News

On Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26, 2022, the graduation ceremonies for undergraduates, graduate students and students from the Art and Architecture School were held at the Waseda Arena on Toyama Campus. 

In consideration of the health and safety of all students and their family members, only graduating students were invited to the ceremonies to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection. Besides limiting the number of participants, other coronavirus preventative measures such as splitting the ceremony into numerous installments were utilized for a safe experience. For those who were unable to attend in person, graduation ceremonies were broadcasted online live on YouTube. 

For the academic year 2021, a total of 8,131 undergraduate students graduated from Waseda. Additionally, 1,951 master’s degree students, 508 professional master’s degree students, and 203 doctoral degree students graduated, making for a grand total of 10,819 students embarking from the Waseda community to take on new, exciting challenges! 

The President of Waseda University, Aiji Tanaka, addressed the graduating students at the ceremony.

President’s Address (extract) 

At Waseda, you have learned intellectual resilence and how to use your own brain. In order to do this, it is important to learn from the scholarship of thinkers who have come before us. Scholarship does not provide answers to unknown new problems, but it records how human beings confronted unknown problems in their own day.  By learning about these human efforts, you have gained relevant knowledge at Waseda with which to address new problems yet to arise. 

When I think about the present situation in which Ukrainians are being killed and their human rights are being violated, my feelings of resentment and sorrow are beyond description. However, the one thing I can and should do as an educator is to request you to remember what you have learned at Waseda.

The founder of Waseda University, Mr. Okuma Shigenobu said “Do not think of your own interest, your family’s interest, or the interests of one country or nation, but seek to help humankind.” Okuma emphasized the importance of altruism as well as generosity to others.  Therefore, violating human rights, oppression of the weak, and betraying other people are all against the ideals of the founder of Waseda University. In other words, I sincerely hope that everyone who has studied at Waseda becomes a person who never does anything unethical or something a human being should not do. 

Be confident about what you have learned at Waseda. And be proud of the fact that you completed your studies and your student life at Waseda even during the hardship of the coronavirus pandemic. Even after you graduate, please come back to visit your alma mater. We look forward to seeing you again as you become ever more impressive; and for our part, we strive to make Waseda University an ever more shining alma mater of which you can be proud. 

*The above quote is a translation based on the original Japanese article. 
For the full speech in English prepared by the president himself, click here. 

The Executive Chairman of the Waseda University Alumni Association (WUAA), Akira Mandai, delivered a congratulory message to encourage and welcome the soon-to-be alumni of Waseda.

Congratulatory Speech (extract) 

Those of you graduating from Waseda University today are facing a situation that no one has ever experienced before: a future without answers. At present, the world is not only fighting the novel coronavirus, but we are also amid a time of major political, economic, and social change. We are facing greater future uncertainty. However, it is precisely because we live in such an era that we need individuals who can take on new challenges and be innovative,without being hampered by any preconceived ideas. Waseda University graduates are precisely such individuals. They are active global leaders in their local communities, and as they spread their wings around the world. 

Please apply the intellectual resilience and flexible sensibility that you have developed at Waseda University. Take pride in the fact that you have studied here and demonstrate an enterprising spirit as you move out into the workplace. I urge you to influence and inspire people throughout Japan and all over the world, and make a significant global contribution. 

*The above quote is a translation based on the original Japanese article. 

Additionally, the Azusa Ono Memorial Award ceremony was held to congratulate students and groups with outstanding achievements in the areas of Academic and Sports. There were 6 Academic awards, 17 Sports awards, and 1 Special award given out this year. 

Graduation Album 

Waseda Live

*The actual day live-broadcast of the ceremonies can be watched from the URLs below. 

March 25, 2022 (Fri) Video URL：https://youtu.be/s0AkUA-ed4Q
March 26, 2022 (Sat) Video URL：https://youtu.be/BG-ulgVcHXA

March 25, 2022 (Fri), 1st Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/t6iIcXGIJTM
School of Political Science and Economics, School of Law, Graduate School of Political Science, Graduate School of Economics, Graduate School of Law, Waseda Law School 

March 25, 2022 (Fri), 2nd Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/lpzs7UPaI2k 
School of Commerce, School of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Commerce, Graduate School of Accountancy, Waseda Business School, Graduate School of Social Sciences 

March 25, 2022 (Fri), 3rd Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/MiuUln9HsZ4 
School of Culture, Media and Society, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences 

March 26, 2022 (Sat), 4th Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/mJ4M3ha_hqY
School of Education, School of Human Sciences (including the Online Degree Program), School of Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Graduate School of Sport Sciences 

March 26, 2022 (Sat), 5th Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/66vordIz2BU 
School of International Liberal Studies, Graduate School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies, Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems, Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics, Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies 

March 26, 2022 (Sat), 6th Session
Video URL: https://youtu.be/a-uElomaJEk
School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, School of Art and Architecture School