Kyushu Institute of Technology

Located in Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, it is dedicated to education and research in the fields of science and technology.

The founder was Matsumoto Kenjiro, second son of Yasukawa Keiichiro, and the links with the Yaskawa Electric Corporation (founded in 1915) remain strong to this day.

Despite the incorporation, which has led to increased financial independence and autonomy, KIT is still quite strictly controlled in many respects by the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbukagakushō, or Monkashō).

The first school building of Meiji Senmon Gakko was made wholly of wood and designed by Tatsuno Kingo.

The first president of KIT, Yamakawa Kenjiro who studied at Yale University declared that the aim of the school was to produce "gentlemen well versed in technological skills" (gijutsu ni tannō naru shikunshi).

Nowadays the university aims to produce both ladies and gentlemen with these skills, and enjoys a high reputation with employers.

KIT Tobata campus front gate ( Seimon ) with the flags out on a national holiday
This was the first school building of what is now called Kyushu Institute of Technology. When it was built the school was called Meiji College of Technology (Meiji Senmon Gakko). It was designed by Tatsuno Kingo and the school opened in 1909.