Yamagata University is an institution that boasts a long history and tradition starting with its commencement as the Yamagata Normal School in 1878, and subsequently being founded as part of the new national university system.

It is a University that vaunts an impressive scale in Eastern Japan today, maintaining 6 Facilities, 7 Graduate Schools, Yamagata University Hospital, and 4 affiliated schools that include kindergarten, elementary and junior high schools. Furthermore, there are about 9,200 students, with 1,300 non-university level students, and 2,300 faculty members. The University posits "Regional Innovation" "Future Creation", "Multicultural Collaboration" as its mission and will play a crucial role as the driving force in the regional society under a sound university management.