The origin of Kyushu University School of Medicine dates back to 1877 when Fukuoka Hospital was built on the site of the former refinery in Nakanoshima, Hakata, which became the Prefectural Fukuoka Hospital in 1888. 1896, the Prefectural Fukuoka Hospital was moved to Oaza Katakasu Higashimatsubara (present location), Chiyomura, Nakagawa County, Fukuoka Prefecture. 1903 , the Prefectural Fukuoka Hospital became Kyoto, Prefectural Fukuoka Hospital became Fukuoka Medical College of the Kyoto Imperial University, and in 1911, it became Kyushu Imperial University Medical College.Furthermore, the name was changed to Kyushu Imperial University School of Medicine in 1919 and to Kyushu University School of Medicine in 1947 after the war.
The Department of Ophthalmology of Kyushu University was established in 1903, together with Anatomy, Internal Medicine, and Surgery, when the Faculty of Medicine was first established, and Dr. Choshiro Koiwai was the acting chief.
In 1926, Yoshiharu Shoji, a professor at Okayama University, became the second professor, and in 1940, Shigemi Tamura, an assistant professor at Hokkaido University, became the third professor.In 1976, Yoshiaki Taniguchi, a professor at Kagoshima University, became the fifth professor, and in 1983, Hajime Inomata, then an associate professor, became the sixth professor,In 2015, Kohei Sonoda, then a professor at Yamaguchi University, became the eighth professor.

Former Ophthalmology Department designed by Prof. Onishi

Meiji period

1903-1912

In April 1903, Kyoto Imperial University Fukuoka Medical School was established. In 1907, a one-story wooden ophthalmology clinic was completed. In 1911: Kyushu Imperial University was established.

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  Ophthalmoscope of Onishi type (part of the collection)
  Collection / Dr. Shigeru Sugai

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  Group photo of attendees at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society
  Fukuoka Medical College Hospital
  Collection/Dr.Tetsuo Arakawa

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  A member of the medical staff of Fukuoka Medical College [1910].
  Collection / Hikita Eye clinic Dept.

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  Main gate of Fukuoka Medical College [1909].
  Photo courtesy / Kyushu University University Archives

Taisho period

1912-1926

Due to World War I, there was a shortage of imported medical supplies. In March 1923, a new ophthalmology department and ward (two-story, partly wooden structure), one of the largest and best-equipped in Japan, designed by Professor Yoshiakira Onishi, is completed.

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  Medical staff of Kyushu Imperial University [1913].
  Collection / Hikita Eye Clinic Department

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  Onishi Sleeve-Chin Visual Field Meter

Showa period　ーEarly Showa period

1926-1945

A tennis court was built in the backyard of the Ophthalmology Department. In 1936, the alumni association was established and the first issue of “DOGAKU” was published. In 1936, the alumni association was established and “Dokyo” was launched, and an affiliated medical school was established to train military doctors.

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  Darkroom for ophthalmologic examinations
  Photo courtesy / University Archives, Kyushu University

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  Main gate of the School of Medicine, built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its founding [1928]
  Photo courtesy / University Archives, Kyushu University

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  Shoji ophthalmic surgical mobile imaging device [circa 1935].

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  Shoji Ophthalmoscope

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  Naito Electro-Optical Ophthalmoscope

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  Handheld Microscope

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  Medical office in 1936
  Collection / Hikita Eye Clinic Department

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  The 12th Kyushu Ophthalmology Group Meeting / Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu Imperial University [1939]

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  School of Medicine Hospital Athletic Meet [circa 1936].

Showa period　ーPostwar Reconstruction Period

1946-1955

A tennis court was built in the backyard of the Ophthalmology Department. In 1936, the alumni association was established and the first issue of “DOGAKU” was published. In 1936, the alumni association was established and “Dōgaku” was launched, and an affiliated medical school was established to train military doctors.

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  Scorched Fukuoka City [1945] Photo courtesy / Fukuoka City

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  Reorganization and specialization of the department [1951]

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  Lecture by Associate Professor Hiroshi Ikui in the auditorium of the Department of Ophthalmology [circa 1951].

