On January 1, a luncheon celebrating the advent of 2017 was held for international students at the Soka University cafeteria New Loire. A total of 300 international students, faculty from the international instructor exchange program, visiting professors and their families, Board of Trustees Chair Yasunori Tashiro, President Yoshihisa Baba, Soka Women’s College President Keiko Ishikawa, and others celebrated the new year together.

The annual event, now in its 16th year, provides an opportunity for international students and visiting faculty who spend the new year in Japan to experience the country’s traditional New Year culture. With the gradual increase in international student enrollment over the years, this event, which had 30 participants when it first began, has now grown to include ten times that number of participants, making it a lively celebration.