Brisbane Tomonkai

About the Brisbane Tomonkai

The Brisbane Tomonkai was established in 2013 and four full years have passed since then. At present, we have about twenty members which include expatriates and students on a study abroad program. Our main activities are holding gatherings including welcome and farewell parties, and recently we have added to our events joint gatherings with the alumni associations of Keio University and Doshisha University in Brisbane to provide more opportunities for exchanges.

In the future, we are hoping to make the Brisbane Tomonkai more active by promoting exchanges through the Tomonkai by holding golf competitions and events with Australians who have experienced studying at Waseda.
Norihiko Morita (Graduated in 1992, School of Political Science and Economics)

The attractive points of Brisbane

Until very recently, Brisbane was a largish rural town, however, the town changed considerably with many skyscrapers having been built for the last few years. Now, there is an increasing number of stores and restaurants familiar to Japanese people including Mos Burger, Uniqlo, and Daiso. Australia has always been a multicultural country. Recently the number of immigrants from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East has increased, and food culture here seems to become even more diverse. The rise in land prices, excessive supply of apartments due to the increase in the number of immigrants and people moving to Brisbane from other states, and subdividing of land are some of the typical housing problems in urban areas. Even so, I think Brisbane is still not as crowded as big cities like Sydney or Melbourne.

Needless to say, the attractive points of Brisbane are the mild climate with 300 sunny days per year, and the facilities to enjoy outdoor activities which can be seen throughout the city. There are parks with facilities for barbecue everywhere, and sidewalks and bike paths are provided along the river. On the Brisbane River which surrounds the city, small ferries for commuting and sightseeing come and go. Many people here are easy-going. There is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can enjoy patting koalas and kangaroos. A city where a marriage of city and countryside is realized – that is Brisbane.
Hiroyuki Kano (Graduated in 1991, School of Law, Graduated in 1995, Graduate School of Law master’s degree program)

Message from the Chairperson

Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia with a population of about two million. It is the capital of the state of Queensland, and the latitude of Brisbane is almost the same as that of Okinawa. The climate is mild here which makes the city a comfortable place to live in, and a thriving resource industry supports its economy.

Men and women of all ages who happened to meet each other in this city as members of the Tomonkai gather three to four times a year and enjoy having a drink under the flag of the Tomonkai. Many of our members are expatriates, and we regret to admit that many members return to Japan after four to five years. Although the members “change from year to year, Meet and part with youth’s delight,” we are eager to invite students on a study abroad program and people who immigrated to Australia to participate in our Tomonkai.
Yuji Hayashida (Graduated in 1981, School of Law)

Messages from the Members

Brisbane is a heaven for people who love sports as it is filled with nature. I tried a full marathon race and 75-kilometer bike racing. I have also tried bodyboarding, trail running, and surfing although I am already 45 years old. Enjoying your family life and your job will be impossible without a healthy body. I would like to invite current Waseda students and Waseda alumni to come to visit Brisbane where you can enjoy a healthy life.
Koichiro Kimura (Graduated in 1994, School of Political Science and Economics)

About two and a half years have passed since I was transferred here. I am taking advantage of the mild climate and the vast natural areas here to fully enjoy bicycle racing and triathlon, which are my hobbies. There is a triathlon race called IRONMAN where we swim 3.8 kilometers, ride a bicycle for 180.2 kilometers and run 42.2 kilometers (226.2 kilometers in all). If we consider Waseda to be the starting point, the race is like swimming in the Kanda River until you reach Suidobashi, riding a bicycle from there to the prefectural office building of Shizuoka, and then running a full marathon. Luckily, last year I won a title called AWA (All World Athlete) granted to those who were high in the world ranking list within their age group. I am grateful for the great practicing environment Brisbane provides.
Tatsuro Norimoto (Graduated in 2005, School of Political Science and Economics)

If you say you want to eat something delicious in Australia, you are highly likely to be taken to a steakhouse. The state of Queensland is famous for beef because about half of the beef produced in Australia comes from this state. Not only the grain-fed beef raised on local wheat and barley, but also the grass-fed beef is recommended, because it is good for health as it is low in fat. They are both delicious! When you visit the Gold Coast for sightseeing, why don’t you enjoy some delicious steak by making a little side trip to Brisbane which is about a one-hour drive from there?
Kenji Kumoi (Graduated in 2007, School of Political Science and Economics)

I was transferred to Brisbane in 2015. Usually, I work as a financial analyst using financial modeling. In order to test the skills I had acquired here, I took part in the ModelOff World Championships, a global financial modeling competition, at the end of 2016. Surprisingly, I was invited to London as one of the top 15 who won in the preliminary round out of more than 4,000 analysts from all over the world. Although I could not make it to the top 3 to receive a prize, the extraordinary tension I felt which is difficult to explain in words was a great experience. I will try again in the next Championships and look forward to going to the next venue, New York!
Sho Yoshimura (Graduated in 2010, School of Science and Engineering)

I have lived in Brisbane since the middle of 2016 as an expatriate. I am temporarily transferred to a company that imports and sells one-ton pickup trucks and SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles), and am working every day surrounded by Aussies and other colleagues of various nationalities. In Australia, one-ton pickup trucks are called by a nickname, “UTE”, (Utility Vehicle) and are used for various purposes. Of course, I also own a UTE, which is actively doing its job including taking me to shopping places and golf courses!
Marina Sugano (Graduated in 2011, School of Law)

Covered in Waseda Gakuho, October 2017 Issue

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