This Japanese university’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak is shocking and confusing the general public.

Governments around the world have recently made moves to support citizens financially during the COVID-19 outbreak, with temporary payments of varying sums of money. The latest news from Japan is that some parts of the country are now starting the process of delivering the Japanese government's promised ¥100,000 to every citizen. In Tokyo, however, a different sort of establishment has announced that they're taking on a similar project.

Waseda University

Waseda University (早稲田大学) is a historic private research university founded in 1882, right in the middle of Tokyo, and now consistently ranked as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. On April 24th the institution made an official announcement on their website, saying that in light of the outbreak of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, they would be offering "emergency support" (緊急支援) to every single one of their students.

The Details of the Financial Support

The university started the announcement by declaring that the support would total 500 million yen, even including the sum in the page's title, and went on to clarify that the money was just one of the moves they would be making, in addition to lending students computers and portable wifi devices needed for online courses, and promising extra financial aid to students whose families were experiencing particular financial difficulties.

Getting into the details for the emergency support payment, Waseda explained that not only was every one of their (40,000+) undergraduate students eligible to receive the money, but every single Waseda student would in fact be eligible. That includes Waseda preparatory middle and high schools, and their school of the arts. Any Waseda student would be able to apply for the 100,000 yen payment.

Confusion & Frustration

While students and their families were of course pleased to hear this news in the middle of difficult times, confusion quickly followed, and the general public ran to Twitter to voice their grievances.

総額5億∧1人10万→5000人に配布
早稲田の在学生は5万超

あれれ？？？？？？？？？？

— マスクド・早稲田 (@masked_waseda) April 24, 2020

Twitter user @masked_waseda writes:

早稲田が10万くれるらしいけど
全員にくれるの？
奨学金貰ってる人だけなの？
全員だったら総額5億円じゃ済まないよね？ pic.twitter.com/f6lIvaPG87

— Re~na (@momoichigo817) April 24, 2020

The frustration was palpable, with users like @momoichigo817 sharing clear confusion over the lack of clarity, writing:

【早稲田の5億円のつくり方】
理系学部生170万円/年×4年間×75人=5.1億円

75人(小さめの1学科)の学部生が4年間に納める学費くらい。

5億円は、たった75人の学費で賄える。

学費が高すぎるんだわ。#早稲田 #10万 pic.twitter.com/BQlMSJp4mH

— くわい やすゆき (@kvydm) April 26, 2020

But the first two tweets didn't voice the only dissatisfaction spreading on twitter. User @kvydm pointed out that the promised 500 million yen total was basically a drop in the bucket for an extremely prestigious private university like Waseda, writing:
 

Like the other Twitter users, @kvydm also followed up their own tweet by commenting how 500 million yen wouldn't be nearly enough for every Waseda student, adding "At least 90% of students won't receive the payment. Everybody, open your eyes."

How will Waseda resolve the situation?

As of yet, Waseda hasn't made any official announcements since the original post concerning their responses to COVID-19 on April 24th. But their 50,000+ student body waits in anticipation, unsure of what this flawed calculation could mean for each and every one of them. The Japankuru team will certainly be joining them, checking Waseda University's official website for any updates in the coming days!

Tell us what you think of this news, and any other recent news you've heard concerning Japan, on the official Japankuru twitter, instagram, and facebook!