Waseda University cordially invites the media to the official opening of its new Nakano International Community Plaza.

On Tuesday, April 8, Waseda will hold an official opening event, with invited guests including Fast Retailing Chairman Tadashi Yanai (1971 Waseda Politics & Economics graduate) and other major contributors to the Plaza project.  

As widely reported, construction of Nakano International Community Plaza, Waseda University's new center for global leadership development and lifelong learning, was completed on March 6, and the WISH international student dormitory and Nakano Extension Center have already begun operations.  

Time:  Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 16:00-17:20

Place:  Waseda University Nakano International Plaza Nakano 4-chome 22-3, Nakano-ku 10-min walk from JR Nakano Station (North Gate)  

Attendance

Invited guests: Tadashi Yanai (Fast Retailing Chairman), Ronald Chao* (Novel Enterprises Vice Chairman), Masaaki Ogino (Fenix Group Chairman), Shinichiro Watari (Cornes & Company Chairman), others

Waseda University: President Kaoru Kamata, Vice President for International Affairs Katsuichi Uchida, Executive Director for Student Affairs Nobuyuki Kamiya, others

Events

Part One: Ribbon Cutting (at Plaza's South entrance)

Part Two: Mixer for Invited Guests and Student Residents (inside WISH dormitory)  

* Profile of Ronald Chao:

Vice Chairman of Novel Enterprises Ltd, Mr Chao studied at University of Tokyo's Engineering department from 1958-1962.  He credits living in a dormitory together with Japanese and other Asian students with allowing him to make many lifelong friendships.  Fifty years later, he has committed to help improve relations between Japan and China by supporting opportunities for young people to live together.  His personal gift of 100 million yuan (JPY1.3 billion) will help create Sino-Japanese Youth Centers, dormitories for Japanese and Chinese students at Waseda and five affiliated universities: Peking, Tsinghua, Zhejiang, Shanghai Jiaotong and Fudan.  

Notes

(1)Ceremonies will be conducted in Japanese.

(2)Please wear your firm's armband. Media passes are available

      at Check In (15:30-16:00).  There will be no admittance without

      a Media Pass, so please arrive on time.  

(3)Parking not provided.

(4)Mr Yanai plans to leave at 17:00.

(5)Some students will be available for short interviews after the Mixer.

(6)Dormitory rooms are the students' private space. Visitors are only

      allowed in the International Youth Lounge area.

Inquiries: Waseda University Office of Information & Public Relations  (Mr Marshall)  

Waseda University is a leading institution in Japan, founded in 1882 with three principles: independence of academia, practical application of knowledge, and the shaping of good citizens; with the ultimate aim of producing leaders. Waseda has stayed true to these ideals, educating seven prime ministers and countless other politicians, business leaders, journalists, diplomats, scholars, scientists, inventors, actors, writers and artists.

Waseda's history and tradition is to tirelessly challenge convention, in favor of progress and innovation.  By its 150th anniversary in 2032, the University has committed to expanding its leadership in Asia and around the world.