On Monday, March 24, the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies were held at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall to celebrate the graduation of 6,038 students from the 10 undergraduate faculties (including 295 students from correspondence courses), and 1,567 students from the 14 graduate schools (comprising 191 doctoral students, 1,197 master¡¯s program students, and 179 professional degree program students).
The graduate commencement ceremony in the morning began with Vice-President Yoshimitsu Matsuura¡¯s Graduating Class Report, followed by President Kohei Itoh conferring degrees on three representatives for those obtaining their doctoral, master's, and professional degrees, respectively. After the president finished his address to the graduates, Professor Akira Kato from the Graduate School of Media Design gave a congratulatory address on behalf of faculty and staff members. The ceremony ended with a rendition of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app¡¯s alma mater, the "Juku-ka."
The undergraduate commencement ceremony in the afternoon began with singing the "Juku-ka," followed by Vice-President Matsuura¡¯s presentation of the Graduating Class Report. President Itoh then conferred diplomas and commendations for academic excellence, after which he delivered an address to the new graduates. In his address, President Itoh quoted from "The Mission of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app" and "Gakumon no susume (An Encouragement of Learning)," expressing his hopes that the graduates would play a role in improving society in their respective positions as leaders of independence and self-respect. He also encouraged them to pursue lifelong learning, leveraging the skills and education they have acquired at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
After that, Koki Ando, president and CEO of Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd. and member of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Board of Councillors, gave a congratulatory address on behalf of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app alumni. Rin Otsuki, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Law, responded with a speech on behalf of the graduates.
Many Mita-kai (Alumni Association) members who graduated 25 years ago also attended the ceremony and celebrated this milestone together with the new graduates as they set out to start a new life. To commemorate the 25th anniversary since their graduation, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee Yoshihiko Kido presented the inventory of donations from the Mita-kai Class of 2000, to be used as education funds. Then, Executive Committee Chairperson Ken Uehara gave a speech to the graduating students. The ceremony ended with a rendition of the "´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Sanka."
After the commencement ceremony, a reunion was held for ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app alumni who had graduated 25 years prior, providing an opportunity to reminisce about their schooling days.
Hiyoshi Campus, gently enveloped by the cheery spring weather, blossomed with the beaming smiles of graduates and their families, marking a truly memorable day for the ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app community.