Theme: Looking Through The Kaleidoscope

TEDxWasedaU was founded by the students from School of International Liberal Studies in the fall of 2011. Its goal is to promote TED’s mission, “Ideas Worth Spreading”. As one of the biggest universities in Japan, over the years, Waseda University’s free and dynamic environment has bred leaders of politics, business and literature amongst other fields that have immensely influenced society. Moreover, Waseda University has always been an international university, accepting international students from around the world since its founding in 1882. It is still the university with the most international students in Japan.
TEDxWasedaU was therefore created for these students with diverse background to share and spread their ideas to the world. It is also a good opportunity for them to receive inspiration from others and initiate a new movement by joining forces with people from completely different fields. This exchange between people beyond their domain is what will create the driving force. The next generation needs to be stronger to face and deal with the problems of current society.

Azusa Ono Memorial Hall
1-6-1 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
27th hall, Waseda campus
Tokyo, 169-8050
Japan

Greg Dvorak

Greg Dvorak is an associate professor at Hitotsubashi University, where he focuses on cultural studies and history between the Pacific Islands, Japan, and the United States. As an American who spent his childhood on a US military installation in the Marshall Islands and much of his adult life in Japan, Greg was always curious about the marginalized histories of Marshallese and prewar Japanese communities. His MA and his doctoral work explored these nuanced and contradictory narratives of the Pacific War and the Cold War in Micronesia as they played out in indigenous and colonial representations. With a grant from the Toyota Foundation, in 2010 Greg began Project35 (Project Sango), a grassroots initiative to kindle new non-governmental ties between the Japanese archipelago and its Pacific Island neighborhood. Linking communities through traditional and contemporary arts, Project35 aims to collaborate with Pacific Islanders in overcoming the ravages of the past in pursuit of new, creative solutions to build a peaceful transoceanic community. websites: www.coralproject35.com

Tokuyuki Wada

Wadaichi Co., Ltd. representative, founder. Mr. Wada, after graduating from Sophia University, joined Avex Group, responsible for the management of Koda Kumi and Move, ultimately winning the Golden Rookie Award. In 2005, he aimed for "social contribution in the entertainment", and transitioned his career to engaging in urban development, parks planning of Japanese culture to promote "Made in Japan project". In 2009, he launched the "Friends of Project Green" entertainment×eco education business, founded the Wadaichi corporation through the compilation of his past experiences. Focusing on environmental and emotional education for children, his 'moss ball' project, had various collaborations like that of NHK Broadcasting Corporation's character, 'Domo Kun'. With such activities, participants of moss ball making have reached 5,000 or more within three years and was introduced in "Hanamaru Market" and "King's Brunch" on TBS channel, drawing attention from the Japanese media.

Tohru Sugahara

Smile Researcher and an Emotional Designer. Currently as of 2013, Tohru Sugahara is an invited researcher of Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences, Waseda University. He is specialized in "Research on Mechanism and Creation of Smile with the aim of Sensibility Formation". He is also majored in ' biometric and emotional evaluation' through the use of EMG(electroneuromyography) and ECG(electrocardiogram), as well as human environmental design psychology. Through his idea that a simple smile has a profound effect on our daily lives, he actively runs multiple seminars on the topic, emphasizing the significance of his studies. Like the 'Law of R' of NHN education channel, and 'World Business Highlight' of TX Network, his works have been spotlighted by the Japanese media, for his research on smiles and emotions.

Claire Leppold

Claire is a student from the University of Oregon, currently studying abroad for a year at the School of International Studies at Waseda University. She is deeply interested in anthropology and medicine, and plans to research pediatric cancer after graduation from medical school in the future.

You-yu-bounce

Minoru Arita/ Shoichi Aoyagi/ Tomokazu Sasaki Consisted of vocal, guitar, and bass, You-Yu Bounce is a band created in 2008. Mainly opening concerts in urban live bars, the band also hosts various sponsored events and live activities, participating in charity campaigns, and radio talks.