Meiji University held its Entrance Ceremony for the 2023 academic year at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on April 7. A total of 9,176 new students (8,068 undergraduates and 1,108 graduate school students) made a fresh start to the 2023 academic year.
The Ceremony was held in two parts, one for each of the undergraduate and graduate schools, and each part consisted of an address by President Kosaku Dairokuno, a congratulatory address by Chairman, Board of trustees Takashi Yanagiya and a pledge by the representative of the new students.
In his address, President Kosaku Dairokuno introduced Meiji University’s founding spirit of “Rights and Liberty, Independence, and Self-Government” and gave strong encouragement to new students, saying, “Learn the wisdom and skills to design and realize the next era at Meiji University, a hub of research and education that aims to create a peaceful society and world where people deserve to live as human beings.”
This was followed by a congratulatory speech by Chairman, Board of Trustees Takashi Yanagiya, who said to the students, “Meiji University attracts a diverse group of students from all over the country and the world, of all ages and nationalities. I hope you will have courage to interact with many people and engage in friendly competition.”
As representatives of new students, Masahito Kasahara, a student of School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, took a pledge in the morning session, while Kana Yokoyama, a student of School of Arts and Letters, took a pledge in the afternoon session. They pledged their enthusiasm for academic life: Mr. Kasahara said, “I will learn eagerly, engage in mutual support with fellow students, and solidify my individuality in order to become an active human resource contributing to the happiness of many people and the development of the world”; Ms. Yokoyama said, “I will value communication with those around us, cultivate our awareness as members of society, and grow up to live in harmony with others in the same world as us without ever disrespecting them.”
The school song was then sung and the entrance ceremony was closed, followed by a welcome ceremony for the new students.
The ceremony featured a welcoming performance by the Symphony Orchestra, Glee Club and Mixed Chorus, and then video messages were broadcast from representatives of alumni members: Mr. Tatsuya Nomura, President of Hip Land Music Corporation and President of the Federation of Music Producers Japan; Ms. Chiharu Saito, TV Asahi announcer: and Mr. Yuto Nagatomo, a member of FC Tokyo. The ceremony ended amid applause from the new students and their families for the heartwarming messages.
As part of the New Student Study and Guidance Week starting April 1, the students participate in the guidance and health check-ups at each campus. With the spring semester classes beginning on the 8th, campus life begins in earnest.
You can watch the 2023 Meiji University entrance ceremony video here.
(The morning session)
https://youtube.com/live/KwANpFnr43I
(The afternoon session)
https://youtube.com/live/-qGxpuoZNyw
≪Japanese version≫
