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KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes

Verified by Mdexa · Checked against the source text under public rules.How we check

Commercial use
Conditional
Derivatives
UnclearUnstated
Redistribution
Conditional
File on Mdexa
NoLink only

a restricted part cannot be separated or the boundary is unstated: strictest part applies

RestrictedLink onlyLicenseRef-Kanehisa-Laboratories-termsSave

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Mdexa verified · Restricted · 2026-11Mdexa verifiedRestricted · 2026-11

[![Mdexa verified · Restricted · 2026-11](https://mcp.mdexa.com/v1/badge/datasets/kegg.svg)](https://mdexa.com/datasets/kegg/)

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Cite this pageMdexa, KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, https://mdexa.com/datasets/kegg/, verified 2026-11-14.

Key facts

Domain
Genomics and omics Modern medicine
Content
DatabasesKEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) is an original database product of Kanehisa Laboratories; academic users may freely use the website; non-academic use requires a commercial license.
Size
—
Language / modality
English / Text
Publisher
Kanehisa Laboratories
Year
—
Expert review
—
Verification
Verified: license text seen

Commercial use of KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes

Commercial use: Conditional. The overall verdict takes the strictest part; the parts carry different licenses, listed below. License status: Restricted.

License part
main data — Restricted (NOASSERTION)
License part
KEGG website — Permissive (NOASSERTION)
License part
KEGG MEDICUS — Permissive (NOASSERTION)
License part
KEGG FTP — Restricted (NOASSERTION)

Quoted statements and their sources are in KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes license evidence.

Verdicts record what sources state and are not legal advice.

Practical information

Content scope

  • KEGG is an original database product, copyright Kanehisa Laboratories.
    kegg.jp ·
    KEGG is an original database product, copyright Kanehisa Laboratories.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Identifiers

  • KEGG DRUG D numbers under YK codesAll prescription drug products marketed in Japan are given KEGG DRUG D numbers under the classification of 9-character codes named YK codes.
    kegg.jp ·
    All prescription drug products marketed in Japan are given KEGG DRUG D numbers under the classification of 9-character codes named YK codes

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/docs/relnote.html · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • → NCBI taxonomyNCBI taxonomy IDs are used for individual KEGG organisms and for organism groups at different taxonomic ranks, and links to and from KEGG organism codes or T numbers are made available in the KEGG API.
    kegg.jp ·
    NCBI taxonomy IDs are used not only for individual KEGG organisms, but also for organism groups at different levels of taxonomic ranks. Links to/from KEGG organism codes (or T numbers) are made available in KEGG API.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/docs/relnote.html · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • → YK codeThe API update history for December 1, 2024 states that the YK code was included as an outside identifier.
    kegg.jp ·
    December 1, 2024 YK code included as an outside identifier

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Access

  • Web APIkegg.jp
    • Own terms: commercial use With conditions · redistribution Not stated
      kegg.jp ·
      Restriction: KEGG API at rest.kegg.jp is made available only for academic use by academic users. Non-academic users are requested to follow the guidline shown in Non-academic use of KEGG .

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

    • The text asks users to limit API calls to 3 times per second, otherwise access will be blocked.
      kegg.jp ·
      Please limit your API calls up to 3 times per second. Otherwise, your access will be blocked.

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

    • The KEGG API at rest.kegg.jp is made available only for academic use by academic users.
      kegg.jp ·
      Restriction: KEGG API at rest.kegg.jp is made available only for academic use by academic users.

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • Bulk downloadkegg.jp
    • Own terms: commercial use Not stated · redistribution Not stated
      kegg.jp ·
      The KEGG FTP site for academic users is available to subscribers only.

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/download/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

    • The KEGG FTP site for academic users is available to subscribers only.
      kegg.jp ·
      The KEGG FTP site for academic users is available to subscribers only.

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/download/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • Web interface onlykegg.jp

    Same terms as the card's license.

    • Academic users who use KEGG to provide services are requested to obtain an academic service provider license, which is included in the KEGG FTP academic subscription.
      kegg.jp ·
      Academic users who utilize KEGG for providing services are requested to obtain an academic service provider license, which is included in the KEGG FTP academic subscription .

      https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • Web interface onlykegg.jp

    Same terms as the card's license.

  • Web interface onlykegg.jp

    Same terms as the card's license.

