# Tohoku University Endowment

Tohoku University Endowment is an Endowment / Foundation based in Sendai-shi, Japan.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Sendai-shi, Japan
- **Region:** Asia
- **Address:** Katahira 2-1-1 Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan
- **Founded:** 1907
- **Assets under management:** 1.3B (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.tohoku.ac.jp
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.tohoku.ac.jp

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Tohoku University was founded in 1907 in Sendai. Teiji Tominaga serves as president. The endowment manages financial and physical assets tied to the university's operations and research mission. The endowment holds a diversified portfolio that includes a 60 percent target allocation to alternatives such as private equity and real estate. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Tohoku University Venture Partners it acts as limited partner in startups including ispace, Metcela, and Pixie Dust Technologies. Geographic exposure centers on Japan with additional activity in Asia. Direct real-asset holdings include the NanoTerasu synchrotron facility and multiple buildings on the Aobayama and Katahira campuses. The university employs 5,756 people. Adjacent vehicles include the Tohoku University Fund established in 2007 for scholarships and research grants. In October 2024 the endowment sponsored the Tohoku University Giving Campaign to fund student organizations and research projects. Additional offices are not disclosed. The endowment operates through a hybrid structure that combines internal investment management with a dedicated venture-capital subsidiary and joint-venture arrangements for major research infrastructure such as the PhoSIC entity behind NanoTerasu.

## Sectors

- Education
- Venture Capital
- Real Estate

## People

- Teiji Tominaga — President
- Yasuhiro Miyata — Executive Vice President for Fundraising and Investment Management

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Tohoku University Endowment?

Yasuhiro Miyata serves as Executive Vice President for Fundraising and Investment Management. He previously held roles at Dai-ichi Life and Goldman Sachs.

### Does Tohoku University Endowment participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The endowment invests through its subsidiary Tohoku University Venture Partners as a limited partner in multiple Japanese startups. It also holds direct ownership of real assets including campus buildings and research facilities.

### What investment stages does Tohoku University Endowment typically target?

Through Tohoku University Venture Partners the endowment backs early-stage Japanese companies in biotechnology, aerospace, and technology sectors.

### How is Tohoku University Endowment related to Tohoku University Venture Partners?

Tohoku University Venture Partners is the wholly owned venture-capital subsidiary that executes the endowment's startup investments.

## Related profiles

- [The Joyce Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/the-joyce-foundation)
- [Unicorn DX Advisors](https://altss.com/profile/unicorn-dx-advisors)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/tohoku-university-endowment

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