Japan's Top 2% Scientists 2024: Career-Long List

Japan has 8,261 scientists on the 2024 career-long Top 2% list, up 1.7% from 8,126 in 2023. That places Japan 6th in the world by number of listed scientists. The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists (531), followed by Kyoto University (448).

Single Year

5,609

-85 (-1.5%) vs 2023

Career Data

8,261

+135 (+1.7%) vs 2023

World rank by count

No change vs 2023

Institutes

1,226

-100 (-7.5%) vs 2023

Scientists in Japan on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 31% 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 list2024

Show the list

1The University of Tokyo531
2Kyoto University448
3Tohoku University377
4Osaka University316
5Tokyo Institute of Technology230
6Kyushu University202
7Nagoya University190
8Hokkaido University184
9Graduate School of Medicine166
10National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology144

All 8,261 scientists

Career-long list2024

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	25	AS Akira, Shizuo	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 1
2	63	IS Iijima, Sumio	Meijo University	Applied Physics	Rank 5
3	211	TY Tokura, Yoshinori	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 11
4	241	MN Mizushima, Noboru	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 17
5	266	BJ Baselga, José	AstraZeneca	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 12
6	278	Sakaguchi, Shimon	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 19
7	414	KT Kishimoto, Tadamitsu	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 26
8	527	KM Kanehisa, Minoru	Kyoto University	Bioinformatics	Rank 5
9	582	KM Kimura, Motoo	National Institute of Genetics Mishima	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 6
10	634	NR Noyori, Ryoji	Nagoya University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 16
11	648	HM Haruta, Masatake	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 3
12	649	AH Akagi, Hirofumi	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 3
13	687	KS Kobayashi, Shū	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 19
14	693	HH Hosono, H.	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 27
15	708	MH Maeda, Hiroshi	BioDynamics Research Foundation	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 27
16	742	MY Matsuzawa, Yuji	Sumitomo Hospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 40
17	867	OH Ohno, Hideo	Tohoku University	Applied Physics	Rank 33
18	991	AH Akaike, Hirotogu	The Institute of Statistical Mathematics	Statistics & Probability	Rank 8
19	1,046	TM Takeichi, Masatoshi	RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research	Developmental Biology	Rank 66
20	1,073	FM Fujita, Makoto	The University of Tokyo	Organic Chemistry	Rank 32
21	1,104	YS Yamanaka, Shinya	Kyoto University	Developmental Biology	Rank 70
22	1,133	KT Kokubo, Tadashi	Chubu University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 4
23	1,148	KM Kudo, Masatoshi	Kindai University School of Medicine	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 17
24	1,220	IM Irie, Masahiro	Rikkyo University	General Chemistry	Rank 16
25	1,303	KA Kudo, Akihiko	Tokyo University of Science	General Chemistry	Rank 18
26	1,412	TK Tamura, Koichiro	Tokyo Metropolitan University	Evolutionary Biology	Rank 20
27	1,420	Kitagawa, Susumu	Kyoto University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 9
28	1,588	HN Hirokawa, Nobutaka	The University of Tokyo	Developmental Biology	Rank 100
29	1,605	MJ Ma, Jian Feng	Okayama University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 8
30	1,813	AC Adachi, Chihaya	Kyushu University	Applied Physics	Rank 67
31	1,866	MK Miyazono, Kohei	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 87
32	1,867	AS Amari, Shun ichi	Teikyo University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 52
33	1,970	NS Nakanishi, Shigetada	Osaka Bioscience Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 91
34	2,126	SS Shinkai, Seiji	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 57
35	2,207	NS Narumiya, Shuh	Graduate School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 99
36	2,330	NN Nagaosa, Naoto	RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science	Applied Physics	Rank 83
37	2,334	AT Ando, Tsuneya	Tokyo Institute of Technology	General Physics	Rank 17
38	2,399	IY Ikada, Yoshito	Nara Medical University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 10
39	2,400	SM Shibuya, Masabumi	Jobu University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 103
40	2,473	YY Yamamoto, Yoshinori	Tohoku University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 70
41	2,503	MK Maeda, Kazuhiko	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 71
42	2,559	NY Nishizuka, Y.	Kobe University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 120
43	2,586	FA Fujishima, Akira	Tokyo University of Science	Energy	Rank 29
44	2,678	OY Ohsumi, Yoshinori	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 127
45	2,771	NE Niki, Etsuo	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 131
46	2,793	KT Kadowaki, Takashi	Toranomon Hospital	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 98
47	2,843	KH Kitano, Hiroaki	Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 73
48	2,954	TH Tanaka, Hajime	The University of Tokyo	General Physics	Rank 21
49	2,968	DG Decher, Gero	National Institute for Materials Science	Chemical Physics	Rank 87
50	3,005	MN Miyaura, Norio	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 78
51	3,102	TY Tsujimoto, Yoshihide	Osaka International Cancer Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 143
