Tōdaiji Gakuen (東大寺学園 Tōdaiji Gakuen) is a private school, combined middle and high school in the city of Nara, Japan. It was founded in 1926 as an offshoot of the famous Tōdai-ji temple, and began as an evening middle school (夜間中学) for working students. Daytime education began in 1963, when the current name was adopted, and evening education was dropped in 1977. Today, most of the students go on to the national universities, especially Kyoto University and University of Tokyo, or medical courses. Noted alumni Tetsuji Nakamura, member of the House of Representatives Kazuyoshi Shirahama, House of Councillors member Shinichi Kitaoka, United Nations representative Yasunami Ryosuke, associate justice of the Supreme Court of Japan Takahiro Kimura, animator and character designer Ichirō Sakaki, light novel writer Banmei Takahashi, film director Atsushi Yamanishi, actor Shinichi Kitaoka, political scientist Kan Kimura, Professor, Kobe University External links Todaiji Gakuen Buddhist schools in Japan Educational institutions established in 1926 High schools in Nara Prefecture Junior high schools in Japan Private schools in Japan Schools in Nara Prefecture Boys' schools in Japan 1926 establishments in Japan