Kaisei Academy

The Kaisei Academy (開成学園) is a preparatory private secondary school for boys located in the Arakawa ward of Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1871.

The Kaisei Academy is known for the number notable figures across diverse fields who have attended the school. Due to this it is considered one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the country. As of 2024, the school has had the most number of students admitted to the University of Tokyo, regarded as the best university in Japan.

Overview

Founded in 1871, the Kaisei Academy has produced a large number of notable alumni. Every year three hundred students are admitted to its junior high school, and one hundred students to its high school. The school's primary policy is 質実剛健 (Shitsu-jitsu-gou-ken), which means strong, simple, or spartan. The school policy is well represented in its school events such as an athletic meeting, marathon, swimming summer school, annual boat race with Senior High School at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba.

History

The school, which has produced hundreds of notable alumni, was founded in 1871. At first, it was established as the Kyōryū Gakkō as a preparatory school. After World War II, this school was integrated into the University of Tokyo. Its motto is "The pen is mightier than the sword".

Notable alumni

Okada Keisuke, (1868 – 1952) Prime Minister from 1934 to 1936 / Temporary on the register / In the prepschool age
Ikeda Kikunae, (1864 – 1936) who identified the flavour umami / In the prepschool age
Kogorō Takahira, (1854 - 1926) Japan's Ambassador to the United States from 1900 to 1909.
Physicist Nagaoka Hantarō, (1865 – 1950) who developed the Saturnian model of the atom / In the prepschool age
Poet Masaoka Shiki, one of the "four great masters" of the haiku / In the prepschool age
Poet and author Shimazaki Tōson (1872-1943), leading figure in the Meiji Romantic movement / In the prepschool age
Admiral Akiyama Saneyuki (1868 – 1918), planner of the Japanese strategy at the Battle of Tsushima / In the prepschool age
Vice Admiral Yamaguchi Tamon (1892 – June 4, 1942), commander of the aircraft carrier Hiryū at the Battle of Midway
Mutō Toshirō (1934 – ), former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan.
Fumio Kishida (1957 – ) Prime Minister from 2021.
Chikahiko Koizumi (1884 - 1945), surgeon vice-general of Japanese
Takayuki Kobayashi (1974 -), Politician, member of the House of Representatives from 2012
Chikara Yoshihara (1999 -), quiz player, a quiz competition, "ABC the 17th" champion. "ABC the 18th", "ABC the 19th" and "ABC the 20th" paper champion
Keiichi Tadaki (1943 -), lawyer, Prosecutor-General from 2006 to 2008
Shinji Inoue (1969 -), politician, Acting Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, former Minister in charge of International Exposition
Michio Yuzawa (1888 - 1963), politician, former governor of Miyagi prefecture from 1929-1931, former governor of Hiroshima prefecture from 1932 to 1935, former governor of Hyougo prefecture from 1935 to 1936, former Vice-Minister of Home Affairs from 1936 to 1937 and 1941 to 1942, former Minister of Home Affairs from 1942-1943, member of the House of Councilors from 1959 to 1963
Taro Tsujimura, (1890 - 1983), former president of the Association of Japanese Geographers, leading advocate of landschaftgeographie in Japan
Masaaki Koizumi (1964 -), certified public accountant, accounting auditor
Yoshiyuki Murata (1954 -), former President of Taisei Corporation
Shuji Yoshino (1970-), geography teacher at Kaisei, in charge of swimming club and tennis club
Toshio Kagami (1936 -), Representative Director of Oriental Land Co., Ltd.
Kiyotaka Sasaki (1961 -), the first Director of the General Policy Bureau of the Financial Services Agency
Teiji Seta (1916 - 1979), children’s literature writer, translator
Kuroda Seiki (1866 - 1924), painter, politician
Shin'ichirō Nakamura (1918 - 1997), novelist, literary critic, poet
Kōichirō Asakai (1906 - 1995), diplomat
Takushi Izawa (1994 -), quiz player, founder of QuizKnock
Minoru Kiuchi (1965 -), politician, former Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, former Senior Vice-Minister of Environment
Ryokichi Inada (1874 - 1950), bacteriologist, emeritus professor at University of Tokyo
Yukio Ninagawa (1935-2016), theatre director, film director, act
Akiyama Saneyuki (1868~1918), naval officer in the Meiji and Taisho eras, former vice-admiral of Japanese Navy
Tamon Yamaguchi (1892 - 1942), naval officer in the Taisho and Showa eras, former Vice Admiral of Japanese Navy
Shozo Uchida (1885 - 1972), architect, former president of Tokyo Imperial University (current University of Tokyo)>