News & Events

On March 26, Meiji University held its 2024 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). A total of 8,076 graduates (7,061 undergraduate and 1,015 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 DAIROKUNO Kosaku; YANAGIYA Takashi, Chairman, Board of Trustees; and KITANO Masaru, Chairman, Alumni Association.

President UENO said in his baccalaureate address, "Since entering the university, you have made untiring efforts, and as a result, you have reached this wonderful day. I would like to express my sincere respect for those efforts." and congratulated the graduates on their new beginnings.

After that, Chairperson YANAGIYA encouraged the graduates in his congratulatory speech, saying, "I hope that all of you will open the way for the future with your own aspirations and the unwavering individuality cultivated at Meiji University."

Alumni Association Chairperson KITANO said, "The youthful energy of you, who will become alumni from today, will lead to the further development of our alma mater Meiji University and the alumni association," and called for participation in the general meeting and other events of the alumni association.

As representatives of the graduates, AMEMIYA Ami from the School of Commerce and SUZUKI Takeru from the School of Science and Technology delivered a valedictory speech in the morning session and the afternoon session, respectively. AMEMIYA said, "The knowledge and experience gained at university is a compass to survive in a rapidly changing society. In the last four years, I have found something I want to pursue for the rest of my life." SUZUKI said, "I met a lot of people, including professors, seniors, and classmates, I engaged in friendly competition with them, and eventually I found something in the laboratory that I was fascinated by." They each reflected on their four years at Meiji University, and with words of gratitude to their families, friends and teachers, they vowed to make a strong leap forward in the future.



Subsequently, Parents’ Association Union Education Promotion Awards, Alumni Association Commendations, and Sports Commendations were presented to graduates who had achieved outstanding results in academic and extracurricular activities. This was followed by video messages to new graduates by three graduates, figure skater HIGUCHI Wakaba (a 2023 graduate of the School of Commerce), musician UZAKI Ryudo (a 1969 graduate of the School of Law), and actor and singer KAMISHIRAISHI Mone (a 2024 graduate of the School of Global Japanese Studies), on behalf of the alumni.



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.”
≪Japanese version≫