Student Blog

2 min read

Attending the APU 25th Anniversary Homecoming Event felt like stepping into a living history of the university, where generations of students, alumni, faculty, and local community members all converged under the shared spirit of APU. As someone who is in her 4th year and close to becoming an alumnus soon, it was a great comfort to join this event and see how my senpais cherish their memories of APU.

Opening ceremony and messages

The event began with the opening ceremony, which featured speeches from President Yoneyama Hiroshi and other faculty who reflected on APU’s 25-year journey and its mission to nurture globally minded individuals. Messages from all the past presidents of APU followed, each one highlighting a different phase of the university’s growth and the evolving meaning of “Leap Beyond Global” in their respective eras. I was very touched to notice how all the messages were geared to the present and future of APU students.

Remaining in the Millennium Hall, the next session was a special panel that brought members of APU’s early graduating classes to the stage. Along with the talk, there was a live survey that people in the audience could participate in. Questions like “Where did you spend the most time on the APU campus?” and “Do you still keep in contact with your APU friends now?” were updated live on the projector. It felt very interactive and authentic. I was very impressed by the speakers’ stories and the varying degrees to which APU had shaped their careers, giving them not only academic knowledge but also the confidence to work across cultures and industries. Even more impactful was how they still stay in close contact with their classmates.

Cafeteria memories and togetherness

Later, when the event moved to the cafeteria, the warm, welcoming atmosphere continued. Photographs of students from my cohort, from previous graduating classes, and even from the faculty were lined up with captions to add context or commentary. A particularly touching one for me was a photograph of Watanabe-sensei, who was my Intermediate Japanese teacher, doing a rakugo performance of “Momotaro.” This photo was from in 2010, while I only arrived at APU in 2022.

Photographs like these created an acute sense of togetherness. Even when certain memories were not shared, the emotions are very distinctly “APU”. This university is not just a place to study, but a community that grows together over time. That feeling became even more tangible as alumni, current students, and local residents mingled, reconnecting and creating new stories in the same space where so many old ones began.

Activities and looking ahead to the future

The activities prepared for the homecoming, including those organized by Loop A.S, added a playful, interactive energy to the day. Their efforts turned the event from a simple gathering into an experience—one where people of all ages could participate, laugh, and feel included. It broke down any lingering distance between generations and made it easy to strike up conversations with my seniors.

By the end of the event, the slogan “Leap Beyond Global” felt less like a catchphrase and more like a shared promise. Seeing how strongly alumni remained connected to APU and how warmly they were welcomed back made the idea of returning as an alumnus in the future genuinely exciting. The homecoming showed that APU is a place that you can always return to and say “Tadaima”

ZERA AMARI

Hello, everyone! I’m Zera from Indonesia. I am in my 4th year of APS, majoring in CSM. I’m still relatively new to APU student life so that will motivate me to experience more things and make new friends! Of course, I won’t forget to write about it for you all!