Takeichi, Masatoshi	RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research	Developmental Biology	Rank 61
20	986	FM Fujita, Makoto	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 29
21	996	AH Akaike, Hirotogu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 9
22	1,086	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 4
23	1,105	YS Yamanaka, Shinya	Center for iPS Cell Research and Application	Developmental Biology	Rank 72
24	1,158	IM Irie, Masahiro	Rikkyo University	General Chemistry	Rank 16
25	1,181	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 18
26	1,437	HN Hirokawa, Nobutaka	Graduate School of Medicine	Developmental Biology	Rank 93
27	1,459	Kitagawa, Susumu	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 10
28	1,520	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 21
29	1,523	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 21
30	1,747	MK Miyazono, Kohei	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 88
31	1,764	NS Nakanishi, Shigetada	Osaka Bioscience Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 90
32	1,865	AS Amari, Shun Ichi	Teikyo University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 51
33	1,879	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 11
34	1,897	SS Shinkai, Seiji	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 50
35	1,938	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 72
36	2,024	NS Narumiya, Shuh	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 99
37	2,199	AT Ando, Tsuneya	Tokyo Institute of Technology	General Physics	Rank 17
38	2,266	IY Ikada, Yoshito	Nara Medical University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 9
39	2,275	NY Nishizuka, Y.	Kobe University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 110
40	2,357	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 67
41	2,400	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 107
42	2,505	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science	Applied Physics	Rank 87
43	2,568	FA Fujishima, Akira	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 25
44	2,589	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 133
45	2,700	KK Kataoka, Kazunori	Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion	Polymers	Rank 14
46	2,713	KT Kadowaki, Takashi	Toranomon Hospital	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 97
47	2,741	MN Miyaura, Norio	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 73
48	2,742	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 70
49	2,826	NE Niki, Etsuo	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 141
50	2,891	TY Tsujimoto, Yoshihide	Osaka International Cancer Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 146
51	2,962	TH Tanaka, Hajime	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	General Physics	Rank 23
52	3,011	TK Takeda, Kiyoshi	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 117
53	3,032	HA Harada, Akira	Osaka University	Polymers	Rank 18
54	3,037	TT Taniguchi, Tadatsugu	University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology	Immunology	Rank 120
55	3,105	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo	RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 23
56	3,106	ST Sugimura, Takashi	University of Hyogo	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 137
57	3,111	MW McDonough, W. F.	Tohoku University	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 26
58	3,403	HA Hasegawa, Akira	Osaka University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 93
59	3,463	SA Suzuki, Akira	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 95
60	3,571	ST Sakurai, Takeshi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 327
61	3,580	MK Morokuma, K.	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Chemical Physics	Rank 109
62	3,643	KT Katsuki, Tsutomu	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 98
63	3,750	TY Tabata, Yasuhiko	Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 18
64	3,782	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Keio University School of Medicine	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 17
65	3,793	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 116
66	3,949	YN Yamazoe, Noboru	Kyushu University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 14
67	3,996	SH Shimokawa, Hiroaki	International University of Health and Welfare	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 204
68	4,042	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 27
69	4,080	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 73
70	4,095	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 162
71	4,133	UK Uchida, Koji	Nagoya University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 209
72	4,172	YA Yoshimura, Akihiko	Keio University School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 165
73	4,202	TK Tanaka, Keiji	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 212
74	4,250	MM Makuuchi, Masatoshi	Japanese Red Cross Medical Center	Surgery	Rank 18
75	4,254	MA Miyawaki, Atsushi	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 219
76	4,255	OH Ohno, Hiroyuki	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology	Polymers	Rank 28
77	4,310	CA Clark, Andy	University of Sussex	Experimental Psychology	Rank 80
78	4,367	YM Yanagisawa, Masashi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 398
79	4,426	HT Honjo, Tasuku	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 176
80	4,453	HT Hirano, Toshio	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 180
81	4,466	ŌS Ōmura, Satoshi	Kitasato University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 11
82	4,527	TM Taketo, M. Mark	Kyoto University	Developmental Biology	Rank 237
83	4,537	HS Hirohashi, Setsuo	National Cancer Center Research Institute	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 208
84	4,551	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 103
85	4,555	MT Minami, Tadatsugu	Kanazawa Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 132
86	4,668	KY Kawaoka, Yoshihiro	The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo	Virology	Rank 23
87	4,672	NS Nojiri, Shin'ichi	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 61
88	4,761	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 235
89	4,778	YK Yagi, Kunio	Nagoya University School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 236
90	4,783	KM Katoh, Masaru	National Cancer Center Japan	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 215
91	4,797	KM Kuro-o, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 39
92	4,915	KM Kawato, Mitsuo	Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 436
93	4,932	TK Tanaka, Keiji	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 439
94	4,945	KT Kato, Takashi	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 35
95	5,065	GJ Gong, Jian Ping	Hokkaido University	Polymers	Rank 36
96	5,084	KK Kario, Kazuomi	Jichi Medical University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 255
97	5,128	WF Winnik, Françoise M.	National Institute for Materials Science	Polymers	Rank 37
98	5,170	OH Okano, Hideyuki	Keio University School of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 461
99	5,282	MN Murata, Norio	National Institutes of Natural Sciences - National Institute for Basic Biology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 38
100	5,322	TK Tanaka, K.	Hiroshima City University	Surgery	Rank 27
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2023

Germany10,990 scientistsin 2023

China9,013 scientistsin 2023

Canada8,815 scientistsin 2023

Australia7,002 scientistsin 2023

France6,522 scientistsin 2023

Italy5,723 scientistsin 2023

Explore other countries

Career-long list2023

South Korea2,120 scientistsin 2023

Taiwan1,669 scientistsin 2023

Hong Kong1,176 scientistsin 2023

Macau54 scientistsin 2023

India2,578 scientistsin 2023

Israel2,037 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 career-long list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 401. It is followed by Tohoku University with 323.

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 8,126 in 2023, a change of +28.7%.

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.