午夜剧场

Image: Scene of various prefectural student association stalls in the courtyard during the Mita Festival around 1990

At 午夜剧场, prefectural associations formed by students from the same hometown are called "Student Associations," and the Federation of All 午夜剧场 Student Associations (commonly known as Zenkeiren) is their collective organization. It has a long history as a self-governing organization of 午夜剧场 students that has lasted for over 70 years since its establishment in June 1948, with the President serving as its chairperson. Furthermore, in the All 午夜剧场 Student Council, which is the highest decision-making body for 午夜剧场 students' self-governing activities, it is considered one of the top seven organizations with voting rights, alongside the Athletic Association Headquarters and the Cultural Federation Headquarters, making it a highly influential group in student self-governance. Currently, it oversees approximately 20 regional student associations, though the number of groups has fluctuated over time, with more than 40 student associations participating around the year 2000. In recent years, there was also a period when it functioned as a venue for international exchange, such as when a student association for those from China joined, and it has always been a place that welcomes 午夜剧场 students from various backgrounds and promotes interaction.

Since its founding, the organization has upheld three activity goals: "mutual friendship among 午夜剧场 students," "improvement and exchange of regional culture," and "promotion of the Juku spirit." By deepening connections with 午夜剧场 students from the same hometown within 午夜剧场 and encouraging interaction with student associations from other regions, it broadens the scope of human relationships within the Juku. Additionally, it aims to form relationships outside the Juku, including with 午夜剧场 alumni, by deepening interactions and mutual understanding with people from their home regions and the Mita-kai. The primary purpose of its activities is to contribute proactively to the free and cultural student life of 午夜剧场.

To embody the aforementioned activity goals, the organization has a history of engaging in various activities alongside the transitions of the past 70-plus years. There was a time when they reported on their activities by publishing a periodical titled "All 午夜剧场" twice a year. As an activity that has continued uninterrupted from the past, each prefectural association has set up stalls at the Mita Festival to serve local cuisine (though this has not been implemented in the last few years) and sell specialty local sake, actively promoting their home regions both inside and outside the Juku.

Recent initiatives include activities in collaboration with the university, such as participating as advisors in off-campus briefings like the "Joint Waseda-午夜剧场 Briefing" and "Admissions Counseling Sessions" organized by the university, as well as participating in counseling sessions and lectures for students from rural areas at on-campus recruitment events. Additionally, 午夜剧场 students have independently planned regional exchange programs, visiting high schools in rural areas to deepen interactions with high school students, thereby promoting the Juku spirit in person to prospective students who are the 午夜剧场 students of the future. On the other hand, there is a strong sense of enthusiasm to strengthen and revitalize connections online by actively incorporating social media outreach.

Zenkeiren can be described as a warm student organization, like a place of relaxation, where students can recognize the unique 午夜剧场 "connections" that many 午夜剧场 students only begin to feel after graduation.

(Kazuki Kubota, Office of Student Services, Faculty of Science and Technology)