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  Ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Medicine [1953].
  Photo courtesy / Kyushu University University Archives

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  The 56th Reception for Councilors of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society and the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society [1952].

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  Kyushu University inundated by flooding in western Japan [1953].

Showa period　ーPeriod of rapid economic growth

1956-1973

The hospital attached to the School of Medicine was reconstructed for the transition to a centralized medical care system. The ophthalmology ward was moved to the 6th floor of the central ward and the outpatient department was moved to the 1st floor of the general outpatient clinic building. 1968 saw the crash of a U.S. military aircraft, and in the 1970s, student disputes broke out frequently as riot police were dispatched to medical student demonstrations and other events.

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  The 110th Kyushu University Ophthalmology Research Meeting in commemoration of the inauguration of Professor Hiroshi Ikui [1959].

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  Clinical lecture by Prof. Hiroshi Ikui in the auditorium of the Department of Ophthalmology
  (From the graduation album of the class of 1963)

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  Free medical services provided on remote islands.

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  Commemorative photo of the relocation from the old Ophthalmology Outpatient Department to the new facility. [1968]

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  The local medical faculty association went on indefinite strike during a university dispute, resulting in the closure of the administrative headquarters [1969]
  Photo courtesy / Kyushu University University Archives

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  Completion of the Outpatient Clinic Building at Kyushu University Hospital [circa 1970]

Showa period　ー1980

1974-1989

In December 1981, the wooden building of the Department of Ophthalmology, which had been a famous clinic building, was demolished. In 1986, the Ikui Memorial Eye Research Encouragement Fund was established with donations from the bereaved family of the late Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Ikui.

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  New Research Building [circa 1975]

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  Completion of the Clinical Research Building, School of Medicine [ca. 1975].
  Photo courtesy / Kyushu University University Archives

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  Medical treatment in the outpatient department of the new ward [circa 1975].

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  Demolition of the former Department of Ophthalmology building [1981]
  Collection / Fukuda Ophthalmology Department

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  25th Course on PHOTOCOAGULATION [1978].

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  Outpatient care during Professor Hajime Inomata’s tenure

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  Outpatient examination room without partitions; slit lamps were shared.

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  Professor Hajime Inomata providing outpatient care [circa 1983]

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Heisei period

1989-2019

Kyushu University School of Medicine Centennial Auditorium and the new hospital are completed; the Ophthalmology Ward is relocated to the 11th floor of the South Wing and the Outpatient Care Ward to the 2nd floor of the Outpatient Care Unit; the name is changed from Kyushu University Hospital to Kyushu University Hospital in 2003. Kyushu University became a national university in 2004 and completed its relocation to the Ito Campus in 2018.

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  New Hospital (South Wing) Completed [2001].
  Photo courtesy / Kyushu University University Archives

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  Professor Tatsuro Ishibashi conducting pathology research [2007]

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  The 63rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Clinical Ophthalmology [2009].

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  GONIN CLUB in Kyoto [2010].

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  Professor Tatsuro Ishibashi delivering a special lecture at the 115th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society [2011]

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  International Ophthalmology Congress [2014].

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  Prof. Tatsuro Ishibashi delivering the President’s Address at the International Ophthalmology Congress [2014]

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  Community participation during the Hisayama Town Research Project [2017]

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  The 11th Japan-China-Korea Joint Meeting on Ophthalmology [2018].

Reiwa period

2019-2023

In 2019, the Brilliant Blue G developed by the ophthalmology research team is approved by the U.S. FDA for regulatory approval. The following year, in 2020, a pandemic of COVID-19 occurred and medical care was strained. In October of the same year, the previous Professor TatsuroIshibashi became the 24th President of Kyushu University.

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  Press conference announcing Professor Tatsuro Ishibashi as the 24th President of Kyushu University [2020].

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  The 93rd Kyushu Ophthalmology Congress [2023], chaired by Professor Kohei Sonoda

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  The 5th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Myopia Research hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University [2023].

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  Successful commercialization of OQrimo®, an intraocular endoscope and illumination-holding robot [2023]