Nihon University

What Nihon University does

Nihon University (日本大学, Nichidai) is a private research university headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, tracing its origins to 1889 and operating under the school corporation 学校法人日本大学. It is one of Japan's largest private universities, enrolling approximately 80,000+ students across 17 undergraduate faculties spanning law, letters, economics, commerce, art, international relations, crisis management, sports sciences, science and technology, industrial technology, engineering, medicine, dentistry, bioresource sciences, pharmacy, and a correspondence division, plus associated graduate schools and junior college programs. Physical infrastructure is distributed across campuses in central Tokyo (Kanda/Surugadai), Itabashi, Setagaya (Sancha), Matsudo (Chiba), Tsudanuma (Narashino, Chiba), and Mishima (Shizuoka), and includes the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, a full-service teaching hospital with departments spanning internal medicine, surgery, emergency care, oncology, and oral/maxillofacial surgery.

The business model is anchored by tuition and enrollment fee revenue across its undergraduate and graduate programs (annual billing cadence, with fees varying by faculty), supplemented by medical services revenue from Itabashi Hospital (transactional on patient visits and procedures), commissioned research (受託研究) and joint research (共同研究) with corporate partners, research donations (寄付金), MEXT-derived operating subsidies, and the distance-learning revenue stream from the Open University (通信教育部) correspondence division. Student-facing technology includes the UNIPA portal system for course registration, grades, and administration; faculty-development publications such as the Teaching Guide (ティーチングガイド) and Learning Guide (Miraitsu); and the student-led CHAmmiT (FD) program. Marketing and go-to-market are primarily direct-to-consumer, leveraging the official website, a YouTube channel featuring the 'ようこそ！理事長室へ' chairman program, social media (X, Facebook, Instagram), open campus events (オープンキャンパス), publications, and earned media placements in outlets such as NHK, Asahi, and Wedge ONLINE.

Recent strategic posture emphasizes industry re-engagement: Nihon University rejoined the Japan Private University Federation (April 2026), joined UNIVAS for collegiate sports (May 2026), signed an employment-support agreement with Tokyo Shinsho Ouendan (February 2026), entered a housing partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (April 2025), and is undertaking a multi-year capital program to rebuild the School of Medicine and Itabashi Hospital alongside a leadership transition (new Chairman/President in June 2026). There is no disclosed ownership by a parent company, no venture capital or private equity backing, and no publicly traded equity; the institution is governed as a non-profit school corporation.

Name

Nihon University

Legal name

学校法人日本大学

Website

http://www.nihon-u.ac.jp/intldiv/en/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nihon University is a private Japanese research university (founded 1889) serving roughly 80,000+ students across 17 faculties and graduate schools, with affiliated teaching hospital (Itabashi Hospital), multi-campus Tokyo footprint, and a correspondence-education division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University programs
• Medical services
• Distance learning
• Research programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: As a private university, Nihon University generates primary revenue from student tuition, admission fees, and related educational service charges across its 17 faculties and graduate schools.
2. Medical Services Revenue: The university operates Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (日本大学医学部附属板橋病院), generating revenue through medical consultations, treatments, surgeries, and hospital services. The hospital has specialized departments including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with 188 general anesthesia surgeries in FY2024.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Faculty members engage in commissioned research (受託研究), joint research (共同研究), and accept research donations (寄付金). The university has established protocols for corporate research partnerships and donations.
4. Open University Program: Nihon University Open University (日本大学通信教育部/Nihon University Correspondence Division) provides distance education programs generating enrollment and tuition revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nihon University is a comprehensive private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and distance education programs across 17 faculties spanning law, humanities, economics, commerce, art, international relations, crisis management, sports sciences, science and technology, engineering, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and agricultural sciences. The university also operates the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, providing medical services and clinical training, and supports faculty-led research through commissioned and joint research programs.

