Nihon University (日本大学, Nihon Daigaku, lit.'Japan University'), abbreviated as Nichidai (日大), is a private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice, in 1889.[6] The university's name is derived from the Japanese word "Nihon" meaning Japan. Nihon University now has "16 colleges and 87 departments, 20 postgraduate schools, 1 junior college which is composed of 5 departments, 1 correspondence division, 32 research institutes and 3 hospitals."[7]
The number of students exceeds 70,000 and is the largest in Japan.[8][9]
University profile
Most of the university's campuses are in the Kantō region, with the vast majority in Tokyo or surrounding areas, although two campuses are as far away from Tokyo as Shizuoka Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture. These campuses mostly accommodate single colleges or schools (gakubu (学部) in Japanese). In December 2016 the university acquired the former Newcastle Court House in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia for A$6.6 million as its inaugural international campus.[10][11]
The university comprises a federation of colleges and institutes known for having produced numerous Japanese CEOs. Its College of Art (日芸 — Nichigei), located right next to Ekoda train station in Tokyo's Nerima ward, is well-known for producing many artists who represent Japan in photography, theater, and cinema. In addition, the university has over 20 affiliated high schools bearing its name across Japan, from which a significant number of students go on to study at the institution as undergraduates.
Mechanical Engineering / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Civil Engineering / Architecture and Architectural Engineering / Applied Molecular Chemistry / Industrial Engineering and Management / Mathematical Information Engineering / Liberal Arts and Basic Science
Plant Science and Resources / Animal Sciences and Resources / Marine Sciences and Resources / Forest Sciences and Resources / Bioenvironmental and Agricultural Resources / Food Science and Technology / Agricultural and Biological Chemistry / Applied Biological Sciences / Food Economics / International Development Studies / Veterinary Medicine
In May 2018, at an American football game between the Nihon University Phoenix and the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters, a Nihon University team member violently tackled an opposing team member from behind after play was over. The tackled Kwansei Gakuin team member received an injury in his back ligaments as a result, and had to take a month out from football to recover. A third-party committee convened by Nihon University to investigate the incident found that the Nihon University team's coach and assistant coach had instructed a team member to dirty-tackle that particular player on the Kwansei Gakuin team. Furthermore, another independent investigation, by the Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association, reached the same conclusion, and expelled the coaches from the Association. Nihon University reached an out-of-court settlement with the injured Kwansei Gakuin team player. A decision by Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department not to prosecute the coaches was harshly criticized by those who had carried out the above investigations.[20]
Drug possession
Three members of the Nihon University American football team were arrested between August and November 2023 for suspicion of using cannabis. In August 2023 police searched the team's dormitory after the university found pieces of a plant and pills there the previous month.[21] The university suspended the team's activities in September following the first arrest.[22][23] Following a second arrest in October, it was reported that notes from an August meeting of university executives suggested ten or more members of the American football team may have used cannabis.[24]
In November 2023 the Nihon University Board of Trustees recommended the resignation of its President Takeo Sakai and its Vice President Yasuhiro Sawada, while Trustees Chair Mariko Hayashi agreed to a 50% pay cut.[25] Soon after a third person was arrested, Japanese news sources reported that Nihon University planned to disband its American football team after a history of 83 years, during which it won the Koshien Bowl 21 times and the Rice Bowl four times.[26][27] A third-party investigation into how the matter was handled, led by lawyer Hideaki Kubori, suggested a culture of secrecy and xenophobia on the part of university officials.[28]
Alleged tax evasion by Chairman of the Board
On November 29, 2021, the former chairman of the board of Nihon University, Hidetoshi Tanaka, was arrested for alleged tax evasion, and indicted by prosecutors on December 20. Tanaka had allegedly received approximately 118 million yen in bribes from 2018 to 2020 paid by contractors in return for contracts being awarded for work at Nihon University. He had allegedly failed to declare the money as income, thus allegedly evading payment of approximately 52 million yen in tax. [29] Tanaka announced his resignation on December 1, 2021. By accepting his resignation rather than dismissing him, the board ensured that Tanaka would remain eligible for a retirement bonus of hundreds of millions of yen.[30]
