On a warm Sunday afternoon, March 1, 2026, a meetup celebrating Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary was held in Nakano, Tokyo, organized by the Wikimedians of Japan User Group. Participants came from not only the Tokyo area but also Western Japan, and nearly 50 people enjoyed a fun and fulfilling time together.

First, Associate Professor Masao Takaku of the University of Tsukuba‘s Faculty of Library, Information and Media Science spoke about Wikipedia’s history and future. Takaku began writing articles for the Japanese Wikipedia from its early stages, and has been involved in various aspects of its development throughout his research career. The Q&A session covered a wide range of topics, including the changing perception of “encyclopedias,” his involvement with Wikidata, and the significance of the Wikimedia movement.

Lightning talk

Next, ten participants gave lightning talks.…