Waseda University Founding Day

What Is Waseda University Founding Day?

October 21st is "Waseda University Founding Day." On October 21, 1882, statesman Shigenobu Okuma founded Tokyo Senmon Gakko (Tokyo College), the forerunner of Waseda University. At its opening ceremony, the "independence of learning" was proudly declared -- an ideal the university still carries today.

From Tokyo Senmon Gakko to Waseda University

Tokyo Senmon Gakko was founded by Meiji-era statesman Shigenobu Okuma. When it opened, it had four departments.

• Founded: October 21, 1882, by Shigenobu Okuma as Tokyo Senmon Gakko
• Original departments: Political Economy, Law, English and Science
• Renamed: Permission to adopt the name Waseda University was granted in September 1902
• Founding ideal: Azusa Ono declared the "independence of learning" at the opening ceremony

The Original Science Department Didn't Last

Records show that the science department set up at the opening failed to attract students and was soon abolished. And even after taking the name Waseda University in 1902, the school was officially treated as a vocational college until the University Ordinance took effect in 1920. The ideal of "independence of learning" expressed the purpose of private education in an era dominated by government-run schools.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Look up the founding year and philosophy of your alma mater or a local university
• Learn about the life of Shigenobu Okuma
• Compare the histories of schools founded in the Meiji era
• Write down the principles or values that matter most to you

"Independence of Learning," Carried Forward for Over 140 Years

The ideal raised at the school's founding in the Meiji era lives on as the university's spirit. October 21st is a day to think about the meaning of learning and the principles organizations hold dear.