On March 26, Meiji University held its 2021 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). Under the cherry blossoms in full bloom, a total of 7,648 graduates (6,808 undergraduate and 840 graduate school students) embarked towards a new stage in their lives.
The ceremony was held in two separate sessions, in the morning and in the afternoon, for both undergraduate and graduate school students. In each session, the presentation of diplomas was followed by commencement speeches to the new graduates by President Kosaku Dairokuno; Takashi Yanagiya, Chairman, Board of Trustees; and Masaru Kitano, Chairman, Alumni Association.
In his commencement address, President Dairokuno introduced the fact that the Rugby Football Club, where he had served as the General Manager for 13 years, positioned the accumulation of efforts made to strengthen the team as “good preparation,” and encouraged the graduates by loudly saying, “I would like you to start good preparation in order to create a new society and world in which people can live as human beings. Go forward vigorously while overcoming all difficulties!”
Following this, Chairman, Board of Trustees Yanagiya said, in his congratulatory speech, “Self-governance, in which you place yourself between self-confidence and humility, and independence, in which you develop yourself more by looking at yourself honestly, are the essence of the Individual Empowerment,” and added, with hope, “With the indomitable spirit of Meiji in your heart, please lead the way in the future.” Chairman, Alumni Association Kitano said, “On behalf of all my alumni, I would like to congratulate all of you who have studied at Meiji University, which has a long history and tradition, and welcome you who become members of the Association.”
As representatives of the graduates, Nana Suzuki from the School of Agriculture and Arisa Nakamura from the School of Arts and Letters delivered valedictory speech in the morning and afternoon session, respectively. The two graduates looked back on their four years at Meiji University, saying words of thanks to families, friends, and teachers. They said, “Even if we face difficulties, the experience of meeting various people and dealing with unstable situations will encourage us,” (Ms. Suzuki) and, “Taking advantage of the experience and learning we have gained at Meiji University, we will travel to the future of our choices,” (Ms. Nakamura) and pledged their success in the future strongly.
Following the awarding of the Parents Association Union Education Promotion Award, Alumni Association Commendation, and Sports Commendation to graduates who have made remarkable achievements in academic and extracurricular activities, a video message was broadcast on behalf of their alumni to graduates by former table tennis player Jun Mizutani (graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics in 2013). The graduation ceremony was closed with Meiji University’s school song performed by the Symphony Orchestra, Mixed Chorus, and Glee Club, the graduates began taking firm strides into their new “world.”
