The Department of Hematology traces its origins to the First Department of Internal Medicine, established in 1899 with the founding of the College of Medicine at Kyoto Imperial University. With a legacy spanning more than 120 years, it is one of Japan's oldest academic centers dedicated to the study, treatment, and education of hematologic diseases.

Throughout its history, the department has made broad contributions to the advancement of internal medicine in Japan through excellence in patient care, research, and medical education. During the tenure of Professor Koichi Wakisaka, the fifth chair, hematology emerged as a major academic focus. Under Professor Haruto Uchino, the sixth chair, hematology and gastroenterology became the department's principal fields of clinical and scientific activity.

The department has evolved in parallel with the reorganization of Kyoto University's graduate education and clinical services. In June 1994, the Department of Gastroenterology was established as an independent academic unit, followed by the creation of the Division of Gastroenterology at Kyoto University Hospital in April 1996. In April 1995, the First Department of Internal Medicine was reorganized into the Department of Hematology within the Graduate School of Medicine. In October 2002, it was renamed the Department of Hematology and Oncology, reflecting the expansion of its academic and clinical mission. Earlier that year, in July 2002, the Division of Hematology and Oncology was established at Kyoto University Hospital as a specialized clinical division. Following the establishment of an independent Department of Medical Oncology in 2012, the department resumed its present name, the Department of Hematology, while continuing its longstanding commitment to research, education, and patient care in hematology.

Over the decades, faculty members have made internationally recognized contributions across virtually every major area of hematology. These achievements include pioneering studies of vitamin B₁₂ metabolism and megaloblastic anemia; the biology and treatment of hematologic malignancies; the mechanisms of action of anticancer agents and the development of chemotherapy; hematopoietic stem cell biology and blood cell differentiation; aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes; cytogenetic studies of malignant lymphoma; the pathobiology and treatment of multiple myeloma; granulocyte and platelet biology; lymphocyte proliferation, differentiation, and oncogenesis; and the discovery and characterization of adult T-cell leukemia. More recently, the department has played a leading role in advancing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cancer immunotherapy.

Hematology has long been a discipline in which discoveries at the laboratory bench are rapidly translated into improved patient care. The advent of molecularly targeted therapies, antibody-based treatments, and cellular immunotherapies has further strengthened the importance of translational research and close integration between scientific investigation and clinical practice. Building upon its distinguished tradition, the Department of Hematology, under the leadership of Professor Akifumi Takaori-Kondo, continues to pursue excellence in basic, translational, and clinical research while educating future leaders in hematology and developing innovative therapies that improve the lives of patients with hematologic diseases.