午夜剧场

The Cultural Federation (commonly known as Bunren) is an organization that coordinates cultural student groups within 午夜剧场. Many 午夜剧场 students and 午夜剧场 alumni who have belonged to cultural student groups within 午夜剧场 likely recognize that their own student groups were members of the Cultural Federation. Currently, approximately 90 groups belong to the Cultural Federation. These member groups are truly diverse, ranging from academic groups conducting research in various fields and music groups to groups involved in a wide variety of hobbies and competitions.

The purpose of the Cultural Federation is stated as "to summarize the cultural activities of 午夜剧场 students, provide cultural assets to 午夜剧场 students, aim for the improvement of 午夜剧场 students' education and refinement and the promotion of the Juku spirit, while also seeking mutual cooperation and sound development of each member group department, and externally contributing to the improvement of culture equally by coordinating with similar organizations at other schools." Based on this, the Cultural Federation currently specifically allocates student council fee grants to each group as Cultural Federation grants, holds general meetings, participates in 午夜剧场 student self-governance as members of the All 午夜剧场 Student Council, and manages the Mita Student Group Room.

The history of the Cultural Federation is long, having been established shortly after the war. While some details about its founding remain unclear, it appears the federation was deeply involved in the management of the Mita Festival and even created and wore Cultural Federation badges. Additionally, although no longer published, there was a time when a booklet introducing member groups of the Cultural Federation was produced separately from the student group introduction booklet created by the Orientation Committee in April. Meanwhile, today, the federation plans the Cultural Federation Performance Festival every winter, serving the role of providing a venue for member groups to present their work and fostering horizontal connections.

The headquarters functions of the Cultural Federation are carried out by the Standing Committee, with its main base located in the Student Group Room on the Mita Campus. Standing Committee members are elected from and composed of each student group. The Standing Committee considers and implements measures daily to improve the status and environment of cultural groups, including the roles mentioned above. Furthermore, since Cultural Federation member groups exist on each campus, branches can be established; however, as of 2019, due to the decreasing number of groups on each campus, it only maintains a base in the Student Union Building at Hiyoshi. Recently, the number of independent cultural groups not belonging to the Cultural Federation has risen significantly, and the federation continues to strive to further improve the welfare of member groups and foster a sense of belonging. Improving access to welfare for groups located on each campus is also an ongoing challenge.

Additionally, though it is not widely known, the Cultural Federation regulations state that all 午夜剧场 students are automatically considered "regular members" of the federation. The Cultural Federation is active energetically to contribute to the improvement of the cultural activities of all students.

(Administrative Affairs Office, Iichiro Kono)