Waseda is a big school in Tokyo. 

A man named Okuma started a school in Tokyo. 



Waseda University is a large school in Tokyo, Japan. 

The school has many parts. It has 13 schools for undergraduate students. It also has 23 graduate schools. Many famous people went to Waseda. This includes leaders from Japan and Korea. It also includes founders of big companies like Sony.
The campus has many special places. There is a big building called the Okuma Auditorium. 

Waseda University is a large private school in Tokyo, Japan. 

The school has a long and interesting history. A man named Ōkuma Shigenobu started the school in 1882. He was a famous politician and a former prime minister. At first, the school was called the Tokyo School of Political Economy. It was located in a place called Waseda Village. Later, it was known as the Totsuka School. In 1902, the school officially became Waseda University. It was one of the first private universities in Japan. The school grew by adding new departments over many years. It added literature in 1890 and education in 1903. 
Many famous and successful people have studied at Waseda. This includes eight prime ministers from Japan. It also includes three prime ministers from Korea. Many people who started big companies went here too. These companies include Sony and Samsung. Other famous companies include Uniqlo, CJ, Lotte, and POSCO. Even famous writers have been part of the school. Haruki Murakami is one of these important writers.
The university has many beautiful places on its campuses. The main campus is in the Shinjuku district. There is a famous building called the Ōkuma Auditorium. 
Learning at Waseda connects to many parts of life. The school helps train leaders for the future. It also helps people learn how to run big businesses. Even the school's history shows how much things can change. Much of the campus was destroyed in fires during World War II. However, the university was rebuilt and reopened by 1949. Today, it remains a major center for study and research. It continues to be an important part of Japan's culture.
Waseda University is a major private research university located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. 
The university operates across many different locations. Its central campus is in Shinjuku, which includes the Waseda Campus and the Nishiwaseda Campus. However, Waseda also manages several other campuses. These are located in Chūō, Nishitōkyō, Tokorozawa, Honjō, and Kitakyūshū. Within the main Shinjuku campus, the university also runs 21 different research institutes. These institutes allow students and professors to study very specific scientific and social topics.
Waseda has a long history that began in the late 19th century. It was founded on October 21, 1882, by Ōkuma Shigenobu. 
In its early years, the school focused on a few specific subjects. It started with departments for political science and economics, law, and physical science. Students could also take an English language course regardless of their main subject. The school grew by adding more specialized departments over time. It added literature in 1890 and education in 1903. Later, it added commerce in 1904 and science and engineering in 1908. In 1920, Waseda received formal government recognition as a university. This made it, along with Keio University, one of the first private universities in Japan.
The university has produced many influential leaders and thinkers. Its faculty and alumni include eight prime ministers from Japan. It also includes three prime ministers from Korea. Many founders of famous global companies studied here. These include leaders from Sony, Uniqlo, Samsung, CJ, Lotte, and POSCO. The university is also known for its connection to literature. Famous writers like Haruki Murakami, Yoko Ogawa, and Yoko Tawada are part of its history. 
Some of the university's buildings are very famous and historic. The Ōkuma Auditorium is a major landmark on campus. 

Waseda also manages a massive collection of knowledge through its libraries. The Waseda University Library is one of the largest in Japan. It holds approximately 4.5 million volumes and 46,000 serials. The main library building was completed in 1925. The university also uses the Old Library building to house research libraries and archives. These archives protect historical materials, including items related to Ōkuma Shigenobu. This deep collection of books and records supports the university's role as a leading research institution.
🖼️ Images & Media (6)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.