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On September 26th, the entrance ceremony for new undergraduates and graduate students was held at the Waseda Arena. As many who joined us this September are international students, the ceremony was conducted completely in English.
492 new undergraduate students have started their lives at Waseda University! Also, 635 students have entered graduate school in order to further their education and will contribute to the ever-continuing development of higher learning (as of September 26, 2026).

Due to traffic concerns, only incoming students were invited to participate in the ceremonies. A live broadcast was available online for those who were unable to attend in person. 

During the ceremony, Waseda University President Takayuki Homma ​took to the stage to make his address to all incoming students:

On behalf of Waseda University, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the new students who are beginning your studies here today. I would also like to extend my further congratulations to all the parents, guardians, and relatives who have supported you and helped you reach this important milestone.

At today’s ceremony we are delighted to welcome 492 undergraduate students and 635 graduate students to Waseda University. And of that total of 1,127 students, approximately 75% are international students.

I was appointed the 18th president of Waseda University just five days ago, on September 21. Many of the representatives of university leadership here on this stage today, including vice presidents and deans, also took office at the same time. In that sense, today marks a new beginning for all of us. As you begin a new chapter as Waseda students, we too are beginning a new chapter in the leadership of the University. It is a great pleasure to take this first step together with all of you who have gathered here from around the world.

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Finally, I wish to say that a university is a place like no other in our society, a place to meet people and make friends, to gather and learn from one another, inspire each other, and grow as individuals. Although your years at Waseda will form only a small fraction of your lives, I firmly believe and hope that Waseda will remain in your heart no matter where in the world you go after graduation, and you are always welcome to return. Your time here will also give you the strength to reflect on the path you’ve taken and discover the best way forward. I hope you will make the most of your time here. And I look forward to walking alongside you as you begin your life at Waseda.

Once again, I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your admission to Waseda University.

Thank you very much and good luck.

For the full speech of President  Takayuki Homma

After that, Hikomitsu Noji, Executive Chairperson of the Waseda University Alumni Association and External Member of the Board of Trustees, delivered an address to the attendees:

Dear new students, and your families, Welcome to Waseda! Welcome to Japan! Congratulations on your admission. I am truly happy to see students from all over the world joining us today.

I graduated from Waseda’s School of Science and Engineering in 1982, and joined Yokohama Rubber Ｃｏ．Ｌtd．right after graduation. My first job was designing rally and racing tire construction, traveling to circuits around the world and working with many different people. Later, I worked in factories, in Virginia (USA), Shinshiro and Mishima (Japan), and Clark (Philippines), leading productivity improvement and cost reduction activities on the ground. Eventually, I became president of overseas factories, working hard to turn around loss-making companies and make them profitable while collaborating with people from very different cultures.

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At Waseda, please study hard, join clubs, explore Japan, and take action by yourself. Sometimes things will not go well—but that is how you discover new ideas.
Japan has unique customs and traditions. You may feel confused at first. Don’t reject them—try to understand them. Japan has developed its unique culture over more than 2,000 years of history. There is always a reason behind each custom.
Today, ＡＩ can answer almost anything. But don’t rely only on digital tools. Use your five senses. Go to real places, see real things, smell, listen, touch, taste. This is important in research, business, and life.
Analog experience is something only humans can build. It allows you to judge whether digital results—ＡＩ results—are truly correct. Let AI handle tasks that do not require human judgement. But you must check the results and use your Analog Experience to decide whether they are right or wrong.

Once again, congratulations on your admission.
I hope your four years at Waseda enrich your life and help you grow into people who contribute to the world. I look forward to seeing your future.

Thank you very much.

For the full address by Hikomitsu Noji

Entrance Ceremony Photo Album

Complete Recording of the Sept. 26, 2026 Entrance Ceremony