On Monday, April 4, Keio University held its Graduate Entrance Ceremony at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. This Spring Semester, Keio welcomed a total of 1,659 students in the 14 graduate schools (1,203 master's, 279 doctoral, and 177 professional degree candidates).
In order to give the utmost priority to the health and safety of the participants and prevent the spread of COVID-19, invitations were limited to incoming students and some related parties. The ceremony was also livestreamed.
Vice-President Yoshimitsu Matsuura began the ceremony by delivering the Incoming Class Report, followed by President Itoh's Welcome Address. The President said that he hopes that the students will hone their "advanced expertise," "cultural skills and bird's-eye perspective," and "ability to read social trends on a global level," so that they may contribute to the development of society over the next 50 years together with people from all around the world by leveraging the universality of the pursuit of learning.
During the Congratulatory Address on behalf of faculty and staff that followed, Associate Professor Yuko Toukairin of the Graduate School of Media and Governance encouraged students to avoid remaining preoccupied with "how they compare to others or their personal feelings of self-worth" but rather to diligently apply themselves to their studies so that they may contribute to society through convictions rooted in "the kind of future that they want to create."
The ceremony concluded with a rendition of the Keio Alma Mater, "The Juku-ka", sung by the Wagner Society Male Choir and the Wagner Society Female Chorus.
Although it rained on the day of the ceremony, the radiant expressions on the new students' faces lit up the proceedings with hope and determination as they begin their graduate journeys.