News

Following the success of the first season of its English language podcast “Rigorous Research, Real Impact,” Waseda University will be launching season two on September 23, 2025 (Tue). The eight-episode season will continue to broadly showcase the diverse work of Waseda University social sciences and humanities researchers while also introducing the English-degree programs they teach in. “Rigorous Research, Real Impact” is available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

MC Fabian recording with Associate Professor Brian Hikari Hartzheim at the Waseda International House of Literature (Haruki Murakami Library)

Season two will feature eight knowledgeable Waseda researchers casually conversing with Waseda PhD students about their recent, rigorously conducted research in the humanities/social sciences, their thoughts on working in Japan at Waseda, and the merits of the English-based degree programs they are a part of. Short 15-minutes episodes will cover a range of themes that include legendary game designer Hideo Kojima, territorial disputes in Northeast Asia, and hybrid peacebuilding. It’s the perfect choice for international listeners considering attending university in Japan, current students contemplating further study in graduate school, and researchers looking to make the move to Japan and work for a university that stresses the importance of interdisciplinary approaches.

“Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact”

○Apple Podcasts
○Spotify
○Amazon Music
○YouTube
○Waseda University Website

Episode Release Schedule

One episode released every two weeks.
   *Please note the schedule is subject to change.

■Episode 1 (Release date: 2025/09/23): 
  Associate Professor Theron Muller (Faculty of Human Sciences)—
          “Translanguaging and Identity: Research in the Japanese Context”

■Episode 2 (Release date: 2025/10/7): 
  Associate Professor Brian Hikari Hartzheim (Faculty of International Research and   Education)—
          “Hideo Kojima and the Art of Game Design”

■Episode 3 (Release date: 2025/10/21):
  Professor Alexander Bukh (Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies)—
          “Social Constructed Borders: Territorial Disputes in Northeast Asia”

■Episode 4 (Release date: 2025/11/04): 
  Associate Professor Jack Seddon (Faculty of Political Science and Economics)—
          “Market Makers: The Politics of Market Design”

■Episode 5 (Release date: 2025/11/18): 
  Associate Professor Megumi Kagawa (Faculty of Social Sciences)—
          “Hybrid Peacebuilding: Local Voices in Conflict Resolution”

■Episode 6 (Release date: 2025/12/2):
  Associate Professor Pau Pitarch (Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences)—
          Episode Title TBD

■Episode 7 (Release date: 2025/12/16): 
  Professor Alex Coad (Faculty of Commerce)—
          Episode Title TBD

■Episode 8 (Release date: 2026/1/13):
  Professor Jung Yuhee (Faculty of Social Sciences)—
          Episode Title TBD