The Post-50th Reunion was held for Keio alumni at the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall on Saturday, May 20.
Now in its 64th year, the Post-50th Reunion is a tradition that started in 1958 when Keio extended an invitation to alumni celebrating their 25th and 50th graduation anniversaries to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Currently, 25th anniversary alumni are invited to the Commencement Ceremony and 50th anniversary alumni to the Entrance Ceremony. Since 1986, the Post-50th Reunion has been held every year for alumni celebrating any anniversary of graduation after their 50th. At this year’s event, which was again held in Yokohama, more than 4,200 graduates who graduated in or before 1965 (the oldest person who registered to attend the event was 101 years of age) attended.
The reunion started with the singing of Keio’s Alma Mater “The Juku-ka,” and then President Seike (at the time*) took the stage to thank the alumni for their continued support. Next, Vice-President Watanabe gave a toast, and afterwards, the alumni had a chance to catch up with one another. Later, the Keio University Mixed Chorus Gakuyu-kai sang, and the Keio Cheer Group performed university songs such as “Wakaki-chi” and “Oka no Ue” on stage. Led by the Keio Cheer Group, the alumni joined shoulders and sang, which brought the one-and-a-half-hour event to a close.
The alumni reunited with old friends on this warm and sunny day and enjoyed talking about their memories at Keio as well as recent events. They were also seen taking pictures with the view of the ocean from Yokohama in the background.
*President Seike’s term in office ended on May 27, 2017. On May 28, Professor Akira Haseyama was inaugurated as the president of Keio University.