Introduction to the Department of Earth Science,
Faculty of Science, Tohoku University


Tohoku University

  • The 3rd oldest National University in Japan, established in 1907
    • Japan’s first university to admit female students in 1913
    • Located in the Capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in the Tōhoku region
    • Home of Warlord Date Masamune and Aoba Castle
    • Tokyo is 1.5 hours away via Shinkansen (bullet train)
      • Sendai Japan
  • 10 Faculties, 17 Graduate Schools, 7 Research Institutes
    • 10,814 Undergraduate students
    • 4,385 Graduate students: Master’s Program
    • 2,650 Graduate students: Doctoral Program
    • International students from 93 countries & regions
  • Mission of Tohoku University
    • “Research First”
    • “Open-Doors”
    • “Practice-Oriented Research and Education”


Dept. Earth Science, Tohoku University

  • Program Divisions
    • Earth and Planetary Materials Science
    • GeoEnvironmental Science
  • Structure
    • 32 professors and 23 staff scientists in 12 unique research groups
    • Students: 330 Bachelor, 76 Master, 34 PhD students (32 % female)

7 Research Groups (related to volatile cycle issues)

Research Groups Volatile Research Topics
Earth and Planetary Material Physics Properties of water-bearing mineral in the deep mantle
Early Solar System Evolution Origin of volatile elements in primordial materials
Fault and Geodynamics Fault activity analysis based on Ra density in the air
Volcanology and Geo-fluid Roles of volatiles and fluid in volcanic processes
Natural Resources and Environmental Geochemistry Isotopic analysis of volatile elements in early history of the Earth
Biogeoscience, Paleo-Bioevents and Paleontology Origin of life, Massive life extinction based on C and O isotope analysis
Paleo-Environmental Change Geological analysis of paleo-atmosphere and ocean change