76: Hoshi University 星薬科大学

Hoshi University – Science, Spirit, and the Architecture of Aspiration

Hoshi University (星薬科大学), located in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, is one of Japan’s most historic pharmaceutical education institutions. It was founded in 1922 by Hajime Hoshi, a visionary entrepreneur and Columbia University graduate who pioneered over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in Japan. Originally established as the Hoshi Pharmaceutical and Commercial School, the university grew out of a deep belief in science as public service and education as the key to human flourishing.

The university’s roots lie in the creation of Hoshi Pharmaceutical Co. in 1911, and a company-based education department. Hajime Hoshi viewed education as the foundation for both innovation and peace — famously stating, “This auditorium shall be the cradle for nurturing individuals who serve the world.”

Hoshi University – Main Auditorium

Visible from the outside the grounds of the university is the stunning Main Hall. Completed in 1924, was designed by Antonin Raymond, a Czech-American architect who had just finished working with Frank Lloyd Wright on the Imperial Hotel. It is among Tokyo’s earliest reinforced concrete buildings and blends Czech Cubism with modernist flourishes. Its signature feature is a continuous slope replacing staircases.

Inside, visitors can admire a magnificent wall mural depicting Yaku-gari (薬狩り) — ancient medicinal herb hunts from the Asuka period. The painting was completed in 1943 by six official artists under Hoshi’s direction. It reflects both the cultural heritage and healing mission embedded in the school’s identity.

Hoshi was also known for his philanthropy: after World War I, he personally donated 2 million German marks to support German science, helping lay the foundation for several future Nobel Prize winners. At the hall’s opening ceremony in 1924, representatives from the German government attended in gratitude.

Hoshi University’s legacy lives on not just in research and drug development, but in its architectural and ideological commitment to global service through science.

🧭 Visitor Information

Address: 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501

Access: Approx. 5-minute walk from Togoshi-Ginza Station (Tokyu Ikegami Line) or Musashi-Koyama Station (Tokyu Meguro Line)

Public Access: The university is normally closed to the public, but occasionally opens during local Cultural Properties Week in November. The Main Hall and mural can be viewed during these limited events.

Best season: Autumn for public tours; spring for cherry blossoms around the quiet campus lanes.

Note: Access is limited; check Shinagawa City cultural event schedules for availability. Photography may be restricted inside the Main Hall.

Official Info: Hoshi University