Waseda launches Season 3 of podcast with dollar-dominance episode

Waseda University released Season 3 of its English-language podcast on Sept. 9, 2026, starting with an episode on how the U.S. dollar shapes East Asia’s economy. The series is aimed at international audiences and prospective students interested in Japan-focused research and debate.

Why it matters: - Waseda University is using a student-led podcast to package research on Japan and Asia for a global audience. - The first episode focuses on the U.S. dollar’s role in the financial system, a topic with direct implications for East Asian economies and Japan’s policy choices. - The series is also part of Waseda’s broader effort to reach prospective international students and people considering research or graduate study in Japan.

What happened: - Waseda University released the first episode of Season 3 of its English-language podcast, “Rigorous Research, Real Impact,” on Sept. 9, 2026. - The episode is titled “East Asia in a Dollar-Dominated World.” - Waseda student host Kanon Kurabayashi speaks with Professor Tomoo Kikuchi of the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies. - The full podcast is available free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

The details: - The episode examines the U.S. dollar’s continued dominance of the global financial system and what that means for East Asian economies. - Kurabayashi and Kikuchi discuss why the Renminbi has not yet challenged the dollar’s international role. - They also look at how growing U.S.-China trade tensions and economic competition are reshaping the global economic order. - Kikuchi discusses how Japan can respond to those shifts. - The professor also points to the benefits of studying global economic issues from Japan and at Waseda, citing the university’s connections across Asia and its diverse international academic community. - Season 3 will feature eight Waseda researchers and three student MCs. - Episodes are designed to run about 15 minutes each. - The season will cover Japan’s economy, labor and migration, business in Japan, Japanese culture and AI. - Waseda says the podcast is meant to present academic expertise in accessible conversations about current issues.

Between the lines: - The episode choice signals a deliberate effort to connect abstract global finance topics to East Asia’s political and economic future. - The student-host format suggests Waseda is trying to make research feel more approachable for international listeners. - The lineup and subject mix show the university positioning itself as a source of English-language commentary on Japan-specific issues with global relevance.

What’s next: - Waseda plans to release Episode 2 on Sept. 24, 2026, on Japan’s economic future, aging, AI and automation. - Episode 3 is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2026, and will focus on migration, labor shortages and Japan’s economic future. - Episode 4 is set for Nov. 4, 2026, and will examine sustainable business. - Waseda says later episodes will continue to explore research tied to current social debates and trending news. - The university says the podcast is aimed especially at prospective international students, people considering further study or research in Japan, and listeners seeking new perspectives on Japanese society.