Versions

  • LatestThe release notes list Release 120.0 dated October 1, 2026.
    kegg.jp ·
    Release 120.0, October 1, 2026

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/docs/relnote.html · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • Update cycleThe FTP site is updated weekly and contains the entire set of KEGG data, as summarized in the Readme files.
    kegg.jp ·
    The weekly updated FTP site contains the entire set of KEGG data as summarized in the following Readme files.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/download/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • Breaking changeThe reaction module (rmodule) dataset was moved from the MODULE database to the REACTION database.
    kegg.jp ·
    The reaction module (rmodule) dataset has been moved from the MODULE database to the REACTION database.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/docs/relnote.html · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • Breaking changeThe term "Virus ortholog cluster (Voc)" was changed to "Virus ortholog group (Vog)" to distinguish it from clusters of positionally correlated genes along the chromosome.
    kegg.jp ·
    The term "Virus ortholog cluster (Voc)" has been changed to "Virus ortholog group (Vog)" in order to distinguish from clusters of positionally correlated genes along the chromosome, such as gene clusters, KO clusters and Vog clusters.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/docs/relnote.html · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • Breaking changeThe API update history lists that the service moved from HTTP to HTTPS on June 1, 2022.
    kegg.jp ·
    June 1, 2022 Moved from HTTP to HTTPS

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • Breaking changeThe API update history states that RPAIR was removed on October 1, 2016.
    kegg.jp ·
    October 1, 2016 RPAIR removed

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/rest/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Suited for

  • The text states that academic users may freely use the KEGG website at the kegg.jp address or its GenomeNet mirror.
    kegg.jp ·
    Academic users may freely use the KEGG website at https://www.kegg.jp/ or its mirror site at GenomeNet https://www.genome.jp/kegg/ .

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Not suited for

  • The text states that non-academic use of KEGG requires a commercial license.
    kegg.jp ·
    Non-academic use of KEGG requires a commercial license.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Commercial licensing

  • The text directs users to contact Pathway Solutions, which operates the KEGG FTP sites and a KEGG mirror website, for license agreements.
    kegg.jp ·
    Please contact Pathway Solutions , which operates KEGG FTP sites and a KEGG mirror website, for license agreements.

    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes license evidence 13

  1. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageKEGG is an original database product, copyright Kanehisa Laboratories.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  2. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageAlthough best efforts are always applied when developing KEGG products, Kanehisa Laboratories makes no warrant nor assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of KEGG or any information contained therein.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  3. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageAcademic users may freely use the KEGG website at https://www.kegg.jp/ or its mirror site at GenomeNet https://www.genome.jp/kegg/ .

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  1. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageAcademic users who utilize KEGG for providing services are requested to obtain an academic service provider license, which is included in the KEGG FTP academic subscription .

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  2. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageNon-academic users must understand that KEGG is not a public database, nor is it a publicly funded database.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  3. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageNon-academic use of KEGG requires a commercial license.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  4. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pagePlease contact Pathway Solutions , which operates KEGG FTP sites and a KEGG mirror website, for license agreements.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s02
  5. Dataset pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Dataset pageThe KEGG FTP site for academic users is available to subscribers only.

    Statement found in snapshot s10 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s10
  6. Dataset pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Dataset pageA subset of KEGG MEDICUS is freely available at the GenomeNet FTP site.

    Statement found in snapshot s10 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s10
  7. Dataset pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Dataset pageNon-academic users are requested to obtain a license agreement for using KEGG.

    Statement found in snapshot s10 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s10
  8. Website footerPage opened
    Third-party text · Website footerCopyright 1995-2026 Kanehisa Laboratories

    Statement found in snapshot s10 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s10
  9. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageRestriction: KEGG API at rest.kegg.jp is made available only for academic use by academic users.

    Statement found in snapshot s04 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s04
  10. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pagePlease limit your API calls up to 3 times per second.

    Statement found in snapshot s04 (page)

    kegg.jp2026-11-13 · s04

Source and lineage

No upstream or downstream datasets recorded.

Known issues with KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes

—

Preflight

Not run Runs only on ingested data; says nothing about quality.

Downloading KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and API access

No file on Mdexa (see the verdict). Get it from the source and confirm the terms there:

Latest 120.0 · 2026-10-01

Registration or application is required; no download command is given.

Application

Citing KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes

Mdexa, KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, https://mdexa.com/datasets/kegg/, verified 2026-11-14.
More citation details

The source gives no citation text; the line above cites this card.

Machine-readable

kegg.jsonkegg.mdcatalog.json

Change log 1
2026-11-14Listed on 2026-11-14. Judged by public rules and checked a second time before listing. The two passes disagreed; the stricter reading is carried: Second pass: redistribution: [甲类] 学术用户利用 KEGG 对外提供服务也须取得学术服务提供者许可（含于 FTP 学术订阅）；向他人提供被涉及且须另行授权，应为 conditional。

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Known defects and misuse