2024 Reunion Concluded Successfully

On Saturday, December 8, the 2024 Reunion concluded successfully.

More than 150 participants, including retired faculty members, current faculty, alumni, and current students, attended. Attendees enjoyed reconnecting with beloved teachers and hearing stories from alumni who are active in various fields.

The 2025 event is scheduled for Saturday, December 6. We look forward to welcoming many of you again.

 

I participated in the panel discussion titled "How Has the School of International Studies Evolved?" It was my first time attending the reunion, and I was surprised to see so many alumni participating. Hearing stories about the past, such as how there used to be no buses or air conditioning, was fascinating.

I also found it inspiring to learn about the diverse career paths of alumni. It reaffirmed to me that there are many different ways to live after starting a career. During the subsequent informal discussion, I was happy to greet teachers who had helped me in the past and talk with younger students I hadn’t interacted with before.

Additionally, I had the chance to consult with panelists about careers and hear valuable insights. It was a very fulfilling experience. The food was delicious, and I’m glad I attended. (21ks)

- Stories from Alumni (Media Careers)
I was surprised to hear that Mr. Ayuzawa, who works at The Asahi Shimbun, graduated from the City University of New York’s graduate school, as I’ll be going there for an exchange program next year.

Mr. Kuroki spoke about studying at the University of California and working with Junko Association, expressing gratitude for the opportunities at Meiji Gakuin. Inspired by his words, I want to make the most of all the experiences Meiji Gakuin offers.

Mr. Shinozuka shared an episode about taking a year off to study in the Philippines by joining a group of other international students. Listening to these and other alumni stories made me realize that everything depends on taking initiative.

"North-South Issues and the Global South: How Has the World Changed Over the Past 40 Years?"

Professor Katsumata’s talk was as lively and engaging as he said it would be, covering a wide range of topics. His explanation of how the Global South wants to avoid being entangled in East-West conflicts left a strong impression on me.

I learned that the root concerns lie in not wanting to be swayed by currency and migration issues. It offered a new perspective.

Mr. Takahashi said, “Development economics now involves analyzing data. Eighty percent of developing countries have received vaccinations. Over the past 40 years, conditions have significantly improved. To understand overall trends, you shouldn’t focus solely on minor problems.”

As someone interested in Africa's economic development, I am currently writing a report on “Japanese Contributions to International Cooperation” for Shigetomi Seminar this semester. However, I often forget the importance of taking a broader, longer-term perspective.

When studying small phenomena, such as infant mortality rates in Niger, I tend to overlook the bigger picture. I want to be more mindful of this.

One of the unresolved issues is environmental concerns, as he pointed out. Until now, I had viewed problems in individual fields separately, but I realized that national economic development depends first on favorable environmental conditions, followed by the influence of technology and policy.

Therefore, climate and conflict are interconnected and are inseparable from global peace and equality. Statistics reveal that 40% of widening disparities between nations stem from climate factors, and I was shocked to learn that more conflicts will arise as temperatures increase.

We must not overlook the importance of climate change and should consider what is needed for fundamental solutions.

Although the number of deaths caused by conflicts is declining, conflicts themselves are increasing, mainly domestic ones. This means that people flee to neighboring developing countries, becoming refugees.

While I was aware of the major issues surrounding refugee acceptance and resettlement, I now feel that we are likely to face even more challenges in the future.

I wondered how we can welcome refugees and build stability while growing interested in post-growth theories. I realized that along with taking action, I must also strengthen my knowledge.

I believe that delving deeper into curiosity is what will truly enable meaningful international cooperation. (22ks)