Introducing St. Marianna University School of Medicine: A Complete Guide for International Students

Thinking about studying medicine in Japan? St. Marianna University School of Medicine (SMU) in Kawasaki, just southwest of central Tokyo, blends a tight-knit medical school community with a large teaching-hospital network. This guide gives you a clear, practical overview of SMU—its mission, strengths, student support, exchange options, climate and lifestyle, and graduate prospects—so you can quickly decide if it fits your goals. All data points are drawn from official sources in English (with some Japanese references when needed), and links are checked for reliability.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private medical university — official overview (EN PDF): St. Marianna University School of Medicine
Total Students	≈ 800–820 across programs (small, single‑faculty medical university). Student intake & capacity published here (JP): Admissions & Capacity (Medicine)
Campuses	Main: Sugao (Kawasaki) — University Hospital & Medical School; Affiliated teaching sites: Yokohama City Seibu Hospital; Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital; Advanced Breast & Imaging Center. Hospital EN page: St. Marianna University Hospital (EN)
Faculties/Schools	School of Medicine (undergraduate), Graduate School of Medicine (doctoral). Curriculum outline (JP PDF): Medical School Curriculum
Studiengebühren	Medicine (Year 1): ¥3,762,000; Years 2–6: typically around ¥3,162,000 per year (JP PDF—latest fee table/handbook): FY2024 Annual Report (fees & figures)
Gender Ratio	Recent incoming cohorts show roughly balanced male/female shares (see admissions breakdowns, JP): Admissions & Capacity (Medicine)
Intl‑Student %	Small (primarily short‑term and exchange placements). See Medicine & Graduate pages (JP): Medicine – Intl/Outbound / Graduate – Intl/Outbound
Students per Staff	≈ 0.8 (among the world’s best staff‑to‑student ratios in THE 2024 data): THE student‑to‑staff ratio table

Note: Numbers above reflect the most recent publications available from the university and global rankings providers at the time of writing; SMU is a compact, single‑faculty medical university with intensive clinical training.

Campus Maps

Main Campus – Sugao (Kawasaki)

Address: 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan

St. Marianna University Hospital (Sugao, Kawasaki)

Address: 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan

Yokohama City Seibu Hospital (Yokohama)

Address: 1197-1 Yasashicho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 241-0811, Japan

Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital (Tama-ku, Kawasaki)

Address: 1-30-37 Shukugawara, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8525, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

St. Marianna University School of Medicine (SMU) was founded in 1971 with a mission rooted in Christian humanism—respect for life and service through education, research, and clinical care. The university’s official English profile summarizes its ethos and structure (Medicine, Graduate School, University Hospital), emphasizing contribution to society and ethical practice. See the official English brochure here: English Overview (PDF).

The main campus at Sugao (Kawasaki) grew around the University Hospital, now an advanced medical center serving the region. Over five decades, SMU added affiliated hospitals and centers to support clinical education—most notably Yokohama City Seibu Hospital and Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital—so students learn across diverse, real‑world settings. For the hospital’s English information (services, access, hours), see: University Hospital (EN).

Academically, SMU is a single‑faculty medical university with a six‑year MD curriculum and a doctoral Graduate School of Medicine. The curriculum includes early skills training, simulation, and later clinical clerkships. For an outline of the curriculum in Japanese, see: Medical School Curriculum (JP PDF). Governance, finances, and outcomes are documented in yearly reports; the FY2024 report details education initiatives, admissions formats, and national exam results: FY2024 Annual Report (JP).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Integrated Clinical Training Across a Multi‑Hospital Network

Students rotate through the University Hospital (Kawasaki), Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital, and specialty centers—experiencing urban, suburban, and community settings. Hospital information (EN): St. Marianna University Hospital. Institutional reporting (JP) explains recent reforms, student support, and quality assurance: Accreditation/Institutional Evaluation und FY2024 Annual Report.

International Sports Medicine Footprint (FIFA Centre recognition)

SMU’s hospital was first in Asia to be accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence (2007). The Japan Football Association reported additional joint accreditations in 2015: JFA news (EN). FIFA’s overview of Centre accreditation is here: FIFA Centres of Excellence.

Advanced Imaging & Translational Research Environment

Annual hospital reports outline recent upgrades, clinical volumes, and education activities—for example, 2022 and 2023 yearbooks (JP): Hospital Yearbook 2022 / Hospital Yearbook 2023. General patient guidance (JP) also summarizes major diagnostic and care policies: Hospital Guide 2023.

Robotics & Minimally Invasive Surgery

SMU’s network continues to expand image‑guided and robotic capabilities. In 2024, the Yokohama City Seibu Hospital announced initiation of the Senhance robotic program: news report. Routine modality updates and patient materials appear in annual and unit‑level documents (JP): Hospital Guide 2024.

Small Classes, Close Mentoring (Top-tier Staff‑to‑Student Ratio)

THE’s 2024 data place SMU among the very top globally for staff‑to‑student ratio (~0.8 students per staff member), supporting a highly mentored learning environment: THE – Best student‑to‑staff ratios. SMU’s institutional pages also describe small‑group advising and early support systems (JP): Accreditation/Institutional Evaluation.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles welcoming overseas students

SMU students engage in international exchanges through academic clubs and program committees. The Medical English Speaking Society (MESS) offers activities that intersect with global programs and short clinical stints: International Exchange – Achievements (MESS mentioned). SMU also hosts IFMSA exchange visitors via student organizers (JP): IFMSA exchange (JP).

Dedicated support offices (visa, housing, counselling)

Students in Kawasaki benefit from multilingual counseling and life‑support resources provided by the Kawasaki International Association (KIA): Foreign Residents’ Counseling Service and the KIA English portal: KIA (EN). These services help with local bureaucracy, housing, schools, and more, with interpreters available by schedule.

Language‑exchange or buddy programs

International exchange at SMU includes short‑term clinical training placements and reciprocal activities, often supported by student groups such as MESS (see above). For broader, city‑level networking and Japanese classes, browse KIA’s listings: Kawasaki International Association (EN).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

SMU maintains agreements with universities in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. The official partner list (JP/EN headings) is here: Overseas Partner Universities. In March 2025, SMU signed an MOU with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to expand research collaboration and exchange: University of Maryland announcement (Apr 16, 2025).

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Kawasaki/Yokohama area)

Kawasaki sits between Tokyo and Yokohama, with a humid‑subtropical climate. Using the Yokohama station (nearest major JMA site) as a proxy, typical monthly means show mild winters and warm, humid summers. See the Japan Meteorological Agency’s monthly statistics for Yokohama (EN): JMA Monthly Climate – Yokohama. For Japan‑wide context and prices, the Statistics Bureau’s English Handbook is helpful: Statistical Handbook of Japan (EN, 2023). Kawasaki’s business profile and living environment are summarized by JETRO: Kawasaki City – JETRO.

International Student Statistics

SMU’s official “students & exchange” pages (JP) show small inbound/outbound flows—typical of a selective medical school emphasizing clinical quality. See Medicine (intl./outbound tallies): Medicine – Intl/Outbound and Graduate School: Graduate – Intl/Outbound. Program highlights and reports are gathered by the International Exchange Center (JP/EN headings): Exchange Achievements / Student Experiences.

Career & Graduate Prospects

SMU publishes national exam pass rates and outcomes annually (JP). The FY2024 report notes MD exam pass performance and growing exchange/research ties: FY2024 Annual Report. For third‑party context, see global rankings profiles: Times Higher Education profile und U.S. News profile.