On March 26, Meiji University held its 2022 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). Under the cherry blossoms in full bloom, a total of 7,880 graduates (6,919 undergraduate and 961 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.
President Dairokuno said in his commencement address, “You have had the opportunity to think deeply about human nature and the future of human society without losing heart in the midst of a pandemic of infection that happens only once every 100 years,” and encouraged the graduates, saying, “I would like you to calmly analyze the current situation without being swayed by the current trends, to imagine what the world should be like, and to come up with measures to realize it.”
In the following congratulatory address, Chairman, Board of Trustees Yanagiya said, “As you head into the midst of a “polycrisis” era in which it is difficult to predict the future, I want you to have a sense of ownership of the various issues and challenges occurring in the world and actively think about what society should be like in the future and what you yourself should do to realize this goal.”
As representatives of the graduates, Daichi Nakamori from the School of Global Japanese Studies and Marina Kuwamoto from the School of Political Science and Economics each delivered a valedictory speech in the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively. Looking back on his four years at Meiji University, Mr. Nakamori said, “Through a variety of lectures and interaction with students from a variety of backgrounds, I was able to develop the ability to design goals with an international perspective,” and Ms. Kuwamoto said, “I was able to work hard on my studies and graduate successfully despite the difficulties I faced, thanks to the continued support of many people around me.” They expressed their gratitude to their families, colleagues, and teachers, and strongly pledged to take a leap forward.
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 Mr. Tatsuya Nomura, President of Hip Land Music Corporation Inc. and President of the Federation of Music Producers Japan, TV Asahi announcer Ms. Chiharu Saito, and Mr. Yuto Nagatomo from FC Tokyo. 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.”
You can watch the 2022 Meiji University graduation ceremony video here.
(The morning session)
https://youtube.com/live/ITGquZwqPCg
(The afternoon session)
https://youtube.com/live/juVk9UWkdiA
≪Japanese version≫
