Juntendo University, Tokyo, established in 1838.

Today, Anew, the Spirit of "JIN":
The Latest Advances in Science, Rooted in Traditions of the Past

Juntendo as an Incorporated Educational Institution
  Juntendo is Japan's oldest school of Western medicine, which was founded in 1838, as a school of Dutch medicine in Yagen-bori, Edo (now called Tokyo) by Dr. SATO Taizen.

  At the end of the Edo period, Juntendo moved from Edo to neighborhood Chiba. This is partly because of the anti-foreign movement to prevent invasion and policy of excluding some of the Western cultures. Due to these movements, to avoid persecution, Dutch and other Western medicine researchers gathered from all over Japan to Juntendo, and it thrived as a place for research, education and clinical practices of Western medicine at the time. Juntendo in Sakura, Chiba, as the Mecca of the practice of clinical medicine blossomed, giving rise to the saying that "the forefront of medicine was born in the forests of Sakura Juntendo"

  Dr. SATO Takanaka, the second president/CEO of Juntendo, moved from Sakura to Tokyo with his students and faculty staffs at the request of the new Meiji government. He committed himself to establishing modern Western medicine education and Dr. SATO Takanaka laid the foundations of the highest educational institution of Western medicine as the first president of Daigaku Toko (the predecessor of the Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo).

  On the other hand, Dr. SATO Ryojun, the son and the student of Dr. SATO Taizen, became adopted to the MATSUMOTO family and changed his name to MATSUMOTO Ryojun. He treated “Shogun” TOKUGAWA Iemochi, “Shogun” TOKUGAWA Yoshimune, Atsuhime and other shogunate family. While his domestic study in Nagasaki, he learned Western medicine from Dr. J.L.C. Pompe van Meerdervoort and together established Kojima Ryoyojyo, Nagasaki, and became the president. This was the origin of the Nagasaki University School of Medicine. Later, Dr. MATSUMOTO Ryojun became the president of The Academy of Western Medicine at the end of the Edo period. And after the Meiji Revolution, he became the first Surgeon General of the Meiji government and consolidated the military surgeon system of the Imperial Japan.

  Dr. SATO Susumu, the third president/CEO of Juntendo, studied abroad at the Faculty of Medicine at the Frederick William University at the time (the predecessor of the Humboldt University of Berlin). He was the person who obtained the first official Japanese passport issued by the new Meiji government. He also became the first official Asian graduate of Western medical schools. After coming back to Japan, Dr. SATO Susumu took leadership in the introduction of German and Western medical education, and contributed to the popularization of Western medicine in Japan.

  Over 170 years, Juntendo has produced a lot of physician-scientists who have excellent skills and spirits. Juntendo has opened the pathways in the cutting-edge medical sciences, medical care, and Health and Sports Science for training human mind and body, developing Juntendo itself into an international, health-integrated university.

  Up to now, the principle of Juntendo has been "Continuous advancement-“不断前進”. Under this principle, Juntendo’s original spirit that "the atmosphere which allows free-competition can enhance and accelerate research and educational activities" has continued for a long time. Although, in spite of its long history, Juntendo is almost free from academic cliques. It has fostered an academic atmosphere that regardless of their academic backgrounds, anyone with excellent abilities could be appointed to an academic position and could get opportunities to flourish.

  Everyone who gathered at Juntendo shares and relishes this academic atmosphere. At Juntendo, research and educational activities which are based on high ethics are practiced, and people at Juntendo share and cultivate the feeling of togetherness under the notions of self-improvement, competition principle, and mutual trust.

  Finally, all principles mentioned above are all based on the school motto “JIN-仁”. "I exist as you exist, with a heart that considers and cherishes others"- this is the meaning of "JIN". Juntendo’s school symbol was inspired by the notion "JIN", and "JIN" is the school motto which everyone at Juntendo shares and aims at.