52	3,183	SK Shinozaki, Kazuo	Nagoya University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 22
53	3,214	TK Takeda, Kiyoshi	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 124
54	3,297	HA Harada, Akira	Osaka University	Polymers	Rank 17
55	3,298	TT Taniguchi, Tadatsugu	The University of Tokyo	Immunology	Rank 130
56	3,438	AK Ariga, Katsuhiko	National Institute for Materials Science	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 71
57	3,474	AS Adachi, Sadao	Gunma University	Applied Physics	Rank 106
58	3,520	TK Tsubota, Kazuo	Keio University School of Medicine	Ophthalmology & Optometry	Rank 16
59	3,596	ST Sakurai, Takeshi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 319
60	3,638	SA Suzuki, Akira	Hokkaido University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 94
61	3,658	MK Morokuma, K.	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Chemical Physics	Rank 110
62	3,745	TH Takayanagi, Hiroshi	The University of Tokyo	Immunology	Rank 147
63	3,749	TY Tabata, Yasuhiko	Kyoto University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 18
64	3,852	SH Shimokawa, Hiroaki	Graduate School of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 198
65	3,965	TH Tsuji, Hideto	Toyohashi University of Technology	Polymers	Rank 24
66	4,058	KT Katsuki, Tsutomu	Kyushu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 104
67	4,109	YA Yoshimura, Akihiko	Keio University School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 166
68	4,113	KT Komori, Toshihisa	Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 194
69	4,122	YN Yamazoe, Noboru	Kyushu University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 16
70	4,153	HK Hashimoto, Kenji	Chiba University	Psychiatry	Rank 127
71	4,233	YH Yamamoto, Hisashi	Chubu University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 108
72	4,241	GJ Gong, Jian Ping	Hokkaido University	Polymers	Rank 27
73	4,242	MM Makuuchi, Masatoshi	Japanese Red Cross Medical Center	Surgery	Rank 17
74	4,306	UK Uchida, Koji	The University of Tokyo	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 202
75	4,355	MA Miyawaki, Atsushi	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 207
76	4,365	ON Otsu, Nobuyuki	National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 103
77	4,407	KK Kario, Kazuomi	Jichi Medical University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 223
78	4,410	ST Sugimura, Takashi	National Cancer Center Research Institute	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 188
79	4,423	TK Tanaka, Keiji	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 213
80	4,437	NS Nojiri, Shin'Ichi	Nagoya University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 54
81	4,491	OH Ohno, Hiroyuki	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology	Polymers	Rank 29
82	4,500	ŌS Ōmura, Satoshi	Kitasato University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 9
83	4,633	KM Kuro-o, Makoto	Jichi Medical University	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 35
84	4,709	YM Yanagisawa, Masashi	University of Tsukuba	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 410
85	4,713	HT Honjo, Tasuku	Graduate School of Medicine	Immunology	Rank 191
86	4,759	HT Hirano, Toshio	Osaka University	Immunology	Rank 195
87	4,799	TM Taketo, Makoto Mark	Kyoto University	Developmental Biology	Rank 242
88	4,875	KM Katoh, Masaru	National Cancer Center Japan	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 218
89	4,891	MT Minami, Tadatsugu	Kanazawa Institute of Technology	Applied Physics	Rank 137
90	4,948	EM Ezawa, Motohiko	The University of Tokyo	Applied Physics	Rank 140
91	5,039	HS Hirohashi, Setsuo	National Cancer Center Research Institute	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 224
92	5,073	KT Kato, Takashi	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 34
93	5,130	OH Okano, Hideyuki	Keio University School of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 453
94	5,155	KM Kawato, Mitsuo	Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 455
95	5,241	YK Yagi, Kunio	Nagoya University School of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 242
96	5,413	SK Saito, Kazuki	RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 42
97	5,473	WF Winnik, Françoise M.	National Institute for Materials Science	Polymers	Rank 38
98	5,498	MN Murata, Norio	National Institutes of Natural Sciences - National Institute for Basic Biology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 45
99	5,581	MK Mikoshiba, Katsuhiko	RIKEN Center for Brain Science	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 482
100	5,697	IA Isogai, Akira	The University of Tokyo	Polymers	Rank 44
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2024

Germany11,573 scientistsin 2024

China10,689 scientistsin 2024

Canada9,265 scientistsin 2024

Australia7,447 scientistsin 2024

France6,921 scientistsin 2024

Italy6,272 scientistsin 2024

Explore other countries

Career-long list2024

South Korea2,366 scientistsin 2024

Taiwan1,759 scientistsin 2024

Hong Kong1,270 scientistsin 2024

Macau68 scientistsin 2024

India2,939 scientistsin 2024

Israel2,093 scientistsin 2024

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Japan are in the 2024 Stanford Top 2% list?

5,609 scientists affiliated with Japan are on the 2024 single-year list, and 8,261 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2024 career-long list, The University of Tokyo has the most listed scientists from Japan, with 531. It is followed by Kyoto University with 448.

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 8,261 in 2024, a change of +30.8%.

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.