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Waseda University Co-op Organization Committee Book Portal Student Staff
Yuri Yoshida, 4th year student,​ ​School of Social Sciences

At the Co-op Book Center on the first basement floor Building 17 Waseda Campus

Students participate in activities that enhance the value of the university while studying on campus, or they work in such activities. What kind of students are involved in "student participation/student jobs," which play such an important role at the university, and how are they involved? This time, we introduce the daily life of Yoshida, a fourth-year student in School of Social Sciences a member of the Waseda University Co-op Organization Committee "Book Portal," which works to encourage Waseda students to enjoy reading.

Q. How did you get started?

I've always enjoyed reading, and I found Book Portal when I was looking for a book-related organization during the freshman orientation in my first year of university. When I visited, they were preparing for a talk show featuring Chisato Abe (who completed her Master's degree Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences in 2017), known for the "Yatagarasu Series." Seeing the senior members discussing how to convey the joy of reading to Waseda students, I decided to join because I wanted to be a part of expanding the circle of readers.

Q. What kind of activities do you do?

Our goal is to encourage Waseda University students to develop a love for books. We organize events themed around books and reading and hold book selection fairs at the university's bookstore. In addition, we promote the university's "Reading Marathon," organized by the university where students post their impressions of books they've read online under the slogan "Read 100 books in your four years of university!" We also hold book exchange meetings, reading groups, and bookstore visits among our members. We have 36 members, and our activities are held about once or twice a week, usually during free periods on weekdays, with members coordinating their schedules to meet.

Photo on the left: A scene from the "Bibliobattle" held in the summer of 2025. Participants bring books they would like to recommend, and the winner is chosen based on which book they would most like to read.
Photo on the right: Once a week, members share their recommended books with each other.

Q. Please share your thoughts on the experience.

I feel that being able to be deeply involved with the Waseda University Co-op (hereinafter referred to as the Co-op) was an extremely valuable experience. For example, when we held a book fair exhibition at the Co-op, they procured the books we selected from publishers, and every single one of our projects was only made possible thanks to the cooperation of the Co-op staff. In the process of realizing our projects together with the staff who supported us by supplementing our lack of knowledge, experience, and connections as students, I feel that I learned what it means to work in society.

This is a photo taken during an exhibition of Shion Miura's work (graduated from School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I in 1999) at a fair shelf in the Co-op Book Center in the winter of 2024.

Q. What strategies do you use to balance multiple things, such as academics?

At Book Portal, members coordinate their free time between classes to set activity days. Therefore, activities often take place during the 5th and 6th periods on weekdays and on weekends. Since academics and personal schedules are generally prioritized, members who are free gather for in-person activities, and important information is shared separately via chat or other means for those who cannot attend.

Q. Please tell us about your future aspirations and the challenges you plan to take on.

I served as the executive director of Book Portal from the winter of my second year of university to the winter of my third year, and I am currently active as a member. I hope to use my experience as an  executive director to support younger members in areas such as how to proceed with projects. Until I graduate from university, my goal as a member of Book Portal is to help as many Waseda University students as possible have wonderful encounters with books.

How she spends her week when classes are in session

A typical week's schedule for hosting an event. I'm balancing Book Portal activities with classes and job hunting.

[Book Portal]
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Website: https://www.wcoop.ne.jp/bookportal/index.html