[Komae Special Feature Part 1] A modest but perfectly balanced city where you can live! I went undercover to investigate “Komae International House”!

Let's investigate the actual situation of student dormitories through undercover reporting.

The stage this time is Komae's student dormitory and the surrounding streets.I went to Komae about 10 years ago, but I can't remember what it was like at all. . . It's like, ``I remember the name, but I can't remember the face clearly.''

Komae...I don't remember much, but let's go!

Meiji University International Exchange DormitoryKomae International House"I went to.

Communication before interview

First, I made an offer to a photographer (living in Tokyo) who would accompany me on the interview.

Author: I have an interview in Komae next time, would you like to come with me?

Photographer: You can go!Komae is a city in Tokyo that is closer to Chiba Prefecture, right?

Author: No, the opposite!reverse!Rather the west side.

Cameraman: Is that so?that? Was it within the 23rd ward?

Even if you live in Tokyo, people who have no special connection to Komae probably have this perception. I vaguely know that it's in Tokyo, but I don't really know where it is.Komae, is your shadow too thin or is your presence disappearing?

Let's sneak into Komae IH!

■Exterior of Komae International House

"Komae International House"Arrival in.An undeniably stylish appearance.Moreover, there is even a bamboo forest next door!It looks like the exterior of a luxury condominium.

■Entrance

Of course, security is also perfect.

The wall opposite the door also has an elaborate design.

■Entrance hall

We will be greeted by three dormitory residents who will be guiding us this time!

From left: Seishin (3rd year, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, from Nagasaki).Mr. Kita (3rd year, Faculty of Letters, from Kagoshima), and Mr. Matsumoto (4th year, Faculty of Science and Engineering, from Osaka).He welcomed me in a refreshing manner.

From the entrance hall, you can see a very stylish terrace, which I will introduce later.

There are several vacuum cleaners like this in the entrance hall, and you can borrow them if you want to use them.If you live in a dormitory, you don't have to go out of your way to buy a vacuum cleaner.!

Introducing the three people who will be showing us around this time is posted on the wall inside the entrance hall.They are among the dormitory studentsRA (Resident Assistant)It plays the role of activating communication in the dormy.

Hmm?

Do you understand?

Does this dormitory have a technical advisor?

I mean, what does a technical advisor do in a dormitory?

I don't really understand, but as expected of Mr. Dormy.It's so generous that they even have a staff of technical advisors in the dormitory.I've never heard of this in other Dormy dorms.

Interview team: What will this technical advisor do?I mean, Kyoritsu Maintenance (Dormy's operating company) even offers this kind of service.

Matsumoto-san: He is a dormitory student here.Therefore, he is not an employee of Kyoritsu Maintenance, but a student.

I thought he was a mid-level employee.

Mr. Matsumoto: This technical advisory role is also his personal activity.He was also an RA before.

Interview team: Sorry.I thought he was an employee of Kyoritsu Maintenance (a position ranging from section manager to deputy manager/with his own home and family).

Matsumoto: I'm a student (lol).And he's an extremely talented person.

Interview team: I guess so (it seems like there are subordinates)

We parted ways with the technical advisor and explored the dormitory.

■Room

It was said that there was one vacant room, so I decided to have a special look at it.

good!

Not very spacious, but compactA room with all the necessary functions.If you want to use a large space, there is a common space, so I think this is enough for you to spend time alone.

Equipped with bed, curtains, lighting, etc..If you rent an apartment and live alone, such expenses can be quite painful, but if you live in a dormitory, you have them from the beginning!

on the right side of the photoRefrigerator and above itIH cooking heater.

This is also included, so there is no need to purchase anything new!There's a microwave in the dining room, so all you need to prepare is a minimum of cooking utensils!

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Separate bath and toilet.

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Umbrella stands and other subtle storage options are also effective.

Not too spacious and not too narrow, perfect for a college student living alone.“Just the right” living spaceThat's the impression.

■Elevator

Next, I went to the elevator to see the view from the top floor.

"Komae International House" has separate floors for boys and girls.A system where you can only go to the floor where your room is located using the key.It has become.

■Top floor

There is a lot of greenery and the sky is wide!

You can see the open scenery from the top floor.Although you cannot enjoy this view from the lower floors, it is nice to be able to see the lush trees from the windows and hallways.

