News

The annual Mita-Kai Homecoming Day (Keio Rengo Mita-Kai Taikai 2016) for Keio alumni was held at Hiyoshi Campus on Sunday, October 16. The theme for this year's event was “A day in our lives together.” The approximately 20,000 people, many of whom were Keio alumni and their families, that came along were blessed with beautiful weather, and from early in the morning, the atmosphere was filled with excitement.

The opening ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall with an opening speech by the chair of the event committee Junichi Sakomoto. Keio’s school flag was brought onto the stage and the Alma Mater “The Juku-ka” was sung. The chair of the Keio Rengo Mita-Kai Yoshiki Hiki then greeted the audience, and this was followed by an address by President Atsushi Seike. The ceremony concluded with the singing of “Wakaki-chi” by all attendees.

After the opening ceremony, Keio alumni Ukon Ichikawa and Kotaro Ichikawa enlivened the audience at the Hall with their performance of “Renjishi,” which is considered to be the showiest among kabuki plays. At the special talk, Keio alumni and Keio student athletes, whose accomplishments at the Rio Olympics and Paralympics are still fresh in everyone's minds, came together on stage to share their passion and enthusiasm for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In addition, numerous events were held at each venue for the enjoyment of the visitors, both young and old.

This year, the class of 1966, those alumni celebrating 50 years after graduation, were invited to a commemorative ceremony, and at the reunion that followed, they could be seen catching up with one another and rekindling old friendships.

The annual raffle offering grand prizes ended the day’s festivities. It was a day in which Keio alumni of all generations gathered from all over Japan to enjoy sharing a beautiful autumn day together in each other's company.