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This photo was taken after the performance held at the Okuma Memorial Hall on April 25th, with the eight core members responsible for the overall planning and operation of the performance. The author is the fourth person from the right.

"Student Reports" are a series of reports from Waseda students, sharing glimpses of campus life where diverse people gather and learn in various ways, along with their own insights and growth. This time, Toyoda, who served as the overall coordinator, reports on "Waseda Joint Welcome Performance RIDE2026" , held in April 2026!

For new students, it can be a starting point for imagining what their university life will be like.

"Waseda Joint Welcome Performance RIDE2026" Overall Director
Momoko Toyoda, 3rd year School of Culture, Media and Society

The Waseda Joint Welcome Performance RIDE (hereinafter referred to as RIDE) is a joint performance where performance student club from Waseda University come together to welcome new students. In 2026, "Aozora RIDE," an outdoor event open to the public, was held on April 3rd and 13th, and the main performance, featuring more groups, was held on April 25th at the Okuma Memorial Hall.

The performers include a wide range of performance student club, such as cheerleading, dance, musicals, juggling, and Japanese taiko drumming, with approximately 40 groups participating this year. Rather than simply showcasing highly polished performances, the event prioritizes the perspective of new students, aiming to naturally convey "what kind of atmosphere this club has" and "what kind of university life awaits you if you join this student club."

For example, we use social media to share information that new students want to know (such as the atmosphere, appeal, and frequency of practice sessions of student club). Furthermore, our performances feature opening and closing performances where diverse groups come together in one space. We've made efforts to help new students feel closer to the sense of unity that is a key appeal of Waseda's student club, which arises from the overlapping of different student club.

The overall concept behind RIDE is "Ride the Waseda Wave." The aim is to involve new students in the "wave" created by the immense energy of Waseda culture, and for the performers and organizers to work together to create that wave, which will become the momentum for their university life starting from here. Furthermore, the theme for 2026 is "Your Way of Blooming is Limitless." Waseda is a place where people with diverse personalities and values come together, and where everyone can "bloom" in their own way. This theme embodies the hope that each new students will take their own step and shine in their own unique way.

I served as the overall coordinator for RIDE2026 from December 2025. My main job as coordinator was to oversee the entire project, ensuring that each section—including planning, public relations, external relations, production, and organizational support—could perform to the best of their abilities and bring it all together into a single stage production. I wasn't just responsible for managing the progress; I made sure to maintain a clear vision of "what kind of performance we wanted to create" and share that vision with all the members.

This is a photo of the eight RIDE organizing members taken during the "Blue Sky RIDE" event. RIDE is apparently composed of members from various groups, including the Broadcasting Club, Advertising Club, WASEDASAI organizing staff (all officially recognized student club), and performance student club. The fourth person from the right is the author.

Furthermore, RIDE goes beyond just performances, providing multifaceted support for new students choosing student club through social media outreach and various projects. In 2026, they launched new initiatives such as creating an official website and a "Performer Diagnosis" tool. The "Performer Diagnosis" is content that helps students find performance student club that suit their personality and interests, and was created in cooperation with the Advertising Research Club. They are creating a system that allows new students to find a place that suits them, both on stage and online.

The "Performer Diagnosis" on the RIDE2026 website.

I myself belong to the Waseda University jazz dance student club Oasis (an officially recognized student club) and have been active as a performer on stage. However, this time, I worked behind the scenes as part of the management for the first time, and I witnessed firsthand just how many people are involved and how seriously they are committed to creating a single performance from scratch. Not only the performers, but also the RIDE staff who prepare the stage, the staff who manage the Okuma Memorial Hall, and the audience who come to see the performance—the responsibility and feelings of all these people come together to finally make a single stage a reality. I was able to truly feel this from the perspective of being on the management side and from the position of overseeing the whole picture, and I was able to feel once again firsthand the brilliance that is born from the sincerity and passion of Waseda.

In my closing remarks at this performance, I conveyed my thoughts as the overall director.

I hope that RIDE will be an opportunity for new students to think about "how they want to flourish during their university life." And I hope that the emotions evoked by this performance will become a source of gentle encouragement at some point in their university life.

A group photo of all the members of the groups that performed in this show.

[Waseda Joint Welcome Performance RIDE2026]
X: @waseda_ride
Instagram: @waseda_ride2026
Website: RIDE2026