Kumamoto University is located in the heart of Kyushu Island in the southern part of Japan. Kumamoto is characterised by what we call RGB (red, green and blue), the three primary colors of light. Red refers to the largest active volcano in Japan, Mt. Aso, which is one of Japan’s Geoparks. Also, Kumamoto people are warm-hearted. Green represents the “Land of Forest”, which is rich in natural scenery and historic landscapes, including two National Parks of Japan. Blue refers to the “City of Water” for its abundant, pure and crystal-clean groundwater that earned Kumamoto City the “Water for Life” UN-Water Best Practice Award in 2013. As one of the oldest universities in Japan, Kumamoto University has been at the forefront of culture, science and technology, and has contributed to the local community and global society for more than 100 years. In August 2013, Kumamoto University was selected as one of only 22 research institutes by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) through the prestigious and highly competitive Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities. Furthermore, in September 2014, Kumamoto University was selected for the Top Global University Project, a higher education reform initiative launched by MEXT, aimed at improving the international compatibility and competitiveness of higher education in Japan.
