History of the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Medicine

Medicine is important in elucidation of biological phenomenon from a scientific point of view. At the same time, medicine is also important to contribute to health and welfare from human as practical science. The University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Medicine traces its origins back to the establishment of a smallpox vaccination post at Kanda-Otamagaike in 1858, more than 160 years ago. That is how far back its history and traditions go, and how long it has supported modern medical education and has sent forth healthcare practitioners and researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the development of medical science and clinical practice in Japan as well as in the world. The aforementioned vaccination post’s first directors – Itô Genboku, Ogata Kôan, and Matsumoto Ryôjun – were notable pioneers in the introduction of western medicine to Japan from Holland. With the end of the shogunate and the beginning of the Meiji era in the mid-1800s, decision-making power was restored to Emperor Meiji, who established a national Ministry of Education and a modern school system. The forerunner of our medical school, the Tokyo School of Medicine, moved in 1876 to our present location at Hongô in Bunkyô City (Tokyo). Entering the campus via Akamon (the Red Gate), you see directly in front of you our main administrative building (“Building No. 2“). Around it are clustered the Experimental Research Building, the Medical Library Building, and four other buildings belonging to the Faculty of Medicine. If you enter the campus via the Tatsuoka Gate and proceed straight ahead, you will see the University of Tokyo Hospital and the Clinical Research Building to the east. 

Advance of medical science and patient care has been rapid and outstanding, leading to elucidation of the pathogenesis and development of new therapies in various diseases. Japan is now facing the era of the 100-year life, and it is important to extend healthy life span with high quality of life. However, the pandemic of COVID-19 showed us the limitation and promise of current science and medicine. The cause of the disease was unknow in December 2019. The pathogenesis was revealed and the sequence of the virus was shared in the scientific community in January 2020, leading to development of effective vaccines. We are now going into the time of “with corona” and “post corona”. The importance to enhance basic science and translational research in medicine is obvious.