Toronto Tomonkai

About the Toronto Tomonkai

The Toronto Tomonkai was inaugurated in 1968 and has a history of about 50 years. At present, there are about 40 members including immigrants, expats, students on a study abroad program, and people on a working holiday. We “meet and part” utilizing the ties of Waseda graduates. During the year, we regularly enjoy the New Year party, the end-of-year party held jointly with the Keio Mitakai, hiking in spring and in autumn, having dim sum lunch, and Waseda-Keio golf competitions. Irregularly, we enjoy social gatherings, having gourmet dishes, barbecues, and welcome parties and farewell parties for our members. The Waseda-Keio golf competition is a big traditional event, where we seek to enjoy in a friendly atmosphere with the Keio Mitakai rather than care about winning or losing against each other. However, we still love to win, and last year we won and could enjoy delicious alcoholic drinks.
Akira Tsushima (Graduated in 1971, School of Commerce)

The attractive points of Toronto

Canada has been known throughout its history as a country where immigrants are widely accepted and diversity is respected, and where various cultures coexist. Cultural diversity is a grand concept, but I think the attractive point of Toronto is that we can feel it even in our daily lives. For example, I gave a wrapped-up gift to a person, and the person asked me, “In order to politely receive the gift in your culture, should I open it here now, or should I open it later and enjoy it all on my own?” I was surprised at this question.

In gathering places, people of various backgrounds speak English with a Latino accent, an Indian accent, a French accent, and so on, which can sometimes make their speech difficult to understand. Under such conditions, we patiently listen to each other and try to communicate. Toronto is a very livable city where people are considerate and naturally try to understand each other based on the idea that each of us is another person.
Naoko Mongeon (Graduated in 2003, School of Political Science and Economics)

Message from the Chairperson

I was appointed to be Chairperson of the Toronto Tomonkai in autumn, 2016, and three years have passed since then. Feeling the weight of its 50 years of history, I am hoping to further develop the Tomonkai which has been built by our seniors. I am seeking to make it a group where the members can enjoy the warm feeling brought about from participating in our events.

The Greater Toronto area, which includes the city of Toronto and its surroundings, is one of the largest urban areas in North America with a population of nearly six million. It is rich in nature, has many cultural and art-related events, and in the field of sports, it is an area where we can enjoy watching ice hockey, the sport for which the country is famous, baseball, and basketball. Above all, last year, Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian basketball team in the NBA (men’s professional basketball league in North America), won the NBA Finals, and we were all extremely happy.

I came to Canada as an expat in 1984 and declined a request to come back to the Head Office in my 11th year here. Since then, all my family have enjoyed living in Toronto. The motto of the Tomonkai is “an open, family-friendly Tomonkai.” We truly welcome not only Waseda alumni but also those who have some connection with Waseda.
Akira Tsushima (Graduated in 1971, School of Commerce)

Messages from the Members

When we walk through the bustling streets in Toronto, we can hear many different languages. But when you talk to people in English, everyone’s common language, they will almost always happily engage in a conversation with you. It is certain that this is the most diverse place in Canada, a country which upholds multiculturalism. Different cultures coexist largely maintaining their original form, but at the same time we share the identity that each of us is a Torontonian. This fine balance could be the reason why Toronto is a comfortable place for many people. I am hoping to see what course Toronto will take, reflecting on the past where the indigenous people were disregarded, and exchanging each other’s ideas for the future.
Midori Nakahara (Graduated in 1986, School of Literature)

I came to Toronto with my family in December, 2017. It was extremely cold that winter, especially in the year-end and New-Year season, where we experienced temperatures of below minus 20 degrees Celsius, which led to the cancellation of many count down events on New Year’s Eve. I thought Toronto was a challenging place to live in, but in summer, unlike Japan it is not humid, and we have many sunny days. The city has experienced extremely few disasters and is a comfortable place to live in. For residents, education and medical services are completely free, and for new immigrants, many different government measures and policies are in place. We can say Toronto is one of the most livable cities in the world.
Kozo Kadota(Graduated in 1986, School of Commerce)

The summer in Canada is short, but is the best. We enjoy playing golf, canoeing, camping, barbecues, fishing, and so on in the magnificent natural beauty of the country. Although the temperature falls below freezing point in winter, we can enjoy sports typical for Canada including skiing, snowboarding, skating, curling, ice fishing, and so on.

Under multiethnic and multicultural policies, Canada has increasingly become diverse, having English and French as its common languages. As such, unlike in other countries, foreigners living in Canada almost never feel that they are actually foreigners. Many expats who love Canada feel sad to receive an order to return to Japan, and cry in the airports. Those who love Canada and become permanent residents are always full of energy. Canada is a country which teaches you how to live as a human.
Yoshinori Nakamura (Graduated in 1995, School of Commerce)

I graduated from Waseda and joined a company, which eventually sent me to Toronto, Canada, a city located in the eastern part of North America, as an expat. Two years have already passed since then. Before I came to Toronto, I visited the Okuma auditorium, and looking over it, I was somewhat worried that I would miss Japan. But that turned out to be a groundless concern. I found in the Tomonkai the stimuli I had received during my student days and the warmth coming from having a drink with the Waseda alumni seniors. I am encouraged by seeing my hot-blooded seniors with the Waseda spirit playing active roles not only in Toronto but in many countries around the world. Please come to visit Toronto and the Toronto Tomonkai.
Takafumi Yamada (Graduated in 2011, School of Education)

Covered in Waseda Gakuho, February 2020 Issue

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