#Japan #Tokyo #Waseda University #English Podcast #Rigorous Research

Waseda University English Podcast: Season 2 Launch

Waseda University, located in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo and headed by President Aihara Tanaka, is excited to announce the launch of the second season of its English-language podcast, "Rigorous Research, Real Impact." Beginning September 23, 2025, this new season will consist of eight episodes which aim to showcase the diverse research pursuits of the university's scholars in social sciences and humanities, while also providing insights into Waseda's English degree programs.

Listeners can enjoy this valuable content for free through various platforms such as smartphone apps, the internet, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

This season features eight knowledgeable researchers who will engage in discussions with doctoral students acting as hosts. These dialogues will reveal recent research projects, experiences in academia at Waseda, and the unique appeal of the university’s English degree programs. Each episode will tackle a wide range of themes, from legendary game designer Hideo Kojima, to territorial disputes in Northeast Asia, and hybrid peacebuilding approaches, all packed into compact 15-minute segments.

This podcast is designed for a broad audience including prospective students contemplating studies at Japanese universities, current students considering further education at the graduate level, and researchers interested in interdisciplinary approaches to academia.

Episode Release Schedule

Episodes will be released bi-weekly. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

• - Episode 1 (Release Date: September 23, 2025):

Muraselon Associate Professor (Graduate School of Human Sciences)
“Translanguaging and Identity: Research in the Japanese Context”

• - Episode 2 (Release Date: October 7, 2025):

Hartzheim-Brian Hikari Associate Professor (Graduate School of International Studies)
“Hideo Kojima and the Art of Game Design”

• - Episode 3 (Release Date: October 21, 2025):

Buh Alexande Professor (Graduate School of International Studies)
“Social Constructed Borders: Territorial Disputes in Northeast Asia”

• - Episode 4 (Release Date: November 4, 2025):

Seddon Jack Associate Professor (Graduate School of Political Economics)
“Market Makers: The Politics of Market Design”

• - Episode 5 (Release Date: November 18, 2025):

Kagawa Megumi Associate Professor (Graduate School of Social Sciences)
“Hybrid Peacebuilding: Local Voices in Conflict Resolution”

• - Episode 6 (Release Date: December 2, 2025):

Pitalcupa Associate Professor (Graduate School of Literature)
(Episode Title TBD)

• - Episode 7 (Release Date: December 16, 2025):

Coredo Alex Professor (Graduate School of Commerce)
(Episode Title TBD)

• - Episode 8 (Release Date: January 13, 2026):

Jeong Yoo-ki Professor (Graduate School of Social Sciences)
(Episode Title TBD)

About Waseda University

Waseda University currently offers English degree programs across six faculties and 15 graduate schools. According to a report by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) in 2024, Waseda has the highest number of international students annually among universities in Japan. Additionally, the QS World University Rankings (by subject) for 2024 indicates that Waseda ranked in the global top 100 in both humanities and arts (overall ranking of 65) and social sciences and management (overall ranking of 99).

For more information, visit the official website of Waseda University and follow them on the podcast platforms mentioned above.