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Waseda-sai 2024, one of Japan’s biggest and most anticipated university festivals, was a feast for the senses. Bringing together live concerts, food stalls, games, and sports, the campus turned into a lively cultural showcase on November 2nd and 3rd. Art enthusiasts were also in for a treat, with dedicated spaces showcasing student works in painting, calligraphy, and photography, among others.

Alongside the larger festival events, a number of special fine arts exhibitions organized by student groups from the Waseda and Toyama campuses offered a public showcase of artistic talent. Open to the public, the exhibitions welcomed visitors with works that celebrated both tradition and individuality: calligraphy pieces honoring Japanese heritage, paintings offering contemporary perspectives with modern techniques, and photos capturing campus life, Tokyo’s global allure, and the fleeting beauty of everyday moments.

In Strokes

The Waseda University Calligraphy Club, established in 1949, celebrated its 75th anniversary alongside the university festival. To mark this milestone, the club transformed the lounge of Building 3 on Waseda Campus into a calligraphy gallery. The walls were adorned with exquisite calligraphic pieces, each showcasing the mastery and tradition upheld by generations of club members. At the center of the lounge, an open space was dedicated to live workshops, where visitors could observe and participate under the guidance of skilled members trained in various styles, including carving, ink painting, and traditional brush calligraphy.

Fun fact: the late former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi was once a dedicated member!

Calligraphy

Calligraphy

In Hues

Live painting sessions, immersive classroom exhibitions, and exhibition planning were standout features of Kaigakai’s showcase at this year’s Waseda Festival on the Toyama Campus Building 33, room 231. As one of the university’s longest-running art clubs, Kaigakai currently boasts 70 members, primarily second-year students and above, who organized the classroom exhibition in partnership with Wase_Bun, the university’s literary circle. The exhibit featured not only paintings but also intricate illustrations and 3D models—with each piece highlighting the club’s dedication to exploring a range of artistic techniques and media.

The club’s interactive activities were particularly memorable, with live painting sessions taking center stage in the Toyama Campus’ courtyard in front of Building 33. Here, visitors could watch artists bring their ideas to life in real-time, offering a unique glimpse into the creative process. Additionally, Kaigakai’s talk on “How About an Art Exhibition?” guided students through the art of exhibition planning—from conceptualizing themes to curating and arranging them in a gallery space. The talk encouraged members to consider every detail of an exhibition, from layout to the flow of visitors, providing valuable hands-on experience in presenting artwork to the public.

Kaigakai – Memories of a Lost Homeland by Sekiguchi

On the same floor, Biken also presented its own collection. Biken is an intercollegiate art research and creation club officially recognized by Waseda University, and its display featured a diverse range of pieces, including oil paintings, watercolors, digital paintings, acrylics, manga, sewing, Tsumami Zaiku (a traditional Japanese art of fabric folding), and photography. They even had an art sales corner and a merch store right in the gallery, so visitors could pick up pieces to take home and directly support the artists.

Biken – Potrait by Yasuo Kawaguchi

In Photos

The Waseda University Photography Club, one of the university’s oldest official clubs and a leading intercollegiate photography organization in the Kanto region, presented one of the largest exhibitions in its 120-year history at Toyama Campus’ Building 33. With the club welcoming 80 new members, this year’s Waseda Festival Exhibition showcased the combined efforts and talents of both seasoned and new photographers, featuring images mostly captured across campus and in Japan. This extensive display represented the culmination of a year’s dedication and exploration.

Waseda Photography Club – The Day Before the Opening by Tora

Another club joining the festivities at Building 33 was Shadan Charade, also a recognized photography club. Shadan Charade exhibited some of its recent works in its classroom photo exhibition, with photographs honed from its darkroom and creative studio in the Student Hall E224. The featured works were captured by members, primarily second-year students and above.

Shadan Charade Poster

Shadan Charade – Youth, Rebellion, and Escape by Kotaro Yoneshima

Shadan Charade – Noisetalgy by Yasumasa Sekiguchi

In addition to the main fine arts attractions—painting, calligraphy, and photography—Waseda-sai also featured special exhibits showcasing independent films, clay miniatures, dioramas, and Lego art contributed by various university groups. Of course, the festival wouldn’t be complete without its main attractions beyond the arts; it offered live music performances from both well-known bands and talented students, a wide selection of food stalls, thrilling sports events, and many other attractions to delight every visitor.

Waseda-sai 2024 was a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community—a platform for students to showcase their talents, mingle with other people, and explore new ideas across art, music, sports, and more. It was as much a festival of cultural expression as it was of shared experiences, bringing together students, faculty, and visitors in a lively reflection of the Waseda spirit.

This article was written by the following Student Contributor:

Joanna Ligon

Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies