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"The more proactively you act, the wider your world and network of connections will become."

Mei Takahashi, graduate of School of International Liberal Studies, March 2026.

At the 1st floor Building 11 Waseda Campus

Mei Takahashi, who was once active as a child actress in the entertainment industry, including serving as an MC on the NHK E Tele children's program "Shakiin!", has entered the entertainment industry, her roots, after studying at School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) and studying abroad. We spoke with Takahashi, who says she wants to "spread Japanese values more globally," about her experiences as a child actress, the values and ways of thinking she gained from her two studies abroad, and her future prospects.

—What led you to start working as a child actor?

I started acting when I was five years old. It was during the child actor boom when Mana Ashida and Fuku Suzuki were breaking through, and my mother took me to an audition for an entertainment agency, which is how it all began. I read lines and acted there, passed the audition, and worked as a child actor for about 10 years until I was 15. Because I started at a young age, I wasn't aware that I was being filmed by a camera and seen by many people. I've always had a fearless personality, so I didn't get nervous.

Takahashi (far right) when she was a second-year junior high school student working as a child actress. This photo was taken when she co-starred with Aki Yashiro (center) on the set of "Shakiin!".

—Could you tell us why you chose to attend Waseda University's School of International Liberal Studies?

At Entrance Ceremony, with a friend (Takahashi is on the right)

When I was in my first year of high school, I studied abroad in California, USA for a year, and that enjoyable experience made me strongly want to study abroad again and live in a different place. What made me decide to choose Waseda was watching videos of campus life posted on YouTube by SILS seniors. I was very attracted to seeing students from diverse backgrounds communicating with each other so easily, and I longed for that vibrant student life. Also, my desire to improve my English skills to a level that would be useful in the workplace was another reason why I decided to attend SILS.

The four years I actually spent at the university were even more enjoyable than I had imagined! SILS students often spend time in the lounge in Building 11, so it was easy to connect with many people, including students who weren't taking the same classes as me.

—What did you learn through your study abroad experience?

I studied abroad twice, once in my first year of high school and again in my second year of university. My first experience in California was particularly valuable because it allowed me to understand how Japan is perceived around the world. In that region, the impression of "Japan = popular anime and manga" was widespread, so I was treated favorably simply because I was Japanese. People asked me all sorts of questions about Japan, so I felt like I was representing Japan.

Because of that experience, I had high expectations for my study abroad experience at university, thinking, "I'm going to have fun and make it fulfilling again." However, what I realized in Montreal, Canada, where I was studying abroad, was the reality that I wasn't someone who would be warmly welcomed everywhere. Since it was a French-speaking region, the culture was different from that of America, and even when I spoke to shop staff in English, they would reply in French, and classes that were supposed to be taught in English would suddenly turn into French classes, so I strongly felt the language barrier... It was an experience that made me realize that it's not all fun and games.

However, this experience proved useful during my job search. I had seriously considered working abroad, but it allowed me to think about my career goals—such as whether I could live overseas and where I wanted to live in the future—with greater clarity. My two study abroad experiences abroad fostered a sense of pride in Japan and a desire to revitalize the country, which led me to want to work hard for a Japanese company and give back to the nation.

Photo on the left: A picture taken during a face mask party at the dormitory while studying abroad in the US as a first-year high school student (Takahashi is the third person from the left). She says that living in a dormitory with students of various nationalities was a great experience as she learned about cultural differences.
Photo on the right: A photo taken during a trip to Banff, a tourist destination in the Rocky Mountains, with Korean friends during a study abroad program in Canada while in her second year of university (Takahashi is second from the left).

—What have you focused on throughout your student life?

My English skills are primarily focused on language learning. When I entered university, my English was only at a conversational level, and I hadn't acquired any academic vocabulary or business English at all. However, I studied intensely through class discussions and assignments such as writing about four long essays per semester. As a result, by the time of my job search, I had improved to the point where I could give a presentation in English to the CEO during an internship at a foreign company and participate in the Q&A session. I also took Korean as my second foreign language, and I've reached a conversational level in that language as well.

I also traveled abroad a lot with my university friends. Many people at SILS travel abroad frequently, and long stays during summer vacation and other extended breaks are the norm. Influenced by those around me, I visited many countries, including South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. One particularly memorable experience was visiting the home of a friend with Israeli roots. Although Israel has a reputation for being unsafe, I think being able to visit countries that you wouldn't normally be able to go to on a regular trip was only possible because I was at SILS.

Through these experiences, I feel like I've gained a truly diverse range of perspectives. For example, when talking about relationships, it's common to say "partner" instead of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend," there are cultures where showering every day isn't a daily habit, and people call their parents every day to say "I love you." By being exposed to diverse values in various countries, I naturally came to understand that "my own common sense and Japanese common sense are not absolute."

Photo on the left: A picture taken in Salamanca, Spain, when I was a second-year university student.
Photo on the right: With friends at Angkor Wat in Cambodia during her fourth year of university (Takahashi is on the far left).

—What are your goals for the future?

Takahashi-san giving an interview at Building 11 on Waseda Campus

My goal is to expand Japanese entertainment globally, generate revenue, and enrich and revitalize Japan economically! At the heart of this is my experience studying abroad. Living overseas made me love Japan even more, and strengthened my desire to spread Japanese values globally. I considered how I could best contribute by utilizing my abilities to the fullest in the field where I could work hardest. That's when I decided to combine the excitement I've felt for entertainment since my days as a child actor with the English skills and global perspective I cultivated during my studies abroad, and work to deliver Japanese content to the world.

--Finally, please give us a message for Waseda students.

What I consider especially important during university life is balance. In the first half of my university life, I freely expanded my social circle like a typical university student, traveled the world with my SILS friends, and basically had as much fun as I could. Because I felt I had done everything I wanted to do, when it came time for job hunting, I was able to switch gears and give it my all. At Waseda, I think the more proactive you are, the wider your world and network of connections will become. Student life is said to be the time when you have the most time in your life, so I hope you will jump into various places and broaden your world.

920th

Interview and text by: Waseda Weekly Reporter SJC Student Staff)
Yuki Matsumoto, 3rd year student, School of Commerce
Photography: Kota Nunokawa