Greeting

Contemporary society faces unprecedented and interconnected challenges, including population aging, population decline, climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and rapid technological change. In this rapidly evolving environment, advancing human well-being and strengthening social resilience have become among the most important challenges of the 21st century.

Against this backdrop, Waseda University established the Mission-Oriented Research and Education Center in June 2026 and launched the Waseda Center for Research and Education of Well-being (WCREW) as one of its core research and education hubs.

We believe that achieving both individual well-being and long-term societal sustainability requires Evidence-Based Policymaking (EBPM), supported by an integrated approach to research, education, and real-world application that bridges the humanities and sciences.

Well-being encompasses far more than physical health. It is shaped by a sense of purpose, opportunities for learning, meaningful work, social connections, and relationships with communities and the environment. Understanding and advancing well-being therefore requires an interdisciplinary approach that brings together expertise from diverse fields rather than relying on a single academic discipline.

Through collaboration with researchers both within and beyond Waseda University, as well as with government, industry, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and local communities, WCREW advances research grounded in data and scientific evidence. We translate research outcomes into education, policy, and practical solutions that benefit society. At the same time, we foster the next generation of scholars and practitioners through a university-wide minor program, support for early-career researchers, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Together, we are committed to ensuring that WCREW serves as a platform for knowledge and practice that enhances the well-being of people and society, creates new value for Waseda University, and shares that value with Japan and the wider world.

We welcome your support and partnership as we work toward this vision.

Director: Haruko Noguchi
Specially Appointed Director: Nobuhito Goda
Associate Director: Akira Kawamura