Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

The best people never stop going (Chuang-tzu)

Faculty of Commerce
Masanori Yokoyama

These are the words of Chuang-tzu, and they are understood to speak of the necessity of progress through ingenuity and creativity—or, in modern terms, innovation. In the midst of the paradigm shift of today, the new society you will face will necessitate transformation, and you will be required to act without being bound by preconceived notions. From now on, it will probably be a process of trial and error, and in some cases, error and error. Please make use of the intellectual curiosity you have cultivated during your student life, and challenge your own potential while enjoying the unknown world. I sincerely wish you all the best in your endeavors.

One of the conditions for becoming a respectable person is having someone you can truly respect. (Masaru Ibuka)

Faculty of Science and Engineering
Nozomu Togawa

These are the words of Masaru Ibuka, a graduate of Waseda University's Faculty of Science and Engineering and co-founder of Sony. Masaru Ibuka Auditorium, International Conference Center on Waseda Campus, bears his name. I believe that having a "person" or "mentor" whom you deeply respect is extremely important for learning throughout your long life. And it is also important to have not just one "mentor," but multiple "mentors." By seeking guidance from many "mentors" in various fields and gaining much knowledge, you will grow stronger. I sincerely hope that all of you who are graduating and spreading your wings to the world will achieve great success around the globe.

I always listen to what I can leave out.
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Faculty of Social Sciences
Yoichi Sato

Swimming in the sea of information, the whirlpool of people. To do that, you need to strip away. Jazz master Miles Davis once steered away from verbose expressions to reduce sound. What is needed is to strip away and highlight what is important. But to do that, you need to listen carefully and understand the essence. AI provides infinite information, and SNS feeds flow endlessly. Algorithms recommend, and search engines show answers. But is it really "your sound"? Listen carefully. And strip away. Your sound resonates in the margins.

With the ideal of respecting human dignity in mind

Faculty of Human Sciences
Atsushi Ogihara

Human Sciences is a world-leading system of learning that confronts fundamental questions about how people think, feel, act, and interact with others and the world. The experience you gained at Jinka, working collaboratively with diverse people to solve social issues in an interdisciplinary manner, is a great asset. In this age of rapid scientific and technological advancement, people's dignity and happiness tend to be lost sight of. That is precisely why it is important to uphold the ideal of respecting humanity. We expect you to contribute to the realization of a better society and play an active role, using the broad perspective you have cultivated at the lush green Toko Campus and Jinka.

You will never grow unless you challenge yourself to do more than you can (Ralph Emerson)

Faculty of Sport Sciences
Hirotaka Matsuoka

"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow (Emerson)." During your university life, you have undoubtedly taken on many challenges that exceeded your abilities. Your growth is a result of that. Just because you have graduated and become working adults does not mean you have to stop challenging yourselves. From now on, please continue to take on new challenges, no matter how small, without setting limits for yourself. And please experience the joy of achieving something again and again. I look forward to your limitless growth.

Sapere aude! (Horace)

Faculty of International Research and Education
Satoshi Inaba

The phrase "Do not be afraid to be wise," spoken by the Roman poet Horace in his epistles, has become the motto of our faculty. Currently, the world is in a state where it is extremely difficult to predict the future, even for a moment. We encourage you to utilize your learning at Waseda University, understand the values of diverse countries, and, as individuals living on this planet, go beyond your own preferences and proactively put into practice what you believe is good for society. We look forward to you meeting many different people, engaging in lively discussions, believing in your own potential and the potential of your peers, and becoming active leaders who contribute to the world.

Beautiful, like the chance encounter of a sewing machine and a bat umbrella on a dissection table (Lautreamont)

Principal of Art and Architecture School
Katsuhiro Miyamoto

This is a famous line from Lautreamont's "The Songs of Maldoror." This attitude of finding beauty in the encounter of disparate elements had a great influence on the Surrealists. This applies not only to the world of art, but also to the landscapes that surround us. Aren't we more drawn to strange intersections and topography that have formed by chance than to cities that are completely planned? The same is true of life. Often, rich insights are found in unexpected encounters with the outside world. I hope you too will forge a rich life by encountering the outside world.