Exchange Students from US Reunite at Waseda after 30 years
Mon, May 12, 2014-
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On April 14, a group of exchange students from California State University reunited at Waseda after 30 years. The alums shared fond memories and navigated the intervening changes on the campus. They were met by Takako Kazaoka, CSU’s representative at Waseda, who assisted the program then as now.
In 1984, nineteen students from a half-dozen CSU campuses came to study at Waseda University. Led by CSU professor John Allyn, the students had Japanese lessons each day along with film, art, women’s literature, comparative religion and many other courses, taking advantage of Waseda’s huge variety of offerings. Field trips as far as the Kansai region and daily life with their local Japanese host families made for a rich experience and countless memories.
The alums named many factors which influenced their decision to study in Japan. Some were Japanese majors with special interest in the language, while others had an economic focus, spurred by Japan’s expanded profile during the Bubble years. Events such as the purchase by Japanese investors of New York’s landmark Rockefeller Center were national news and made a huge impact on American consciousness.
After their year-long study abroad experience, many of the students maintained connections to Japan. Two members went on to work for Japanese banks, others for trading companies, travel agencies, film studios, duty free shops and media outlets, while another used her knowledge at the US Treasury Dept. Several have lived for years in Japan since then and married Japanese spouses.
The group clearly displayed its enduring Waseda spirit, carrying a reunion banner and wearing custom-made caps embroidered with the Waseda emblem. With three previous reunions already under their belts, they are now starting discussions about another visit in 2020.
The CSU-Waseda exchange relationship has been a fruitful one, with over 600 students participating from CSU since 1980 and almost 400 from Waseda since 1996. In recent years an average of 46 students enrich their education and tie the countries closer together through study abroad with this program each year.
1984-85 CSU at Waseda reunion group
(L-R) Takako Kazaoka, Sharon Taguma, Theresa Garcia, Jon Nordeen, Ken Perry, Eric Kent, Joe Salvemini (guest), Wing Leung, Mike Okamura, Catherine Grennan. (Not pictured: Jim Reilly)
