Academic Year 2014 Spring Entrance Ceremony

The Spring Entrance Ceremony for the 2014 academic year was held on April 2 at the Ookayama Campus. The total enrollment for the spring term is 2,906, of which 1,109 are in the undergraduate program and 1,797 in the graduate program. Of the latter, 1,549 are in the master's program (including 28 in the professional master's program), and 248 are in the doctoral program.

Tokyo Tech Song

A ceremony for undergraduate students was held in the morning and another one for graduate students was held in the afternoon. Both ceremonies started with the entrance of President Yoshinao Mishima in academic cap and gown, guests, members of the Board, deans and directors. The solemnity of the occasion was underscored by the Tokyo Tech Orchestra playing a march directed by the resident conductor Ryuichi Suenaga. After the opening address, those present joined the students' chorus group, Chor Kleines, in singing the Tokyo Tech Song.

President Mishima

In his speech to new undergraduate students, President Mishima was encouraging and told them to “embrace challenge with spirit, enthusiasm and confidence,” in order to contribute to the betterment of society as a student of the best sci-tech university in Japan. For new graduate students, he firmly spoke about the importance of further developing their expertise while acquiring language proficiencies and gaining cultural experiences to strengthen their overall abilities.

Alumni Mr. Estuhiko Shoyama, President of the Tokyo Tech Alumni Association, and Mr. Katsumi Ihara, President and Representative Director of Sony Financial Holdings, delivered speeches.

The introductions of the guests, members of the Board, deans and directors followed. Student representatives also made powerful statements about their goals for their new lives at Tokyo Tech.

The entrance ceremony for undergraduate students was followed by a commemorative concert. At this annual event, a professional pianist performs to wish new students good luck. Ms. Asaki Inou was the pianist in 2014. Ms. Inou has studied music at the Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music at the Tokyo University of the Arts and at the Zurich University of the Arts. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Tokyo University of the Arts. Ms. Inou was awarded the Clavier Prize at the master's thesis defense at the Tokyo University of the Arts.

The Ookayama Campus radiated with the smiles of new students and their families on this occasion under the cherry trees in full bloom. The Tokyo Tech community offers the new students its congratulations.

• President Mishima's Address at the 2014 Spring Entrance Ceremony for the Bachelor's Program (Japanese)
• President Mishima's Address at the 2014 Spring Entrance Ceremony for the Master's and Doctoral Programs (Japanese)