Nagoya University Graduation: 4,100 Students Embark on New Journeys

Nagoya University held its AY2025 Graduation Ceremony on March 25, 2026, at Toyoda Auditorium, marking the transition of 4,122 graduates into the professional workforce and advanced research fields.

The graduating class included 2,149 recipients of bachelor’s degrees and 1,973 recipients of master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees.

Academic and Professional Transitions

The ceremony, which featured a performance by the Nagoya University Symphony Orchestra, served as the formal departure for students entering various professional paths, including medicine and the legal profession.

President Naoshi Sugiyama delivered an address to the graduating class that focused on the intersection of higher education and the evolving technological landscape. He specifically addressed the impact of generative AI on society, noting that the technology has brought profound changes in recent years.

President Sugiyama suggested that thinking carefully about what AI can and cannot do may offer a valuable compass for navigating the world ahead.

The university leadership emphasized the necessity of lifelong learning, with President Sugiyama expressing hope that graduates would continue to find joy in acquiring new knowledge throughout their professional lives.

Industry and Alumni Engagement

The event included contributions from leaders in the business and industrial sectors, highlighting the university’s connection to regional and national economic development.

Congratulatory speeches were delivered by two prominent figures within the Nagoya University Alumni Association (NUAL) and the broader business community:

• Masaharu Shibata, who serves as the President of the Nagoya University Alumni Association and a Special Advisor at NGK Insulators, Ltd.
• Toshio Nakamura, who serves as the Vice President of the Nagoya University Alumni Association and President of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Organizations.

The presence of these speakers underscores the link between the university’s academic output and the operational needs of small and medium enterprise promotion organizations and large-scale industrial firms like NGK Insulators, Ltd.

Ceremony Logistics and Accessibility

To accommodate those unable to attend the physical proceedings at Toyoda Auditorium, the university streamed the ceremony live online.

Recordings of the event remain available on YouTube for public viewing, ensuring that the addresses and celebrations are accessible to a wider global audience and the alumni network.