In the early winter of last year, I visited Waseda University for the first time.
The moment I stepped onto the campus, I was greeted by rows of golden ginkgo trees.
The contrast between the bright yellow leaves and the deep green scenery created a warm and lively atmosphere.
Waseda felt brighter and freer than I had imagined, and in the faces of its students, I could sense a quiet confidence in their own paths.
I have been interested in photography and video for many years.
Since middle school, I have been part of the school’s video club, capturing moments of everyday life with my camera.
During sports activities or school trips, every time I pressed the shutter, the emotions of those moments stayed with me.
I found it fascinating that photographs could convey people’s expressions and stories.
When one of my photos was published in a school magazine recently, I felt proud knowing that an image I captured could become part of someone’s warm memory.
When I visited Kamakura, I was deeply impressed by Japan’s traditional culture.
The neatly stacked sake barrels in front of the shrine left a strong impression.
Seeing a scene I had only known from animation in real life felt magical.
As I took photos, I realized that culture naturally lives within people’s daily lives, even across time.
Through these experiences, I came to believe that “recording” is not merely capturing an image—it is a language that connects people and society.
When I visited Waseda again, I found that its campus, with its long history, was full of stories.
As a student who dreams of majoring in media, I wanted to see how a university becomes a place where new content and ideas are created.
All around the campus were posters for student projects, notices for broadcasting clubs, and flyers for student-produced video events.
The entire university felt like one big production studio.
I want to explore this perspective more deeply in university.
Waseda, to me, is not just a place to learn technical skills, but a place to observe the world and express human stories through art.
This visit gave me a firm conviction: if one photo I take can reach someone’s heart, that is exactly what I want to do in life.
Someday, I hope to capture the world through my own lens at Waseda University and tell its stories through film.
— Shin Hongjun, Intern Reporter
Tokyo Korean School
October 17, 2025
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