■Laundry room (for men)

Laundry room for men.You can wash your clothes hereNo need to go out of your way to buy a washing machineThat's the advantage of living in a dormitory.

■Laundry room (for women)

The women's laundry room has a security door.

Inside is like this.

The men's laundry room used to have washing machines and dryers on one side, but the women's laundry room had them on both sides.

■ Garbage station

Trash dump site for dormitory students.You can throw away your trash whenever you want, 24 hours a day.Very convenient.Since the dormitory provides meals, there is no need to prepare meals in your own room, so there is less garbage and there is no odor at all.

Now that I think about it, I remember that when I was a student, a friend of mine who lived alone in an apartment would go out of his way to take out the trash.Being able to throw away the trash whenever I want is a simple but extremely rewarding thing.

■Dining room

Very beautiful restaurant.There is a large TV on the wall, and everyone in the dormitory watches the WBC and World Cup games.You can also study here during times other than meal times.

microwave,toasteris located there, and dormitory residents can use it freely.

There are manga and board games.Regarding the manga, they surveyed dormitory residents and selected the most popular works. Popular manga such as ``Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,'' ``Jujutsu Kaisen,'' ``Chainsaw Man,'' and ``Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare'' are lined up.It was almost entirely dominated by Shueisha's manga, and I was reminded once again of the strength of Shueisha's works.Kodansha's only work is the 6th volume of ``Bossaku Shima Kosaku''.Kosaku Shima seems to be fighting alone as the representative of Kodansha.

■Terrace

Terrace connected to the dining room.It's no longer just a fancy restaurant.Is such a stylish space allowed in a student dormitory?I asked the three people who guided me to sit down.

Be stylish no matter what you do!

I too wanted to spend my university life like this. . .

■Kita-san's room

What is it like for students to actually live there?Kita-san specially allowed me to take pictures inside the room.

Christmas decorations on the desk.Oh, it's almost Christmas time.

And then

"I love Christmas, so I keep Christmas decorations up all year round."

"The rail on this wall is extremely convenient. I like the Takarazuka Revue, so I'm displaying my favorite merchandise there."

She seems to be what is called a ``Zuka fan''.

By the way, Mr. Seishin, who guided me around this time, is an enthusiastic Giants fan, and apparently he has Giants merchandise displayed on this wall.

Takarazuka until the front door.

■Bike storage area

The endbicycle parking spaceWhat.

There is a large bicycle storage area that can accommodate the bicycles of all the residents living here.It seems convenient to have a bicycle, whether it's going to school or going to work.By the way20 minutes door to door to Meiji University's Ikuta campus.You can actually get to Izumi campus in about the same 20 minutes..Apparently there are quite a few people who commute by bicycle.It's good exercise, and you don't have to pay for transportation.If you have a bicycle, the range of your daily activities will be greatly expanded.

Hmm?

When I approached the mysterious object, I saw the ruins of a bicycle.

What should I do···.

Ha! !

Technical advisor!It's an emergency!

I guess I need him at a time like this.

I don't know if he can even fix a bicycle, but he seems willing to give me advice.

In Komae's dormitory, there are other reliable allies besides the dormitory leader and matron.

Summary

Meiji University student dormitoryKomae International House” is a stylish dormitory with a terrace.The private rooms are functional and you can feel almost the same as living alone, but you can also use the common areas, and you can rest assured that your friends from the same university will be living there.In addition, if you have a problem, there is not only the dormitory manager, but also student support called RA, and even a technical advisor.She seems to be graduating from her position as a technical advisor soon, but I'm sure she'll continue to consult with me even after she enters the workforce.

[Komae Special Feature Part 2] What kind of town is “Komae”?I tried eating at a restaurant recommended by a dormitory student.

Continue to.

(Text: Tanaka Bunko/Photograph: Kaihei Akioka/Editor: Yasuhiro Nishi)

*The undergraduate year and content in the article are as of the time of reporting in November 2023.

I want to read it as well

[Komae Special Feature Part 2] What kind of town is “Komae”?I tried eating at a restaurant recommended by a dormitory student.

[Komae Special Feature Part 3] What kind of town is “Komae”? Stroll around town to the other side of the station (south exit area).