Saga University will in April launch a new faculty dedicated to the study of cosmetic science, said to be the first to be operated by a Japanese national or public university.
Located in the northwest of Japan's southern island of Kyushu, the faculty will accept 30 students, according to Japan Times citing news agency Jiji Press.
The faculty is designed to nurture experts in manufacturing and developing cosmetics as well as assessing their quality and safety.
The university began a course for cosmetics in 2021, where Yoshihiro Tokudome, a specialist in cosmetic and skin science, teaches.
The initiative comes as the university cooperates with Saga Prefectural Government to promote the local cosmetics industry.
The prefecture plans to invite cosmetics companies to the city of Karatsu and nearby areas to identify potential cosmetics materials and enhance cosmetics exports to Asia.
The prefecture is pinning high hopes on the new faculty.
“We hope this will attract corporate research and development operations to greatly contribute to the promotion of the cosmetics industry,” said a prefectural official
At the faculty, 34 teachers, including Tokudome, will give lectures, and students will study a wide variety of topics related to cosmetics, including biochemistry, medicine, package design and marketing.
Students will intern at local cosmetics firms.
The university has received more than 100 inquiries about admission to the faculty and joint research there since launching a website for it in August.
More than 560 people applied for a two-day open campus event at the faculty that month, though admission was limited to 30 people.
Most of the applicants were from Saga and nearby prefectures, while some were from as far as Tokyo and Osaka.
Graduates from the faculty are expected to join cosmetics-makers and related firms as well as attend graduate schools.
“To produce cosmetics means to create culture,” said Tokudome.
“I hope that students who are interested in various things will join the faculty and hone their sensibilities."
