Located in central Tokyo, Waseda University was founded in 1882 by former prime minister and leading figure in Japan's modernization period, Shigenobu Okuma, as an independent counterweight to the national public institutions. Alumni include seven prime ministers, the current Foreign Affairs and Education Ministers, CEOs of leading companies (Nikon, TOTO, Toshiba, etc), journalists, novelists, movie directors, scientists and Kabuki actors, leaders in every sector of society, symbolizing the variety and diversity Waseda is so proud of.