News

Toward the End of Autumn Semester and Winter Quarter

January 16, 2022

Dear Students of Waseda University,

We are approaching the end of this semester/quarter. This time of year is very important for you as it determines whether or not you will graduate or move up to the next class. We sincerely hope that all of you will keep in good health, successfully complete your final exams and papers, and will advance without problem.

Unfortunately, the omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading very fast now. The number of students who are infected is increasing rapidly, and the number of new infections in Japan is increasing even faster. If the number of infected students keeps increasing, our ability to hold final exams may be adversely affected.

Therefore, I must strongly ask you to protect yourselves from being infected, and to regulate your behavior accordingly. Although in late December we decided to allow dinners with a small number of friends, we now have to alter this decision. Please refrain from having lunches or dinners with your friends until we inform you that you may safely do so. I feel very sorry to ask you again to show restraint, but it is necessary so that you can graduate or advance to the next year successfully. We ask you to be patient.

Even more importantly, you may have to keep yourself apart from others if you feel that you are infected or when you have had close contact with someone who is infected. We are still discussing what you should do when you face such a situation. Please stay tuned for further notice from the University on Monday, the 17th. We may have to ask you to stay at your home, apartment or dormitory room if you face such a situation.

All of us sincerely hope that you will graduate or advance to the next class at the end of March. Good luck!

Best wishes,
Aiji Tanaka
President, Waseda University