【FILA】 New Year’s Gathering for International Students

On Monday, January 6, the "New Year’s Gathering for International Students" was held at Cafeteria on campus, welcoming approximately 160 international students and exchange faculty members who celebrated the New Year in Japan.
The event began with opening remarks by President Masashi Suzuki, who shared the origins of osechi (traditional Japanese New Year cuisine) and extended New Year greetings. During the lively gathering, students enjoyed performances by representatives of the international student community, as well as a raffle draw. Conversations at each table saw participants discussing differences between Japanese New Year traditions and the customs of their home countries.

Concluding the event, Chairperson Yasunori Tashiro shared the history of the New Year’s Gathering, stating, “This event began nearly 20 years ago at the suggestion of our founder, Dr. Ikeda, to ensure that international students do not feel lonely during the New Year. Our founder has always cherished international students. I hope today serves as an opportunity for everyone to deepen connections with one another. I wish you all a year of health and great personal growth.”

Participants expressed their gratitude and shared their thoughts:

• “Thank you for organizing this New Year’s event for us international students. I think it’s a wonderful tradition of this university.” (Student from Malaysia)
• “Celebrating the New Year with fellow international students and enjoying delicious food together has created a great memory. Thank you very much.” (Student from Brazil)
• “I had so much fun. This year, I’ll prioritize my health and work hard on my studies.” (Student from South Korea)

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