Waseda University (早稲田大学 Waseda daigaku), often abbreviated to Sōdai (早大 Sōdai), is a private university located in Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko (College), the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by its motto Independence of Learning.
Six postwar Prime Ministers are Waseda alumni: Tanzan Ishibashi (1956–1957), Noboru Takeshita (1987–1989), Toshiki Kaifu (1989–1991), Keizo Obuchi (1998–2000), Yoshiro Mori (2000–2001), and Yasuo Fukuda (2007–2008). Waseda's literature program is particularly famous, and counts Haruki Murakami and Tawara Machi among its graduates, as well as Shuji Terayama among its drop-outs.
Its alumni also include various corporate leaders such as Masaru Ibuka, co-founder of Sony; Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung; Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda; Atsutoshi Nishida, CEO of Toshiba; Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors; Tetsuro Toyoda, CEO of Toyota Industries; Tadashi Yanai, CEO of UNIQLO; Kenichi Ohmae, founder/ ex-Senior Partner of McKinsey & Co Japan; and many others. Currently, seven of the Fortune Global 2007's CEOs are Waseda University graduates. Waseda University is a member of Universitas 21, an international network of 21 leading research-intensive universities.
History
The university was founded by samurai scholar and Meiji-era politician and former prime minister Okuma Shigenobu in 1882, and was designated a full university in 1902. It started as a college with three departments under the old Japanese system of higher education. In 1882, there were the departments of political science and economics, department of law, and department of physical science. At the same time, along with these departments, an English language course was also established, where the students of all the departments could learn English.
Three years later, the department of physical science was closed due to too few applicants. The Department of science and engineering was newly established in 1908. The Department of literature was established in 1890. The Department of education was established in 1903, and the department of commerce in 1904.
Much of the campus was destroyed in the firebombings of Tokyo during World War II, but the university was rebuilt and reopened by 1949. It has grown to become a comprehensive university with two senior high schools and a School of Art and Architecture.
Waseda University started its life as 'Tokyo Senmon Gakko (College)' on October 21, 1882. Before the name 'Waseda' was selected, it was known variously as 'Waseda Gakko' or 'Totsuka Gakko', after the location of the founder's villa in Waseda Village and the school's location in Totsuka Village respectively. Around 1892, people started to call it 'Waseda Gakko'. It was renamed 'Waseda University' on September 2, 1902, upon acquiring University status.
On October 21, 2007 Waseda University celebrated the 125th anniversary of its founding by Shigenobu Okuma, scholar and government leader. Shigenobu Okuma, often talked about the "125 years of life" theory: "The lifespan of a human being can be as long as 125 years. He will be able to live out his natural lifespan as long as he takes proper care of his health". The logic behind this is: "Physiologists say that every animal has the ability to live 5 times as long as its growth period. Since a man is said to require about 25 years to become fully mature, it follows that he can live up to 125 years of age." This theory propounded by Shigenobu Okuma was very popular and often referred to in the media of the time.
Campuses
Waseda University's main campus is located in the Nishi-Waseda district of Shinjuku, though Waseda is generally associated with the Yamanote Line station, Takadanobaba Station. Apart from the main campus in Shinjuku, other campuses are located in Chuo and Nishitōkyō of Tokyo, Tokorozawa-shi and Honjo-shi of Saitama, and Kitakyushu-shi of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Waseda Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Nishi-Waseda Campus was renamed Waseda Campus in spring 2008.
Toyama Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Okubo Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Okubo Campus will be renamed Nishi-Waseda Campus in spring 2009.
Nihonbashi Campus: Chuo, Tokyo
Higashifushimi Campus: Nishitōkyō, Tokyo
Tokorozawa Campus: Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken
Honjo Campus: Honjo-shi, Saitama-ken
Kitakyushu Campus: Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka-ken
Researchers
At Waseda University, we are constantly working to establish a state-of-the-art, organizational research framework that will lead Asia and the world through an emphasis on collaborative research activities between the private sector, government, and academia. In addition to project research institutes employing diversified approaches in their academic research strategies, Waseda operates the Tokyo Women's Medical University - Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns), as well as the Waseda Research Park located in Honjo City. Additionally, in order to produce the world's highest research standards, Waseda has adopted programs such as the Global COE and Super COE, both programs are designed to cultivate creative human resources.
Libraries & Museums
The Waseda University Library, designed by Tachu Naito, Kenji Imai and Kin-ichi Kiriyama, was completed in 1925. This 5-story building, with a total area of 1,195 tsubo (about 3,944 square meters), was used initially as the University Library. The reading room was housed in a separate 2-story building, and had a seating capacity of 500. One of the prominent libraries established at the end of the Taisho period, it has been a symbol of Waseda University to this day, along with the Okuma Auditorium and the Theatre Museum.
The Old Library and the administration building were extended in 1934 and 1955 respectively. However, the Old Library relinquished its role after the New Central Library (located where the Abe Stadium used to be) was completed in 1990. It now serves as Sanae Takata Memorial Research Library, the University Archives, and Yaichi Aizu Museum. Sanae Takata Memorial Research Library was launched in 1994. It is named after former President Sanae Takata. Historical and cultural materials on Waseda University are exhibited in the University Archives, where in the Ōkuma Memorial Room are also exhibited the materials related with Shigenobu Ōkuma. Yaichi Aizu Memorial Museum was founded in 1998.
In the front hall, visitors are greeted by the masterpiece "Meian", which dates back to 1927. It is painted on the world's largest hand-made washi (Japanese paper), which is 4.45 meters in diameter and weighs about 12 kilograms (manufactured by Heisaburo Iwano, the founder of the Echizen paper works in Imadachi-cho, Fukui Prefecture). The masterpiece was painted free of charge by Taikan Yokoyama and Kanzan Shimomura, two artists who represented the modern Japanese style of painting. President Sanae Takata asked them to paint a picture for the Library.
The library possesses a unique collection which survived the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II unlike many of its counterparts. Therefore, its collection is an important resource in the study of pre-war Japanese history and literature.
In April 1999, the Old Library was designated as one of the first of the "Tokyo Metropolitan Historic Buildings” along with the Okuma Auditorium.
Central Library
Faculty Libraries
Research Institute Libraries
Science and Engineering Library
Senior High School Libraries
S. Takata Memorial Research Library
Student Reading Rooms
Tokorozawa Library
Toyama Library
Undergraduate Schools and Graduate Schools
Undergraduate Schools:
School of Political Science and Economics
School of Law
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Culture, Media and Society
School of Education
School of Commerce
School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
School of Creative Science and Engineering
School of Advanced Science and Engineering
School of Social Sciences
School of Human Sciences
School of Sports Sciences
School of International Liberal Studies
Graduate Schools:
Graduate School of Political Science
Graduate School of Economics
Graduate School of Law
Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Commerce
Graduate School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Education
Graduate School of Human Sciences
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies
Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies
Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics
Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems
Graduate School of Sports Sciences
Business School
The Okuma School of Public Management
Law School
Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law
Graduate School of Accountancy
Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering
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