News & Events

Autumn Graduation Ceremony for the 2016 Academic Year Held

Sep. 27, 2016

The graduate representative receiving his diploma

The graduate representative receiving his diploma

President Tsuchiya offering the graduates words of encouragement

President Tsuchiya offering the graduates words of encouragement

An emotional valedictory thanking the teachers, family, and friends

An emotional valedictory thanking the teachers, family, and friends

Many international students also said their farewells to Meiji University

Many international students also said their farewells to Meiji University
On September 19, Meiji University held the Autumn Graduation Ceremony for the 2016 academic year at Liberty Hall on the Surugadai Campus. President Keiichirou Tsuchiya, Chairman Takashi Yanagiya, Meiji University Alumni Association Chairman Masao Mukaidono, and the deans of each department participated in the ceremony to celebrate the fresh departure of 243 students (193 from the undergraduate and 50 from the graduate school).
To begin the ceremony, President Tsuchiya presented diplomas to the graduate representatives, Yusuke Miura from the School of Information and Communication and Porgatorio Joseph Guardiario from the Graduate School of Governance Studies.
Standing before the crowd, President Keiichirou delivered words of encouragement to the graduates in his address. "The path of life is never straight. If you are heading towards the same goal, taking unknown roads and the long way around will give you more stories to tell. These experiences will no doubt make you stronger." He went on to quote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince and Zeami Motokiyo, the founder of Noraku; appealing to the graduates that "The most important things cannot be seen. There is more to life than just that which can be seen. Nurture your ability to see both yourself and others with your heart; I implore you to live honestly and carry with you the founding principles of Meiji University of "rights and liberty" and "independence and self-government."
Following the President, Chairman Yanagiya's congratulatory speech touched on the accomplishments of Meiji University alumni in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics, touting the importance of building a stronger self, stating, "In times when it is difficult to predict the future, I hope that each of you will be able to walk through life with your heads held high, carrying your own honed identity and bearing the pride of Meiji University." Speaking to crowd, Meiji University Alumni Association Chairman Mukaidono said that "The Alumni Association welcomes all of you. No matter what may befall you, I hope you will continue to move forward in life without losing sight of your hopes and dreams."