News

On December 10, Waseda University held its 2015 Waseda Journalism Award ceremony. Following a ceremonial address from University President Kamata, the selection committee awarded three main prizes and one honorable mention award to four recipients for their exceptional achievements in the field of journalism.

Around 130 people including media related personnel, colleagues of recipients, aspiring journalists, and Waseda students attended the ceremony. Selection committee representative Satoshi Kamata offered commentary and attendees listened intently as recipients and related personnel delivered passionate speeches.

Recipients

Main Award

• Tsuyoshi Arakaki (Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper) for his work on Okinawa’s right of self-determination
• Keiko Horikawa for her book “原爆供養塔～忘れられた遺骨の７０年～” (unofficial translation: “Atomic Bomb Memorial Tower – Ruins Forgotten for 70 Years”)
• Park Yu-ha (Sejong University) for her book “Comfort Women of the Empire: The Battle over Colonial Rule and Memory”

Honorable Mention Award

• Motoya Takakura (NHK) for his work on the NHK Special “水爆実験60年目の真実～ヒロシマが迫る“埋もれた被ばく”～” which investigates the effects of the United States government’s nuclear bomb tests at Bikini Atoll

Ceremonial address from University President Kamata

Waseda University established the Waseda Journalism Award in memory of Ishibashi Tanzan in 2000. Today marks the fifteenth award ceremony. I am incredibly happy to see so many of you, including many young people gathered here today. Applicants submitted 117 works for this year’s selection. I would like to congratulate this year’s winners and thank the selection committee for their hard work.

Ishibashi Tanzan was Waseda’s first graduate to become prime minister. In the pre-war era, he was an opponent of colonialism and imperialism and resisted GHQ oppression after the war. Ishibashi embodied independent journalism and is a role model for today’s aspiring journalists. He is truly a spiritual pillar for the University. In today’s world where anybody can easily access and transmit information, the lines differentiating rumor, propaganda, entertainment, and journalism have become less clear, which is why Ishibashi’s form of journalism is so important. I look forward to seeing the rise of more journalists that embody Ishibashi’s ideals.

This year’s recipients produced great works under difficult circumstances, and thoroughly addressed regional issues. These exceptional works force us to reevaluate Japanese journalism and journalism around the world.

I would like to pay utmost respect to today’s recipients and I hope these awards will open doors to even greater opportunities.

Selection committee representative Satoshi Kamata

It has been fifteen years since Waseda University established the Waseda Journalism Award. The selection process has grown more and more difficult but I believe this is a good thing. People often say that journalism has worsened over the years, but based on our submissions, I can say it is alive and well. The Waseda Journalism Award not only considers printed works, but also movies and television productions, photo albums, and more. The submission and consideration of various types of journalistic works is what makes the Waseda Journalism Award unique.

The Waseda Journalism Award abides to three principles: pacifism, small country ideals (although Japan is now attempting to overturn these principles), and a critical spirit. I believe these three principles embody the ideals of journalism. We selected two books for this year’s awards. We rarely select books because few applicants submit them. However, the two books we selected this year are a sign of more book submissions to come, which means more work for the selection committee.