Waseda University (Tokyo)

Waseda University (早稲田大学). A private research university in Shinjuku, Tokyo founded in 1882 by the fifth Prime Minister of Japan.

Waseda is organized into 36 departments: 13 undergraduate schools and 23 graduate schools. As of 2023, there are 38,776 undergraduate students and 8,490 graduate students. The central campus is in Shinjuku.

Waseda University has the highest entrance examination difficulty level among private universities in Japan.

Notable alumni: Haruki Murakami, Tadashi Yanai, Zhou Enlai, Chiune Sugihara

Waseda’s main rival, especially in baseball, is Keio University, also located in Tokyo.

Waseda’s International Division (Kokusaibu). Experiencing Japan in the classroom, in the homes of host families, around the city and across the country, this program attracts students from around the world. Jim Luce graduated from this program during his junior year abroad.

See: Exploring Tradition: Journey Through Japanese Tea Culture (May 15, 2024)