Congratulations to our Fall 2026 Graduates on your well-deserved success!
The Fall 2026 Graduation Ceremony was held on August 31 in the Memorial Hall, bringing together graduates, family members, and friends to celebrate an important milestone.
The ceremony began with the conferment of diplomas. President Takako Aoyama of Yamanashi Gakuin University presented diplomas to graduates from the Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Law, Institute of Sport Science, and the International College of Liberal Arts. Graduate representatives from each faculty stepped onto the stage to receive the diplomas on behalf of their fellow graduates.
Following the conferment of diplomas, President Aoyama delivered a bilingual speech in English and Japanese. She reflected on the recent tragic events at the Nepal-China border, and times in the past such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and the COVID-19 Pandemic in which Graduation Ceremonies could not be held. President Aoyama expressed that the opportunity to gather and celebrate was something not to be taken for granted. She encouraged the graduates to pause and appreciate this precious moment shared with the family, friends, faculty, and staff who had supported them throughout their university journey.
President Aoyama drew on the wisdom of biologist and writer Rachel Carson, author of the book The Sense of Wonder. She encouraged graduates to never lose their sense of curiosity about the world and their connection to nature. In a time where answers are increasingly available at our fingertips, she reminded them of the importance of thinking critically and finding their own answers.
She also shared the words of prominent Yamanashi author Shugoro Yamamoto, who stated that people experience growth by thinking for themselves and making their own choices. President Aoyama reminded the graduates that failure, too, is an important part of this journey: by experiencing challenges, learning from our mistakes, and continuing forward, we shape our lives and grow as individuals.
President Aoyama also acknowledged the many people who had helped the graduates reach this day. She reminded the graduating class that their graduation was not achieved through their efforts alone, but was made possible through the encouragement and support of family members, friends, and others who had stood beside them along the way.
As she sent the graduates off to begin the next chapter of their lives, the President offered a heartfelt reminder: wherever their journeys may take them, Yamanashi Gakuin University will always remain their home.
After the President’s address, the recipient of the Dean’s Award for iCLA was called to the stage to receive the award from Dean Sanjay Jhingan.
Finally, Graduate Representatives delivered heartfelt speeches on behalf of their graduating class.
Reflecting on the experience of meeting new people, the Graduate Representative of iCLA began with a simple yet powerful message: “’Hi’ is the most important word any of us will ever say. And almost no one notices.”
He reminisced about the time when the graduating students first arrived at university as strangers to one another and encouraged his fellow graduates to continue opening themselves to new connections and friendships wherever life takes them.
He concluded with an inspiring message:
“The next time this spinning world sets you down with someone you don’t know, you know what to do. You stop. And despite any kind of physical distance, you say the one word that will start it all. ‘Hi.’”
His words offered a fitting message for graduates to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Following the ceremony, graduates, family members, and friends gathered for a tea party in Student Lounge Y and enjoyed light snacks and drinks.
Congratulations to the Fall 2026 Graduates! We wish each of you success and happiness.