Wakeijuku
Wakeijuku (和敬塾) literally meaning A Place to seek Harmony and Respect, is an all male dormitory located in Mejiro ward, Tokyo. Established in 1955 by Kisaku Mayekawa, philanthropist and founder of Mayekawa Manufacturing Company, Wakeijuku has been honored as the proud home of Japan's finest university students for more than forty years. Most notably that of Waseda University which is close by.
Location
Wakeijuku's most attractive point is easily its location. Set in the spacious grounds of a former feudal lord's mansion grounds, Wakeijuku boasts one of the most exclusive and desirable addresses in central Tokyo. Residents simultaneously enjoy convenient access to such major centers of Tokyo as Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ginza, Shibuya, Takadanobaba, and Yurakucho while living in a reclusive natural setting. In contrast to the staggering metropolis of skyscrapers and concrete that is Tokyo, Wakeijuku's grounds contain an abundance of gardens and trees, providing residents a much needed place to recover from the often hectic pace of postmodern life. The Wakeijuku grounds also have tennis, basketball, and soccer facilities and the institution is less than a five-minute walk from two public parks, where one can go for a quiet stroll, picnic with a boxed bento lunch, or just watch the golden carp swimming in the nearby Kanda river.
The Dormitories
Wakeijuku is composed of 5 dormitories, namely East or Higashi (東 ), West or Nishi ( 西), North or Kita (北 ), South or Minami (南 ) and the newer Tatsumi (巽 ) which loosely translates as All Encompassing
Most notable of these 5 dorm buildings is Tatsumi as it serves as the jewel in the crown of the Wakeijuku community and being the newest addition to the four original dorms. It was built to coincide with 50th anniversary of Wakeijuku in 2005 and specifically made to house graduate students and visiting scholars. Occupants are a diverse gathering of Japanese and people from different countries around the world.
Famous Attraction
The most notable landmark in the Wakeijuku grounds is the Old Hosokawa Marquis residence called “The Mansion”, which was built in 1936 built by the 16th Generation of the Hosokawa House. It’s a representative of Official Noble residence in the beginning of the Showa Period. It is based on a British Tudor architectural design and the interior is a mixture of Japanese, Tudor and Saracen designs. In 1955, the entire Hosokawa residence including the Mansion was purchased to make way for the construction of the Wakeijuku dormitories. The Mansion was kept to preserve the cultural heritage and history of the area. Currently it serves as a venue for symposiums, concerts, play and art exhibits and at the same time serves also as residence for visiting guests of Wakeijuku. The mansion is also popular site for tourist and also for Japanese Film Productions as it serves as a set for films which require Showa era or European themed residences.
Trivia:
Wakeijuku is briefly mentioned in Author Haruki Murakami's novel "Norweigian Wood"
Wakeijuku boasts of its roster of famous alumnus which include four former Japanese Prime Ministers, and notable Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
Other famous foreign Alumnus are Tristan Leo Agustin, Julian Suresh Sundaram, Tommy Tabata, Mark Chen and Heung Yui-Kong.