University of Tokyo leads 2026 National Public Service Examination results

The University of Tokyo led the 2026 National Public Service Examination for career-track officials, with 458 successful candidates. This figure represents an increase of 131 individuals compared to the previous year. Kyoto University ranked second with 180 successful candidates, followed by Waseda University in third place with 156. Waseda holds the highest number of successful candidates among private universities.

Data compiled by Popcorn Co., Ltd. based on National Personnel Authority records shows that while the University of Tokyo's numbers rose significantly, much of that increase is attributed to the newly established 'Liberal Arts Category' in the spring examination.

Separate analysis of employment trends suggests that while elite universities like the University of Tokyo and Waseda dominate certain sectors such as major trading companies, other industries show more diverse hiring patterns. For instance, while some major firms maintain high ratios of graduates from top-tier universities, companies like ANA show a much lower ratio of graduates from elite institutions, indicating that entrance exam difficulty is not the sole predictor of employment success at major corporations.