Learn and experience the world and Japanese culture at ICC!

ICC Student Staff Leaders
Taisei Shiraishi, 3rd year student, School of Culture, Media and Society
LE Vi trang, 2nd year student, School of Political Science and Economics

What kind of place is ICC? What do they do? What can you do?

What first got you interested in ICC?

Shiraishi: I lived in the US and Canada for about six years when I was in elementary school. Canada, in particular, has a large number of immigrants and is a multi-ethnic country, so every day was stimulating. Soon after entering Waseda University, I learned about ICC in the university newsletter and was interested in whether there was an environment similar to Canada. I thought, "Maybe I can be involved in creating such a place myself," so I applied to be a student staff leader.

LE Vi: I'm from Vietnam and came to Japan for university. I originally came to Waseda because I wanted to experience diversity and culture and I was interested in intercultural exchange, so I thought I could connect with people who share the same vision as me at ICC, and so I applied to be a student staff leader.

Their daily duties include working at the counter in the ICC Lounge (left) and at the desk (right).

The ICC holds around 200 events a year. What kinds of events are there?

Shiraishi: The most popular events are the "Country Festivals" that are individual projects planned by student staff leaders. For example, events such as "Spanish Night" and "Canadian Culture Night" shine a spotlight on a certain country or region and introduce its culture, language, music, food, etc. Many companies and embassies of various countries support us, and there is often a wide variety of food prepared on the day.

Scenes from Spanish Night. (Top left) The image created by student staff for use on social media. (Top right) The performance by flamenco group iVAMOS! (an official student club) that took place on the day. (Bottom left and bottom right) Scenes from the day of the event. The student staff who planned the event also made requests and arrangements with student clubs and supporting companies.

LE Vi creating a sign for the Vietnam Culture Night

LE Vi: Actually, at the end of this month (June 2025), ICC will be hosting an event called "Undiscovered Vietnam - ICC Vietnam Culture Night," where we will introduce traditional costumes, food, music, games, and more from my home country of Vietnam!

Shiraishi: The standard projects that have become regular events at ICC are also popular, and we hold a number of "Japanese Culture Events" at the beginning of the semester to introduce Japanese culture.

In addition to the experience of making Japanese sweets and experiencing a Japanese drum performance, there are also events that even Japanese people have never actually experienced, such as wearing yukata and performing Japanese dance, and, although it is not a standard event, making mizuhiki, which is used for gift envelopes. The appeal of ICC is that you can learn and experience the cultures of Japan and other countries around the world while having fun.

An example of a schedule for a personal project. At events, student volunteers called supporters also help out.

What is the most memorable event that you have organized?

LE Vi：In January 2025, we planned an event called 「Harmony Beyond Borders: Let's Sing the Waseda Alma Mater in Multiple Languages! (Waseda Anthem).」The plan was for each international student to translate the lyrics of the Alma Mater into their native language and sing it together in an ensemble. Music is a form of communication that transcends language, and it naturally makes it easy to interact with others. Thanks to this, we received a good response, with some people saying things like, "I was excited to be able to sing the Alma Mater in my own language." After the event, participants also exchanged contact information and sweets, creating a warm exchange.

The Waseda Anthem. (Left) The poster created by LE Vi. (Right) The event itself. The lyrics were translated into each language and sung.

Shiraishi: I held a collaborative event with Pantovisco (@pantovisco), a popular creator with over 500,000 followers on social media, in December 2024. While Pantovisco draws cute and lighthearted illustrations and comics, he also posts blunt satire on society at times. I wondered if we could hold an event from the perspective of how such a person perceives "diversity."

On the day of the event, there was a workshop where participants made "Pantvisco-style" works together, followed by a discussion on the theme of diversity based on the works. Perhaps because illustration, like music, is a form of communication that transcends language barriers, participants were able to interact with each other through the process of creating their works.

An event with Pantovisco. (Left) A poster created by Shiraishi. (Top right) Scenes from the event. Shiraishi (left) and Pantovisco. (Bottom right) Group work.

Whether you want to deepen your learning or just interact with others, you can use ICC in different ways.

Can ICC be used for studying abroad or learning a language?

Shiraishi: Of course. For example, there are cases where Japanese students who are planning to study abroad use ICC as a place to get used to other languages, like a mini study abroad experience. Conversely, some students participate in ICC events after returning from studying abroad to remember the fun experiences they had. We often hear people say that they are happy to have an environment on campus similar to their study abroad destination.

LE Vi: We also have a wide range of programs for people who want to learn other languages in depth. One of these is the Language and Culture Exchange Program. ICC matches interested students and faculty members at Waseda University with each other to form groups of 2-3 people, and it is a mutual learning system in which  participants teach each other their languages and cultures.

There are also other programs that specialize in specific languages, such as the English Chat Club for people who want to improve their English skills, and the Japanese Chat Club for international students who want to improve their Japanese language skills.Each program allows you to improve your skills while engaging in intercultural exchange through ICC's original games and activities.

It seems that many students are interested in ICC but feel that it is too difficult to get into. Do you have any advice on events that are easy for people who are not good at English to participate in, or how they can use the organization?

Shiraishi: During school hours, we hold "Language Lunches," casual events where you can enjoy conversation and lunch in a specific language without making a reservation. "Japanese Lunches" are held regularly, so they attract not only Japanese people, but also international students who want to study Japanese and make Japanese friends, making them easy to participate even for those who are not good at English.

