#Japan #Tokyo #Waseda University #Journalism Award #Media Excellence

Waseda University Announces Finalists for 25th Journalism Award

Waseda University, located in the heart of Shinjuku, Tokyo, has revealed the finalists for the 25th Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Waseda Journalism Award. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to journalism, honoring those who have made significant impacts in the field.

This year’s selection process was rigorous, with the judging panel carefully reviewing 144 entries submitted between April 15 and May 31, 2025. The announcement of the winners will take place in mid-November 2025, followed by an awards ceremony scheduled for December 4, 2025.

The Finalists

Twelve remarkable works have been selected, showcasing a diverse array of topics and media forms:

1. "66°33′N: What the Arctic Teaches Us About the Future"
- Candidate: Ryota Idei, Jiji Press, Arctic Project Team Leader
- Published by: Jiji.com and various contract newspapers.

2. "A New World Map for Immigrants and Refugees: 1000 Days of Shift from Ukraine"
- Candidate: Yusuke Murayama
- Published by: Shinchosha (book).

3. "NHK Special Investigative Report: The Darkness of Child Abuse and Child Pornography"
- Candidate: Haruka Nikaido, NHK Special Team Leader
- Published by: NHK General Television.

4. "ETV Special: Fake and Real, The Truth About the Kurds"
- Candidate: Yohei Oguro, NHK ETV Special Team Leader
- Published by: NHK E-Television.

5. "NHK Special: The Path to 'One Million Special Attackers' - A Record of Life and Death of 4000 Members"
- Candidate: Takayuki Oshima
- Published by: NHK General.

6. "Holding a Hoe: Questions from the Manchurian Development"
- Candidate: Ryuichi Shimada, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun
- Published by: Serial in Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, then published as a book in September 2024.

7. "80 Years Since the Bombing: Hiroshima Documents"
- Candidate: Kohei Okada, Chugoku Shimbun
- Published by: Chugoku Shimbun and its digital platform.

8. "Final Bastion: Criminal Justice and Re-trial Reporting on the Hakamada Case"
- Candidate: Akihiro Sato, Final Bastion Team Leader
- Published by: Shizuoka Shimbun, Shizuoka Shimbun Digital.

9. "Confessions of a Police Officer: Questioning the Kagoshima Police Information Leak Incident"
- Candidate: Yoshitaka Shimotsu, Kagoshima TV Reporting Team
- Published by: Kagoshima TV Broadcasting.

10. "Campaign Reporting Surrounding the Hyogo Governor's Election - SNS and the Spread of Defamation"
- Candidate: Kensuke Murase, TBS TV
- Published by: 'News Special' Team.

11. "Noto Democracy Movie"
- Candidate: Yukio Iokigaito
- Published by: Theatrical Release, showing in multiple cinemas nationally.

12. "Sinking into Tsushima Sea"
- Candidate: Shinno Sato
- Published by: Shueisha book.

Importance of the Award

Since its inception in 2000, the Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Waseda Journalism Award aims to nurture journalists who are aware of their social responsibilities and to promote a free and open environment for public discourse. The award emphasizes contributions to public service, grassroots democracy, and cultural contribution across three different categories.

Each category winner will receive a certificate, a commemorative medal, and cash prizes of 500,000 yen for the main award and 100,000 yen for encouragement awards. The winners will also be invited to share their insights and experiences with aspiring journalists from Waseda University, contributing to the educational mission rooted in the university's legacy.

For more information, visit the official website.