Tokyo Dental College

Tokyo Dental College (東京歯科大学, Tōkyō Shika Daigaku) is a private university specializing in dentistry, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It traces its origins to the Takayama Dental School, founded in 1890 by Kisai Takayama, and is regarded by the university as the oldest surviving institution of dental education in Japan.

The institution was authorized as the former-system Tokyo Dental College in 1946, becoming the first dental university in Japan. Its founding philosophy is "Character Building is the First Step in Becoming a Dentist" (歯科医師たる前に人間たれ), a phrase associated with Morinosuke Chiwaki.

History

Tokyo Dental College originated with the Takayama Dental School (髙山歯科医学院), which Kisai Takayama established in 1890 in what is now Minato, Tokyo. In 1899, Takayama transferred management of the school to Morinosuke Chiwaki. The institution was renamed Tokyo Dental School in 1900 and moved to Kanda-Misakichō in 1901. In 1907 it was authorized as Tokyo Dental Medical College (東京歯科医学専門学校).

Under Chiwaki, the school trained a number of figures who later contributed to Japanese dental education and research, including Tsurukichi Okumura, Un'yu Satō, and Kanae Hanazawa.

In 1923, Shiro Endo established the school's department of oral surgery, beginning an institutional tradition of education and research in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

In 1946, the institution was authorized as the former-system Tokyo Dental College, with Tsurukichi Okumura serving as its first president. It became the first dental institution in Japan to receive university status. The institution was reorganized under the postwar university system in 1952, and its Graduate School of Dentistry was established in 1958.

The university opened its Chiba campus and Chiba Hospital in 1981. The School of Dentistry returned to the Suidobashi area of Tokyo in the 2010s, while clinical and research facilities continued to operate in Chiba.

In 2020, Tokyo Dental College and Keio University began discussions on integrating the College's School of Dentistry into Keio University and merging their educational corporations. The proposed target date of April 2023 was later postponed without a fixed timetable in 2021. The discussions ended on 30 April 2026 without a final agreement, although the institutions stated that they would maintain academic and institutional ties.

Education and research

Tokyo Dental College comprises a School of Dentistry, a Graduate School of Dental Science, and Tokyo Dental Junior College. Its academic organization includes departments in basic sciences, clinical dentistry, and general education, as well as several research centers.

The university's educational philosophy is based on the principle "Character Building is the First Step in Becoming a Dentist" (歯科医師たる前に人間たれ). Its curriculum combines dental science and clinical training with ethics, communication, and general education.

Development of academic fields

During the early 20th century, Kanae Hanazawa conducted research and teaching in oral pathology and histology. His work was later continued at Tokyo Dental College by researchers including Seiichi Matsumiya, who developed research in oral pathology and the microscopic study of dental hard tissues.

The Department of Oral Surgery was established in 1923 by Shiro Endo. It later developed through institutional reorganization into departments including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathobiological Science and Surgery.

The Department of Anatomy was established in 1951 by Yasuhiko Kamijō. Since its establishment, the department has emphasized macroscopic anatomy as a foundation for clinical dentistry.

In 1964, Tokyo Dental College established what it describes as Japan's first research institution devoted to forensic odontology. The field subsequently developed into the present Department of Forensic Odontology and Anthropology.

In December 1968, the university established Japan's first independent research unit in social dentistry, with Keijiro Takagi as its first chair. The unit became the Department of Social Dentistry in 2015.

Among the university's former presidents was oral pathologist Seiichi Matsumiya, who served from 1976 to 1983; he was succeeded by Keijiro Takagi.

Clinical facilities

Tokyo Dental College operates clinical education and treatment facilities including:

Suidobashi Hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo

Chiba Dental Center in Mihama-ku, Chiba

The university also maintains an Ichikawa Satellite Campus.

The former Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, established in 1946, was transferred to the International University of Health and Welfare in April 2026.

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