On March 25, 2026, Okayama University held its Academic Year 2025 Degree Conferment Ceremony at the Okayama Prefectural General Ground Gymnasium (Shigeto Arena Okayama), celebrating the new chapter in the lives of 3,266 undergraduate and graduate students.

Following the singing of the national anthem and the university song, President NASU Yasutomo conferred diplomas and certificates on 18 student representatives from the undergraduate and graduate schools. Subsequently, 15 recipients of the Okayama University Kokusho Award—presented to students with outstanding academic performance and exemplary character—were honored, and certificates and commemorative gifts were presented to the representative awardees.

In his address, President NASU introduced the concept of “FUEKI-RYUKO*”, emphasizing the importance of upholding core values while continuing to take on new challenges in times of change. Quoting from classical texts such as Mencius, he encouraged the graduates by stating that adversity and hardship serve as nourishment for growth, and that whether the path they have chosen is the right one depends on their own efforts. He concluded with a message of encouragement, saying, “Your true ‘learning’ begins now.”

Representing the graduates, Ms. TOMINAGA Ayaka from the Dental School and Ms. DING XUE from the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems delivered their valedictory addresses.

Outside the venue, graduates were seen taking commemorative photos with their families and friends, sharing heartfelt farewells.

○Click here for the full text of the President's address (Japanese) [PDF]
○Click here to see the number of graduates (Japanese) [PDF]
○ Click here for photos from the day of the ceremony on Okayama University's Instagram

* FUEKI is defined as things should not be changed (immutability) and RYUKO as things should be changed (fluidity).

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Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors.