Since the inauguration in 1882 of Tokyo Senmon Gakko," the original body of Waseda University, the Kocho or Principal served as the representative of the school. After the name change to Waseda University, its Principal/Gakan (assistant to the principal) system was replaced with that of Socho (President)/Gakucho (Dean). In 1923, a year after the death of the first President Shigenobu Okuma, the President/Dean system was again altered to the current President system.

Today Japanese private universities are managed under the "Fundamentals of Education Law," "School Education Law," "Private School Law," and other applicable regulations. Under these laws and ordinances, private universities have two identities: one of those is that of a "school corporation as the founder of university" and the other is that of an "academic institution established by a school corporation." The representative of the former is called "Rijicho (Chairman of the Executive Board)", and the latter "Gakucho (Dean)."

Waseda University has its own system, in which an individual titled "Socho (President)" serves as both the "Rijicho of the school corporation of Waseda University" as well as "Gakucho of Waseda University established by the school corporation." We elect our president through afair election in which faculty members, alumni, and students are invited to vote. Therefore, our president can be considered a true representative of Waseda University.