Juntendo was originally founded in 1838 as a Dutch School of Medicine at a time when Western medical education was not yet embedded as a normal part of Japanese society. With the creation of Juntendo, the founders hoped to create a place where people could come together with the shared goal of helping society through the powers of medical education and practices. Their aspirations led to the establishment of Juntendo Hospital, the first private hospital in Japan. Through the years the institution’s experience and perspective as an institution of higher education and a place of clinical practice has enabled Juntendo University to play an integral role in the shaping of Japanese medical education and practices. Along the way the focus of the institution has also expanded, now consisting of five undergraduate programs and three graduate programs, the university specializes in the fields of health and sports science, nursing health care and sciences, and international liberal arts, as well as medicine. Today, Juntendo University continues to pursue innovative approaches to international level education and research with the goal of applying the results to society.
The mission of Juntendo University is to strive for advances in society through education, research, and healthcare. To accomplish this mission, based on the Japanese idiom “Sanmu Syugi”, Juntendo University accepts anyone regardless of their gender, nationality, or academic background who embodies the university motto “Jin – I exist as you exist” and the principle of “Fudan Zenshin - Continuously Moving Forward”. By creating an environment that focuses on how improvements may be made in the future Juntendo University helps highly motivated individuals who care for others become healthcare professionals patients can believe in, scientists capable of innovative discoveries and inventions, and global citizens ready to serve society.
