Hokkaido University will mark its 150th anniversary in 2026, counting from the founding of its predecessor, the Sapporo Agricultural School. The school’s first headmaster was William Smith Clark, and from its vast campus, roughly equivalent to 40 Tokyo Domes, approximately 250,000 students have graduated. In September, a commemorative ceremony will be held in Sapporo, inviting representatives from the Massachusetts Agricultural College in the United States, where Clark served as president before coming to Hokkaido. This article explores Clark’s enduring founding spirit and considers the future path for the university.

The Sapporo Agricultural School was established near the current Sapporo Clock Tower with the aim of training individuals to develop Hokkaido. Its educational style was innovative, with all classes in agriculture, engineering, and other subjects conducted in English.

While pre-Meiji era studies were primarily classroom-based, Clark sought practical fields and established a farm at the location of the current Hokkaido University Sapporo Campus. Beyond just acquiring knowledge, he also introduced classes where students debated in English to learn how to express their opinions. “They incorporated Western academia to enhance the quality of education. It must have been a quite unusual educational policy for that time,” one observer notes.

Clark’s stay lasted only eight and a half months, but his former students from America later took up teaching posts. They passed on to the next generation the philosophy of “holistic education,” which combines specialized knowledge with broad cultural learning.

As it reaches this milestone, Hokkaido University also faces serious challenges. Since the 1930s, it collected the remains of Ainu people from various locations in Hokkaido for research purposes. The University of Tokyo apologized last year for having deeply wounded their dignity. Meanwhile, Hokkaido University President Kiyohiro Houkin stated in November of last year, “We are continuing a detailed examination [of the research] and wish to issue a statement as soon as possible.”

While confronting its own history, Hokkaido University continues to stride toward the future.

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Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University is Japan’s oldest national university after the University of Tokyo, founded in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College. Its establishment was part of the early Meiji era’s modernization drive, heavily influenced by American educators like William S. Clark, whose famous parting words, “Boys, be ambitious!” remain its motto. Today, it is a leading comprehensive research university renowned for its expansive, park-like campus and strengths in agriculture, science, and environmental studies.

Sapporo Agricultural School

The Sapporo Agricultural School was founded in 1876 in Hokkaido, Japan, as the nation’s first modern institution for agricultural education and research, established under the guidance of American educator William S. Clark. It played a pivotal role in developing Hokkaido’s agriculture and later evolved into Hokkaido University, one of Japan’s top national universities. Its famous parting words from Clark to his students, “Boys, be ambitious!”, remain a widely known cultural legacy in Japan.

Tokyo Dome

The Tokyo Dome is a large indoor stadium in Tokyo, Japan, which opened in 1988. Primarily known as the home field of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, it has also hosted major concerts, professional wrestling events, and other sports. Its iconic air-supported “Big Egg” roof design made it a pioneering multi-purpose arena in Japan.

Massachusetts Agricultural College

Massachusetts Agricultural College was founded in 1863 as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act, focusing on scientific farming and mechanical arts. It later evolved into the University of Massachusetts Amherst, becoming a major public research university while retaining its original agricultural roots.

Sapporo Clock Tower

The Sapporo Clock Tower is a historic wooden building constructed in 1878 as a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural College (now Hokkaido University). It is one of Japan’s oldest surviving clock towers, famous for its American-influenced architecture and the mechanical clock imported from Boston, which has been continuously operating since its installation. Today, it serves as a popular museum and symbol of Sapporo’s development during the Meiji era.

Hokkaido University Sapporo Campus

Hokkaido University’s Sapporo Campus is the historic main campus of Japan’s first modern university, founded in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College. Its expansive, park-like grounds in central Sapporo are famous for their iconic rows of ginkgo and poplar trees, as well as preserved early Western-style buildings like the Old University Hall, reflecting its pioneering role in Hokkaido’s development.

University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo, founded in 1877 as Japan’s first national university, was established during the Meiji era to modernize the nation through Western learning and science. It is consistently ranked as Japan’s most prestigious university and a leading global research institution, with its historic Hongo Campus featuring iconic landmarks like the Akamon (Red Gate) and Yasuda Auditorium.

Ainu

The Ainu are the Indigenous people of northern Japan and parts of the Russian Far East, with a distinct language, spirituality, and culture centered on respect for nature. Historically, their traditional way of life was severely impacted by the assimilation policies of the modern Japanese state from the 19th century onward. Today, efforts are underway to revitalize Ainu language and culture, with sites like Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) in Hokkaido serving as important centers for education and preservation.