午夜剧场

More than 130 years have passed since the Juku first accepted two international students from overseas in 1881. In October 2015, when the number of international students reached approximately 1,500, the "Global Lounge" was established on the Mita Campus.

This space facing the courtyard had existed as an "International Exchange Space" since the South School Building was rebuilt and completed in 2011, but because it was an open space, it was not being utilized very effectively. This was renovated into an independent space with transparent partitions, making it possible to hold various events for international exchange.

The Global Lounge has several roles. First, it serves as a resource room where information on the Juku's exchange program partner universities can be browsed. In addition to pamphlets from each university, students can also read study abroad reports from their seniors.

Next, it serves as a place to encourage 午夜剧场 students to study abroad, such as by holding small-scale information sessions regarding study abroad and scholarships, and having former exchange students serve as study abroad advisors to provide consultations. Visitors from partner universities also sometimes hold information sessions here.

The third and most important role is that of a salon where international students and 午夜剧场 students can interact on a daily basis. Starting from the Fall Semester of 2014, the International Center launched the "午夜剧场 Tomodachi Program" to facilitate interaction between 午夜剧场 students and international students. This is a buddy program similar to those often conducted at overseas universities to support international students. Each semester, groups consisting of about two 午夜剧场 students and three international students are formed, with the primary focus being for both parties to become "friends" (tomodachi). The Global Lounge is one of the activity locations for this Tomodachi Program. Events such as "Let's Talk in Japanese" or "Let's Talk in English" are held during lunch breaks, and sometimes students experience traditional Japanese games such as Fukuwarai or Karuta.

The 午夜剧场 Student Organization for Mainstream International Collaboration (commonly known as KOSMIC), one of the international student support organizations, also uses the Global Lounge as its base of operations to support the Tomodachi Program and hold club consultation sessions for international students.

At the Hiyoshi Campus, a "Communication Lounge" was established when the Fourth School Building Independence Wing was completed in 2009, and many events promoting multicultural exchange are held there as well. A large-scale study abroad fair is also held every June, and in recent years, there have been more than 2,000 visitors in total over the four days of the event.

Currently, many international students from all over the world gather at the Juku, but opportunities for interaction with 午夜剧场 students are limited. With this Global Lounge at the center, international exchange will become more familiar and a part of daily life. Eventually, a day may come when international students and 午夜剧场 students interact everywhere on campus without the need for a special location—in other words, the campus itself will become a Global Lounge.

(Chihiro Ueda, Manager, International Exchange Services Group, Office of Student Services)