Product overview

Nihon University operates as a comprehensive private university with a platform-plus-modules structure consisting of educational programs across multiple faculties, administrative technology systems, healthcare services through its affiliated hospital, and faculty/student development publications. The core academic offerings span 19 faculties including Law, Liberal Arts, Economics, Commerce, Art, International Relations, Crisis Management, Sports Science, Science and Technology, Industrial Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Dental Medicine at Matsudo, Bioresource Sciences, and Pharmacy. The university provides technology-enabled services including the UNIPA portal system for academic administration, publishes Faculty Development resources (Teaching Guide, Learning Guide), and operates the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital offering comprehensive medical services. The university supports educational quality through student-faculty collaborative programs like CHAmmiT and publishes the Nichidai Person feature series highlighting community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Programs across 17 Faculties Degree-granting higher education programs spanning humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and agricultural sciences, serving high school graduates and transfer students seeking undergraduate education along with graduate students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.
• Nihon University Itabashi Hospital Medical Services Full-service university hospital offering medical consultations, surgeries, emergency care, cancer treatment, kidney disease education, and specialized treatments including oral and maxillofacial surgery for patients and the general public.
• Nihon University Open University (Distance Learning) Correspondence and distance education division providing undergraduate and graduate programs through printed materials and online resources for working adults and remote learners seeking university-level credentials.
• Crisis Management Faculty (危機管理学部) Interdisciplinary academic faculty preparing students for careers in crisis management across disaster response, public security, global security, and information security domains through an all-hazard approach curriculum.
• Sports Science Faculty (スポーツ科学部)

Quantifiable outcome

• Veterinary examination pass rate ranked #1 among private universities in Japan (2019)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• UNIVAS - University Sports Association (、大学スポーツ協会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Nihon University joined UNIVAS, the university sports association, to support and promote collegiate athletics and sports activities.
• Japan Private University Federation (日本私立大学連盟)coreOthers · 1 April 2026Nihon University rejoined the Japan Private University Federation (日本私立大学連盟) to collaborate with other private universities on policy advocacy and shared initiatives.
• Tokyo Shinsho Ouendan (東京新鮮応援ハローワーク)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Nihon University signed an employment support agreement with Tokyo Shinsho Ouendan to enhance employment support for new graduates, providing career counseling and job placement services.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government - Housing PartnershipsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2025Agreement with Tokyo Metropolitan Government for housing collaboration including student housing in public housing complexes and regional activation initiatives.
• Education Facilities - Evacuation Training PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Comprehensive partnership agreement for 'Evacuation Training Update' initiative to modernize disaster preparedness training at educational facilities.
• Western Michigan University (USA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange student program allowing Nihon University students to study at Western Michigan University's regular courses if TOEFL score requirements are met. Includes programs in aviation and Spanish studies.
• University of Cambridge (UK)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer school program for Nihon University students at Cambridge University, led by faculty members, as part of international academic exchange.
• Various Corporate Research PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partners engage in commissioned research (受託研究), joint research (共同研究), and provide research donations (寄付金) to support faculty research activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Waseda University: One of Japan's largest private research universities with comprehensive faculties spanning humanities, social sciences, engineering, and sciences. Direct comparable as a comprehensive private multi-disciplinary university serving similar domestic and international student populations in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
• Keio University: Another top-tier Japanese private research university with similar breadth across faculties, university hospital (Keio University Hospital), and a strong tradition of producing business and policy leaders. Closely comparable in scale, scope, and market position to Nihon University.
• Sophia University: Tokyo-based private research university known for international programs and liberal arts focus. Comparable as a private multi-faculty university competing for similar student segments in the Tokyo market.
• Meiji University: Major Tokyo private university with law, commerce, political science, science, and engineering faculties. Direct comparable as a large private research university serving similar undergraduate populations.
• Hosei University: Large Tokyo private university with broad faculty offerings and strong student-FD culture. Comparable as a comprehensive private institution focused on accessible higher education for domestic students.
• Chuo University: Tokyo-based private research university with law, economics, commerce, science, and engineering faculties. Direct peer in size and academic profile, competing for similar applicants in the Tokyo private university market.
• Rikkyo University: Historic Tokyo private university (founded 1874) with strong liberal arts tradition. Comparable as an established private comprehensive university with similar brand-recognition dynamics.
• Tokyo University of Science: Large Japanese private university with particular strength in science, engineering, and pharmacy. Comparable as a STEM-focused private research university with similarly broad faculty structure.

Regional players

• Doshisha University: Major private research university based in Kyoto serving similar student demographics but in the Kansai region. Comparable in faculty breadth and private research university positioning, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Kansai University: Large Osaka-based private research university with law, economics, engineering, and other faculties. Comparable in scale and comprehensive private university positioning, though primarily serving the Kansai region rather than Tokyo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nichidai
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nichidai/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/nihonuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/nichidai_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nihon-university-14218

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nihon University