News

On April 16, 2025, a bipartisan group of eight congress members from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives visited Waseda University to engage in dialogue with students. The visit was part of a congressional trip to Japan organized by the Former Members of Congress (FMC), an organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with support from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. This was the second time for a U.S. congressional group to visit Waseda, with a group having visited previously in 2022.  　

On the day of the visit, the students split into eight groups and engaged in direct dialogue with members of the U.S. Congress. During two preliminary meetings, the students pre-selected discussion topics centered on urgent issues facing the U.S. and the world. These topics included democracy, U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific, U.S.-China relations, tariffs, climate change, immigration, drugs and crime, higher education, and women in politics.

Professor Kazuhiko Yokota of the School of Commerce prepared for the visit together with the students taking part in his 2024 International Trade Seminar. Many Japanese and international students from the School of Social Sciences and the Center for International Education’s Global Leadership Fellows Program  also participated in the event and came prepared with questions from a variety of perspectives.

“First, during the introductions at the beginning, I felt that the congress members were very persuasive in the way they spoke and carried themselves. Then, during the discussion, I was impressed by the Republican congress member. Despite being a member of the Republican Party, he voiced concerns over some of Trump’s policies, such as tariffs, and I gained an understanding of the potential challenges of working within a political party. Preparing for and participating in this event gave me a greater appreciation for and interest in American politics and economics, and I hope to apply what I learned in the future.” (Reona Nihongi, Senior, School of Commerce)　

“The U.S. Congress members exuded confidence and answered our questions thoughtfully and in their own words. The Democratic congress member with whom we spoke emphasized the importance of understanding one’s position and communicating one’s opinions. And from the Republican congress member, I learned that even people within the Republican Party have doubts or concerns about President Trump’s policies. With one year left until I enter the workforce, this experience has instilled in me a desire to become someone with a global perspective who can remain firm in their ideals and succeed in a rapidly changing world.” (Kosuke Nomura, Senior, School of Commerce)　

The visiting congress members listened attentively to the students’ questions and provided thoughtful answers, drawing on their experiences in various congressional committees, as well as from their hometowns and home regions across the U.S.

This year’s meeting took place during an exciting and challenging period for current events, including the administration change in the White House and subsequent significant policy shifts, as well as ongoing global conflicts. Having both Democratic and Republican congress members participate in the discussions enabled a more comprehensive understanding of the issues, as each party had a different perspective and approach for each issue. Even after the conclusion of the official discussion, students continued their dialogue with individual congress members, inquiring about future careers and potential internship opportunities in congressional offices.

“My group discussed a variety of topics, such as young people’s interest in politics, work-life balance for congressional members, promoting women in politics, and U.S.-China relations. The congress members answered every question passionately while incorporating their personal experiences. Furthermore, our group was made up of students from a variety of backgrounds, so I was able to understand each issue from many different perspectives. It was an incredibly meaningful experience.” (Lisa Wakai, Junior, School of Commerce).

“With major policy changes already underway in the early stages of the second Trump administration, I found it invaluable to have the opportunity to hear directly from members of the U.S. Congress. They sincerely addressed difficult topics such as visas for foreign students, immigration, and tariffs, and I learned that there is diversity of opinion even within political parties. I realized the importance of dialogue in American politics and its impact and complexity. I hope to apply this knowledge to my future studies and beyond.” (Mahiro KAWAKAMI, Junior, School of Commerce).

Waseda University holds a variety of events featuring international visitors to provide students with educational opportunities.