Sailing off to a new phase: Asian Studies Program Completion Ceremony

May 25, 2013 (Sat.)

On a sunny May day, Kansai Gaidai Asian Studies’ Completion Ceremony was held to see off more than 320 international students from 33 countries and regions.

It is bittersweet to say goodbye to their friends and teachers and there was sense of satisfaction and joy for the accomplishments each one of them has made.

President Tanimoto gave recognition for students’ hard work by saying “you are now able to move beyond the bridge of cross-cultural understanding. You are ready to show your leadership in taking further steps in paving a new path toward your future.”

The two honorable gests: Mr. Thomas M. F. Yates PSM, Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General, Fukuoka, and Mr. Gregory Kay, Consul, U.S. Consulate Genera, Osaka-Kobe offered encouragement to students by saying the experience at Kansai Gaidai would be an important part of their lives and they should continue their efforts to further broaden their perspectives. Professor Muto, Japanese language professor, emphasized the spirit of ‘okage’” which means “ to be thankful” for all the support. Lastly, Mr. Erkko Vanhakartano, University of Turku, Finland, gave a great speech in fluent Japanese.

The highlight of the luncheon party was the announcement of the winner for the Facebook Photo Contest. Juan Pablo Romero (ITESM-Monterrey, Mexico) won the first prize with an original picture mixing the hip-hop dance art and the ancient Japanese architecture.

Under the sun of a beautiful May day (in Japanese, satsuki-bare), students took as many pictures as they could with their international and local friends, host families, professors and staff to take back home with them.

We wish the best to all the students who have joined our international community and are sailing off to a new phase of their lives. Please remember the doors are always open for you to return home.
Congratulations!


GUINOVART PEDESCOLL, Josep Oriol
Student Assistant, Center of International Education
Home Institution: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona