# Ashikaga University

> Higher education institution in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

**Wikidata**: [Q4805071](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4805071)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashikaga_Institute_of_Technology)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ashikaga-university

## Summary
Ashikaga University is a higher education institution located in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Originally established in April 1967 as the Ashikaga Institute of Technology, the institution was renamed Ashikaga University in April 2018.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (coordinates: 36.35319444, 139.39705556).
- **Inception**: April 1967.
- **Name Change**: Officially changed from "Ashikaga Institute of Technology" (足利工業大学) to "Ashikaga University" (足利大学) in April 2018.
- **Website**: http://www.ashitech.ac.jp/ (Japanese language).
- **Social Media**: Instagram handle is ashikagauniversity.jp.
- **Classification**: Instance of a university.
- **MEXT School Code**: F109310101561.
- **Japan University ID**: 2030.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Listed as "Ashikaga Institute of Technology" in English and Japanese.
- **GRID ID**: grid.443333.0.
- **ROR ID**: 0330rc745.
- **ISNI**: 0000000106844288.
- **VIAF ID**: 128642392.
- **Ringgold ID**: 13913.
- **Open Funder Registry ID**: 100009568.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Ashikaga University founded?
A: The institution was founded in April 1967, originally operating under the name Ashikaga Institute of Technology.

### Q: What is the Japan University Identification Code for Ashikaga University?
A: The institution is assigned the identification code 2030 in the Japanese university and college system.

### Q: What are the geographic coordinates of Ashikaga University?
A: The university is located at latitude 36.35319444 and longitude 139.39705556 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture.

### Q: What previous names has Ashikaga University held?
A: From April 1967 to March 2018, the official name was "Ashikaga Institute of Technology" (足利工業大学); it became "Ashikaga University" (足利大学) in April 2018.

### Q: Which international academic registries list Ashikaga University?
A: The university is indexed in the Global Research Identifier Database (GRID), Research Organization Registry (ROR), and the Open Funder Registry.

## Why It Matters
Ashikaga University represents a significant educational entity within the Tochigi Prefecture, maintaining continuous operation since 1967. Its transition from an "Institute of Technology" to a comprehensive "University" in 2018 reflects an evolution in its academic scope and institutional branding. The university's integration into global academic frameworks—evidenced by its inclusion in major identifier systems like GRID, ROR, and ISNI—facilitates international research collaboration and funding opportunities. Furthermore, its recognition by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) underlines its compliance with national educational standards.

## Notable For
- **Institutional Rebranding**: Successfully transitioned its official Japanese name from a focus on technology (工業大学) to a broader university designation (大学) in 2018.
- **Digital Archiving**: Maintains a comprehensive digital footprint across multiple academic databases, including a discontinued Microsoft Academic Graph ID and a current HAL structure ID.
- **Global Identifiers**: Possesses a wide array of specific administrative and technical IDs, ranging from library standards (NDL, Library of Congress) to research metrics (Ringgold, KISTI).
- **Multilingual Presence**: Has documented history and presence in both English and Japanese on Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

## Body

### History and Naming
Ashikaga University was established in April 1967. For over five decades, the institution operated under the official name "Ashikaga Institute of Technology" (足利工業大学). In April 2018, the institution underwent a significant rebranding, adopting the name "Ashikaga University" (足利大学). The name in Kana is recorded as あしかがだいがく. Historically, it has also been referred to by aliases such as Ashikaga kogyō daigaku, AIOT, and 足利工大.

### Location and Geography
The university is geographically situated in the city of Ashikaga within Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Its precise coordinates are recorded as 36.35319444 latitude and 139.39705556 longitude.

### Administrative and National Identifiers
Ashikaga University is formally recognized by Japanese educational authorities, holding the MEXT School Code F109310101561. It is also listed in the Japan Search Name database under the ID 足利工業大学 and carries the Identification Code for Japanese Universities and Colleges as 2030.

### Global Academic Registry
The institution is extensively cataloged in international systems to ensure research and administrative interoperability. Key identifiers include:
- **GRID**: grid.443333.0
- **ROR**: 0330rc745
- **ISNI**: 0000000106844288
- **VIAF**: 128642392
- **Ringgold**: 13913
- **KISTI**: K000201391
- **Open Funder Registry**: 100009568
- **HAL Structure ID**: 500358
- **SNARC ID**: Castel d'Azzano
- **Freebase**: /m/04cr6zr

### Library and Authority Records
The university maintains records with several major library and authority organizations:
- **National Diet Library (NDL)**: Authority ID 00764231.
- **Library of Congress**: Control Number no2006092729.
- **Microsoft Academic**: ID 100248960 (discontinued).

### Digital Presence and Media
Ashikaga University operates an official website at http://www.ashitech.ac.jp/, which is presented in Japanese. It also maintains an active social media presence on Instagram under the handle ashikagauniversity.jp. The institution is the subject of a Wikimedia Commons category titled "Ashikaga University" and features Wikipedia articles in both English (titled "Ashikaga Institute of Technology") and Japanese. It is also listed as a topic on Quora under "Ashikaga-Institute-of-Technology."

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Japan Search
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Google Knowledge Graph
5. [Source](http://www.ashitech.ac.jp/)
6. GRID Release 2016-05-31
7. GRID Release 2016-12-06
8. Quora
9. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
10. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
11. HAL
12. [2004](http://kikakurui.com/x0/X0408-2004-01.html)