Temple University leaders and distinguished guests joining the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the TUJ Kyoto Opening Reception.
The Japan campus of Temple University (TUJ) has been a leader in international education since 1982. TUJ currently offers American undergraduate and graduate degrees to over 2,800 students from 80 countries and regions studying in Tokyo.
On January 24, 2025, Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and TUJ marked a new milestone by celebrating the grand opening of TUJ Kyoto, a new multi-building satellite location that commenced operations this month. More than 200 distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the momentous expansion and commemorate the beginning of a new chapter in Temple’s positive impact in Japan.
The TUJ Kyoto opening ceremony, hosted by TUJ Dean Matthew Wilson, welcomed distinguished guests, including Kyoto Prefecture Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki, Kyoto City Mayor Koji Matsui, U.S. Consul General of the Consulate at Osaka-Kobe Jason Cubas, Vice Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture Yuko Baba and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Japan, Sergiy Korsunsky. Other attendees included senior delegates from Osaka and Ehime prefectures, with which TUJ has established collaborative agreements in the past, industry leaders, and a delegation from Temple University’s Main Campus in the U.S., led by President John Fry.
“Congratulations to TUJ on the opening of its new satellite location in Kyoto,” Fry said. “TUJ is the oldest and largest American university in Japan, and its expansion to the historic city of Kyoto further extends Temple’s global reach. TUJ Kyoto will serve new and current students alike, and just as importantly, it will allow us to expand study abroad opportunities for students at Main Campus in Philadelphia. This is the latest example of how Temple offers a gateway to the world.”
Gregory Mandel, senior vice president and provost of Temple University, underscored the importance of the Kyoto expansion. “As we advance shared goals around education, research and partnership, this new location provides exciting opportunities for both students and faculty,” Mandel said. “Global engagement has historically been central to Temple’s priorities, and this new location demonstrates this enduring commitment now and in the future.”
Reception Highlights
The opening celebration featured campus tours led by TUJ’s senior leadership team, lectures and a panel discussion on the topics of overtourism and hospitality management, global leadership, and effective English learning environment for Japanese students.
Notable performances included a tea ceremony performance by Yaeko Kabe, TUJ professor of Japanese and Urasenke-certified instructor, and a live painting demonstration by TUJ art major student Rin Sato, an award-winning artist recognized at the 107th Nika-ten exhibition and winner of the Newcomer Award at the 2023 Dynamic Contemporary Artists Exhibition at the National Arts Center, Tokyo.
The featured events were followed by a ribbon-cutting, speeches, and celebratory reception. Attendees from high schools and universities, and businesses in the Kansai regions, officials from the U.S. Embassy, and members of the TUJ community, including alumni, faculty and TUJ’s Board of Overseers.
Temple’s Expansion
Located in Fushimi, southern Kyoto City, TUJ Kyoto began offering top-quality undergraduate programs in English starting in January 2025 alongside offering special international programs for children and adults.
TUJ Kyoto represents a major step in expanding Temple University’s presence in the Kansai region, offering global opportunities for students from Japan and around the world. TUJ aims to foster international education and cross-cultural understanding in Kyoto, a city renowned for its blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation. With this development, Temple students can pursue a top-ranked, world-class education in Tokyo, Philadelphia, Rome and Kyoto.
In November, TUJ signed a collaborative agreement with the Osaka Board of Education with the aim to contribute its expertise to English teacher training and preparing young students for global studies and careers. TUJ also inked an agreement with Ryukoku University, located near TUJ Kyoto in Fushimi, with a focus on joint student activities, club events, educational and cultural programs, shared courses, and collaborative academic research and conferences.
Looking ahead, TUJ will officially launch a Master in Communication Management in Kyoto in September 2025. Tailored for entry- and mid-level professionals, this one-year degree graduate program, offered in collaboration with Temple University’s prestigious Klein College of Media and Communication, will enhance skills in communication, leadership, public relations, and crisis management for students from Japan, the U.S., and beyond. TUJ is accepting applications now.
About Temple University
TUJ is a full-service branch of Temple University, a leading U.S. institution based in Philadelphia. Recognized as a Carnegie R1 research university, Temple ranks 46th among the top U.S. public universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2025) and in the top 400 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education, 2025).
Founded in 1982, TUJ is the oldest and largest branch campus of a foreign university in Japan. The campus offers undergraduate programs in 12 majors to a diverse student body of over 2,500 students from about 80 countries and regions. TUJ also serves more than 200 graduate students in the Graduate College of Education, the Master in Management and the Law School, as well as over 2,000 learners in non-degree programs, including Academic English Program, Continuing Education and Corporate Education.
Other related stories
- Temple University, Japan Campus Unveils Key Appointments for New Kyoto Location (August 29, 2024)
- Temple University Continues Setting New Enrollment Records, Exceeding 2,700 Degree-Seeking Students in Japan (October 23, 2024)
- Temple University, Japan Campus Deepens Expansion into Kyoto with New Partnership (November 26, 2024)