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Waseda as a postwar university
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Waseda as a postwar university

Mon, Sep 14, 2015
Waseda as a postwar university
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Waseda University Archives
Daisuke Hoshihara

Waseda University’s Theatre Museum following US bomb raids

During the war, US bomb raids destroyed approximately one third of Waseda University’s buildings. Classes resumed one month after the war and a series of education, legal, and administrative reforms followed suit. The reforms integrated the University, high school, vocational schools, and instructor training schools and turned the University’s academic programs into four-year curriculums. In 1949, the Japanese government recognized Waseda University as a “new university” in accordance with postwar guidelines after the University met criteria established by education reforms.

With Waseda’s recognition as a postwar university came efforts to unify the traditions, independence, and spirit of the University. At an anniversary ceremony, sixth University President Koichi Shimada said, “While acknowledging the mission of postwar universities, I would like to preserve the academic traditions of Waseda and its 70 year history, and promote the ideals and spirit of founder Shigenobu Okuma. For example, we have revised the university principles established in 1913, but the only phrase we removed was one that was incompatible with Japan’s new constitution.”

The eleven schools that resulted from the integration of Waseda’s original undergraduate and graduate schools reflect the above sentiment. One example is “The School of Education,” the only one of its kind among private universities at that time. The School of Education is the successor to Waseda’s higher normal school, a prewar school that trained male teachers, and was established to train educators and education administrators. Another example is Waseda’s night school. Amidst the economic and social instability of postwar Japan, Waseda strived to provide working students a place to pursue research and education. Waseda’s long held principle of providing education opportunities to working students remains strong to this day.

Waseda in the Showa period

Waseda University’s legacy of undergoing various reforms to meet societal demands while preserving its principles and ideals extends to this day.


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