Qatar Tomonkai

About the Qatar Tomonkai

Qatar Tomonkai, which was established in 2016, celebrated its 8th anniversary this year. Although small in size, with only approximately 15 members, including embassy officials, expatriates, and their families, the group has built strong friendships by hosting member gatherings three or four times per year and holding Waseda-Keio golf competitions. There is a long history of relations between Japan and Qatar. Indeed, Japan has had a presence in Qatar ever since the country began exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). The two countries have a strong relationship of trust and friendship, and 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Therefore, going forward, Waseda alumni are expected to play active roles in energy-related and other fields.
Takeshi Murazawa（Graduated in 1991, School of Law）

The attractive points of Qatar

Qatar is located near the middle of the Persian Gulf and borders Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar is similar in size to Akita Prefecture and has a population of approximately 3 million people (about 10 percent of whom are Qataris). It is one of the world’s largest producers of LNG, a main driver of the country’s economy. Qatar maintains connections with countries and groups with which Western countries have difficulty establishing direct channels of dialogue, such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Hamas. This places the small country of Qatar in a unique position as an international mediator. Qatar has hosted many international sports events, such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It has also promoted a national strategy intended to develop sports tourism as a major industry alongside LNG. One of the attractions of the country for expatriates is the feeling of dynamism related to international politics, the economy, and events; of a sense of responsibility and accomplishment from time to time by being part of this dynamism. There is always a feeling of tension associated with geopolitical risks unique to the Middle East region. Temperatures rise to 50 degrees Celsius in mid-summer, and the rules for daily life in Qatar are stricter than in neighboring countries. The streets are very quiet during Ramadan, and the number of Japanese restaurants is limited. Consequently, there are many hardships in everyday life. However, Doha, the capital of Qatar, is a highly convenient and accessible city with political and economic centers and venues concentrated in a single open space. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the city’s compact design provided easy access to various stadiums, allowing people to watch multiple games on the same day. In addition to the World Cup, there are many opportunities to interact with athletes participating in various sports events, and people can enjoy watching performances by world-class athletes at a close distance. Unlike the neighboring city of Dubai, which suffers from chronic traffic congestion, Doha benefits from relatively ample space management due to large-scale infrastructure development. The Japanese Society in Doha is small, with approximately 150 members. They have strong bonds with each other and try to enjoy their lives in Qatar.
Mamoru Takahashi（Graduated in 1996, School of Political Science and Economics）

Message from the Chairperson

It has already been 30 years since I graduated. Talking with alumni from different generations in Qatar, a Middle Eastern country far away from Japan, makes me feel a strong connection to the university. I also have connections with members of the Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies at Waseda University, who visits us occasionally, as well as with Qataris who graduated from the university. These days, I feel a stronger identification with Waseda as an alumnus, the strongest I have felt since graduation.

In the summer, the temperature reaches 50 degrees, and it is very humid; therefore, it is almost impossible to walk outside. (Nevertheless, I sometimes feel cold in certain rooms due to the air conditioning, and in that sense, it is more comfortable than in Japan.) The weather is mild during the short winter, and we can watch Japanese athletes participating in various sports events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup, at a close distance. This has been the best part of my expatriate life here in Qatar.

Japan Airlines started operating direct flights between Tokyo (Haneda) and Doha on March 31, 2024, and therefore, we have better access to Japan, and more Waseda alumni have joined us. I expect that many people will come to Qatar to take advantage of this opportunity.
Yukio Mafune（Graduated in 1994, School of Law）

Messages from the Members

Qatar is not a “Northwest of the Capital” but a country west of Japan. Many people might not have known about the country before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Under the leadership of Chairperson Mafune, members of all generations gather and contribute to the operation of the Qatar Tomonkai. Qatar is a desert country with extremely hot summers and unexpectedly cold winters. It is also a nice and safe country where families can live with peace of mind.
Tomohiro Kakiuchi （Graduated in 1993, School of Science and Engineering）

Qatar is a country that I had little interest in until my husband was transferred there. However, I unexpectedly came to enjoy this world that I would not have known in Japan. For example, I appreciate the country’s devout Muslim culture, the camels in the desert, the harmony between Arabic coffee and dates, the sauna-like outside temperatures that rise to nearly 50 degrees, and the people from many different countries. Here in Qatar, there are Tomonkai events and Waseda-Keio gatherings, which bring back memories from my school days. This is also fun for me.
Yukiko Takata（Graduated in 1998, School of Literature Ⅰ）

In October 2023, I was transferred to Doha. My first drinking party in the country was at the Qatar Tomonkai. Before the party, I hadn’t talked about being a graduate of Waseda University for several years. However, while at the party, we discussed how we would win in a friendly golf competition against Keio’s alumni association in Qatar called Mita-kai, which was scheduled for the next month. That night, while talking about our respective memories, I felt united with men and women from various generations that I had just met for the first time, and I felt a strange sense of unity. It was not bad at all. It was fun for no reason. I couldn’t stop drinking cold beer. It is a story from one hot night.
Yasuharu Honami（Graduated in 2000, School of Science and Engineering, Graduated with a master’s degree in 2002, Graduate School of Science and Engineering）

Qatar and Waseda University have many things in common, such as the maroon flag of Qatar and the dark red flag of Waseda University, a spirit of rudeness that cannot be affected by anything, a strong unity among members who get things done when they have to, and a sense of pride. That probably makes Qatar Tomonkai the largest faction in the Japanese Society in Doha.
Yasuhiro Mochida（Graduated in 2007, School of Law）

In Qatar, a country distant from Japan, only 150 people belong to the local Japanese Society, and Tomonkai is the largest alumni association in the country. We regularly gather and talk with each other. We sometimes sing the alma mater song to enhance our sense of unity. I came to like my old school more after I came to Qatar, and I am happy that I am a Waseda graduate.
Ayumu Nakayama（Graduated in 2013, School of Education, Graduated with a master’s degree in 2015, Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering）

With our senior alumni, we discuss the future of Japan and Qatar and sing the Waseda cheer song “Konpeki no Sora” (“Deep Blue Sky”) loudly, putting our arms around each other’s shoulders. In the rapidly growing country of Qatar, we, as a husband and a wife, are both proud of being able to raise the Tomonkai flag.
Ryo Nakajima（Graduated in 2016, School of Social Sciences）
Natsuko Nakajima（Graduated in 2017, School of Education）

I belonged to the Cheerleading Club when I was a student at Waseda University, and we were asked by various Tomonkai associations to perform for them. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find out that Tomonkai exists in Qatar. It has been about one and a half years since I was transferred to the country. I am proud to have been able to raise our dark red flag in this Middle Eastern country while thinking about Waseda University and forming emotional connections with other alumni. It encourages me.
Erina Yoshino（Graduated in 2021, School of Political Science and Economics）

Covered in Waseda Gakuho, August 2024 Issue

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