On Sunday, October 16, the 2022 Mita-Kai Homecoming Day (Keio Rengo Mita-Kai Taikai), a gathering of the Keio Gijuku Shachu (or members of the Keio University organization), was held. This year's Mita-Kai Homecoming took place on Hiyoshi Campus under the slogan "Come together, now. Build together, toward the future."
Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mita-Kai Homecoming was cancelled for the 2020 academic year, and held online for the 2021 academic year. This year's proceedings were held with infection control measures in place, and were the first to take place in-person in three years, bringing back the commemorative ceremony, booths, and other homecoming mainstays. Organizers also made use of the insights gleaned from last year’s homecoming to offer a hybrid format for the first time, incorporating online streaming to allow those who could not be physically present a way to participate as well.
The commemorative ceremony was held at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. The class of 1972, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of their graduation this year, were invited. It opened with remarks from Yu Hamano, chairperson of the event’s planning committee; followed by the raising of Keio's School Flag; singing of the Juku-ka (Keio's alma mater); a speech from Akiko Suganuma, president of the Keio Rengo Mita-Kai; a congratulatory address from Kohei Itoh, Keio's president; and a slideshow presentation that showed what Keio University's campuses were like 50 years ago. After the slideshow, Masamichi Nakase, the Mita-kai representative for the class of 1972, delivered remarks, which were followed by a final rendition of Wakaki-chi to close the ceremony. Many graduates stuck around Hiyoshi Campus after the ceremony to catch up with old friends.
A variety of events were held at various locations around the campus, which were planned to ensure that all attendees, from children to the elderly, could have an enjoyable time. Keio alumni Yo Matsumoto and Seishiro Irie took the stage at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall and thrilled the audience with musical performances. Other festivities included an activity called "The Doctor Challenge," organized by the Sanshikai (the School of Medicine Alumni Association). The event was brought to its close with a raffle that included high-end prizes.
The day of the event saw more than 17,000 people gather at Hiyoshi Campus or online from around the world, including many alumni and their families.
*Guidelines from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Kanagawa Prefecture were referenced in the running of this event.