On
November 20, 2001, in an article in the
New York Times about the growing
trade deficit between
Japan and
China, I was surprised to find a quote from a
wasejo regarding the growing importance of
China to
Japan.
Usually you would find a wasejo hanging around Takada No Baba station, hanging out, or drinking in an izakaya or bar: all around just wasting time. Like most good persons of her age group do.
But this above mentioned wasejo is being quoted in the New York Times. She is studying Chinese because she forsees the growing interdependence of the economies of these two great countries and she wants to play a part in it.
A wasejo is a female student of Waseda University. The wasejo name comes from the first 2 kanji for the university plus the on reading for the kanji for woman.
The aidoru/actress/singer Ryoko Hirosue is a proud wasejo.
The current Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Makiko Tanaka, is a proud former wasejo.