News & Events

On March 26, Meiji University held its 2025 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). A total of 8,447 graduates (7,463 undergraduate and 984 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 UENO Masao; 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. [President’s Commencement Address]

In the following congratulatory address, YANAGIYA, Chairman, Board of Trustees, said, “The first step of proactively overcoming boundaries and barriers will be the power to open up a new future. I want you to make use of the individuality you developed at Meiji University and contribute to society.” [Chairman, Board of Trustees' Congratulatory Address] 

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, TAKEDA Jurie from the School of Business Administration and NISHIHARA Yuzu from the School of Information and Communications each delivered a valedictory speech in the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively. TAKEDA said, “The biggest asset I gained at Meiji University was the attitude of learning to continue to think proactively. Each of the processes in which I learned empowered my individuality,” and NISHIHARA said, “What I learned at Meiji University is that solutions can be found at the intersection of different ideas. I would like to take the first step toward a better future together with my friends who have spent the same time at Meiji University.” Looking back on their four years at Meiji University, they expressed their gratitude to their families, friends, and teachers, and strongly pledged to take a leap forward.



Subsequently, 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 the new graduates from two alumni: TSUCHIYA Honoka, Cheerleader and Director of TEASair Co., Ltd. (Class of 2015, School of Global Japanese Studies), and KATAISHI Takanori, CEO and Representative Director of yutori, Inc. (Class of 2016, School of Commerce).



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≫