Tokyo’s Waseda University Promises ¥100,000 to Every Student in Response to COVID-19
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CONTENTS
This Japanese university’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak is shocking and confusing the general public.
Governments around the world have recently made moves to support citizens financially during the COVID-19 outbreak, with temporary payments of varying sums of money. The latest news from Japan is that some parts of the country are now starting the process of delivering the Japanese government's promised ¥100,000 to every citizen. In Tokyo, however, a different sort of establishment has announced that they're taking on a similar project.
Waseda University
Waseda University (早稲田大学) is a historic private research university founded in 1882, right in the middle of Tokyo, and now consistently ranked as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. On April 24th the institution made an official announcement on their website, saying that in light of the outbreak of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, they would be offering "emergency support" (緊急支援) to every single one of their students.
The Details of the Financial Support
The university started the announcement by declaring that the support would total 500 million yen, even including the sum in the page's title, and went on to clarify that the money was just one of the moves they would be making, in addition to lending students computers and portable wifi devices needed for online courses, and promising extra financial aid to students whose families were experiencing particular financial difficulties.
Getting into the details for the emergency support payment, Waseda explained that not only was every one of their (40,000+) undergraduate students eligible to receive the money, but every single Waseda student would in fact be eligible. That includes Waseda preparatory middle and high schools, and their school of the arts. Any Waseda student would be able to apply for the 100,000 yen payment.
Confusion & Frustration
While students and their families were of course pleased to hear this news in the middle of difficult times, confusion quickly followed, and the general public ran to Twitter to voice their grievances.
総額5億∧1人10万→5000人に配布
早稲田の在学生は5万超あれれ？？？？？？？？？？
— マスクド・早稲田 (@masked_waseda) April 24, 2020
Twitter user @masked_waseda writes:
Waseda's current enrollment exceeds 50,000 students.
Wait what??????????
早稲田が10万くれるらしいけど
全員にくれるの？
奨学金貰ってる人だけなの？
全員だったら総額5億円じゃ済まないよね？ pic.twitter.com/f6lIvaPG87— Re~na (@momoichigo817) April 24, 2020
The frustration was palpable, with users like @momoichigo817 sharing clear confusion over the lack of clarity, writing:
but are they giving it to everybody?
Is it just for students with scholarships?
If it's everybody, a total of 500 million yen wouldn't be enough, right?
【早稲田の5億円のつくり方】
理系学部生170万円/年×4年間×75人=5.1億円75人(小さめの1学科)の学部生が4年間に納める学費くらい。
5億円は、たった75人の学費で賄える。
学費が高すぎるんだわ。#早稲田 #10万 pic.twitter.com/BQlMSJp4mH
— くわい やすゆき (@kvydm) April 26, 2020
But the first two tweets didn't voice the only dissatisfaction spreading on twitter. User @kvydm pointed out that the promised 500 million yen total was basically a drop in the bucket for an extremely prestigious private university like Waseda, writing:
Science major tuition 1.7 million yen/year x 4 years x 75 students = 510 million yen
It's about as much as 75 students (one small specialization) will pay in tuition over the course of their 4 year undergraduate degree.
They can gather 500 million yen from just 75 people.
Tuition is way too high.
#waseda #100,000yen
Like the other Twitter users, @kvydm also followed up their own tweet by commenting how 500 million yen wouldn't be nearly enough for every Waseda student, adding "At least 90% of students won't receive the payment. Everybody, open your eyes."
How will Waseda resolve the situation?
As of yet, Waseda hasn't made any official announcements since the original post concerning their responses to COVID-19 on April 24th. But their 50,000+ student body waits in anticipation, unsure of what this flawed calculation could mean for each and every one of them. The Japankuru team will certainly be joining them, checking Waseda University's official website for any updates in the coming days!
Tell us what you think of this news, and any other recent news you've heard concerning Japan, on the official Japankuru twitter, instagram, and facebook!
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Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!
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Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!
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Akita Prefecture is on the Sea of Japan, in the northern reaches of Japan's northern Tohoku region. Akita has more officially registered important intangible culture assets than anywhere else in Japan, and to this day visitors can experience traditional culture throughout the prefecture, from the Oga Peninsula's Namahage (registered with UNESCO as a part of Japan's intangible cultural heritage), to the Tohoku top 3 Kanto Festival. Mysterious little spots like the Oyu Stone Circle Site and Ryu no Atama (Dragon's Head) are also worth a visit!
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Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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