The ICC Lounge is generally open from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and is open to all Waseda students, so why not use it as a place to have your usual lunch or chat with friends and get used to the ICC atmosphere? The ICC Lounge also has books and magazines donated by faculty members, as well as board games for interaction with international students, so it's a very entertaining place.

"Language Lunches" are held during the lunch break. You can bring your own lunch and eat it, or just take a break between moving around. Don't forget your student ID! You can see it in action here​

LE Vi: We also hold regular sporting events. Sports is a form of communication that does not require language. In the past, we have also held events where students went outside the campus to visit museums and factories. In 2024, I participated in a bamboo shoot digging event at Tokorozawa Campus. There are many events outside of Waseda Campus Building 3, so I hope you will enjoy participating.

(Left) LE Vi acted as the MC in English for the bamboo shoot digging event in April 2024. (Top right) The ICC student staff leaders interact with each other in and outside the ICC office. (Bottom right) In 2024, she also acted as the MC for the Book Night event at The Waseda International House of Literature.

Shiraishi: I understand that some people are shy to begin with, but all of our staff will do their best to provide you with the maximum support, and if you have any concerns, please let us know in advance and we will assist you.

The title "Intercultural Communication Center" may make it seem difficult, but I would like people to put aside the "intercultural" aspect for a moment and participate for the purpose of "exchange." I believe that exchanges that are done with a light-hearted attitude, with the sole aim of having fun, are in fact intercultural exchange in the truest sense.

LE Vi: To anyone who is unsure about using ICC, I would like to share the words from the lyrics of the theme song of my favorite anime, Nintama Rantarou.

Shiraishi / LE Vi: Please feel free to join us with the feeling that "whoever does what they want to do wins!"

Wearing the ICC student staff jackets that are worn during events

What we learned from participating! Fascinating events, participants' opinions

Why did you come to ICC? We bring you the voices of students who actually participated in events.

Refresh yourself by digging for bamboo shoots! ICC Field Trip

Dan Jane Zheng (from Luxembourg), 1st year master's student in the Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies

I saw the information on the ICC website and decided to participate because I wanted to try digging bamboo shoots for myself. It was a fine, sunny day and I had a lot of fun interacting with people from various countries and departments. I have many memories of digging bamboo shoots with my own hands with the support of a specialist, and when I got home, I enjoyed making a hotpot with my friends. It was a wonderful day where I could feel the connection between nature and people.

I was a little nervous as it was my first time participating, but the atmosphere was such that even people could enjoy themselves alone with peace of mind, so I'm really glad I decided to participate.

Language Lunch

Desiree Gedda (from Italy), 1st year non-degree program student

We all know how difficult it is to learn a language, and being from Italy, I was happy to meet people who were interested in the language, so as a native speaker, I created a friendly environment and spoke to them in both Italian and Japanese.

Many of the international students can also speak Japanese, so you will be able to communicate easily. You will have interesting conversations like, "How do you say this word in Italian?" or "I'm planning to study abroad in Italy next year, so please tell me your recommendations!"

Language Lunch

SungLun Tsai (Taiwan), 1st year master's student in the Graduate School of Business and Finance

I have participated in this event many times to make friends and practice my language skills. I can talk about various things with people from various countries and with different hobbies. I recommend it because you can make a lot of friends!

Language Lunch, Japanese Fluent Club

Mayu Maniwa, 4th year student, School of Political Science and Economics

When I studied abroad, I had an experience where I felt lonely, so when I returned to Japan, I wanted to interact with international students who had experienced the same thing, so I participated in this program for the first time in my fourth year.

At the event, we play games and talk about daily university life. It's a good opportunity to learn about differences in culture and customs in addition to language. If you have any questions, all the participants will support each other, so please feel free to drop by the ICC even if you're alone.

You can now participate! Information about ICC events

Students from all over the world gather at Waseda University, and every year many students go abroad to study. Taking advantage of this diverse environment, the ICC has become a hub for intercultural exchange. Student staff take the lead in hosting approximately 200 events a year, working to deepen intercultural understanding.

We have a variety of programs available throughout the year, such as the " Welcome Festa" event in April and September to welcome new students, "Language Lunches" that do not require prior registration and are open to everyone, and  sports events in the fall that can be enjoyed even by those who are not confident in the language. The latest event information and activity information is also posted on Instagram, so don't miss it!

ICC (Waseda University Intercultural Communication Center)
Waseda Campus Building 3, 1st floor
Lounge opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 to 16:00, closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
*This may change depending on the event. Please check here: ICC Calendar 
Website: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/icc/
Instagram: iccwaseda

*Click to enlarge.

[Undiscovered Vietnam - ICC Vietnam Culture Night]
Date and time: June 27, 2025 (Friday) 17:15-19:15
Location: Waseda Campus
Target: Waseda University students
Language: Japanese & English
Registration deadline: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM

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[Japanese Culture Event Yosakoi x Wadaiko Performance!]
Date and time: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 17:30-19:00
Location: Ono Auditorium (Waseda Campus, Building 27, B2F)
Target audience: Waseda University students, faculty and staff
Language: Japanese & English
Registration deadline: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM

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[June ICC Language Lunches]
Dates: June 6, 10, 12, 17, 20, 23, and 27, 2025
Time: 12:20-13:00 Free entry and exit *No prior registration required!
Location: ICC Lounge (Waseda Campus Building 3, 1st floor, Room 111)
Target audience: Waseda University students, faculty and staff

[Next Focus Preview] "Seminar House Special" to be released on Monday, June 16th