Students enjoying a great time connecting with each other.
Having fun with a variety of games.
A speech by Mr. Harris, the representative of new students.
A surprise visit by Meijiro!!
On Wednesday, April 9, the "Meiji Meet-Up", an exchange event was held at Academy Common building, bringing together newly arrived privately financed international students, exchange students from various countries, and student members of Meiji University's international exchange organizations. With a total of 400 students participating, the venue was filled with laughter as they deepened their connections through various games. Throughout the event, students were seen everywhere exchanging contact information.
The event was made more exciting by the participation of many on-campus organizations and groups: Campus Mate, MuBO (both are student exchange groups approved by the International Student Center), Supporters from the School of Political Science and Economics, the Student Committee of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the Japanese Language Cafe (The Noriko Kurosaki Seminar, School of Commerce), the Korean Students Association, Meicom (Meiji Academic English Community), the Chinese Language Club and volunteers from the Thai-Japan Friendship Association.
The event was planned and hosted by Ms. Sara Nanno (3rd year, School of Commerce) and Ms. Ibuki Enya (2nd year, School of Law). Reflecting on the event, Ms. Nanno commented, "It was an honor to be in charge of the important role of leading the recreational activities for such a large number of international students. With the support of other international exchange organizations, we were able to see so many joyful faces. I hope this welcoming event serves as an opportunity for our international students to truly enjoy their new student life." Ms. Enya added, "The start of a new journey can often bring a sense of anxiety, so I would be delighted if this event helped the students take their first step into their lives at Meiji in a light and bright manner! It was a great honor to host this gathering for 400 international students and to share the excitement of the new semester with everyone."
Following this, the "Welcome Party for New International Students", hosted by the International Student Center, started in a lively atmosphere. The ceremony was conducted in English by members of Campus Mate, Ms. Aki Hirata (3rd year, School of Commerce) and Ms. Sara Nanno (3rd year, School of Commerce), whose seamless coordination set a professional tone. The event began with a warm welcome message from Vice President, Kyoko Koma, which instantly made everyone feel relaxed. Representing the new students, Mr. Janny Harisse from Mozambique delivered a powerful speech to his fellow students, drawing a resounding round of applause from the audience.
After Professor Hideki Eto, the Director of the International Student Center led the toast, a period of pleasant conversation began. The room filled with constant conversation as students shared stories about their home countries and introduced themselves, further strengthening the bonds among these students who are studying at the same university. In the latter half of the event, the Meiji University Athletic Association Cheer Leading Squad made a grand appearance. Their powerful performance captivated the entire audience. The excitement reached its peak during the singing of the university anthem, bringing a sense of unity to the room. The reception concluded on a high note with closing remarks from Professor Harushi Nakajima, the Director of the Japanese Language Educational Center.
All staff and faculty members sincerely hope that the many friendships made and fun experiences shared during this event will mark the beginning of brilliant and fruitful student lives for all our new international students.
