2024 Spring Entrance Ceremony

Congratulations to all of you who are beginning your studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely welcome all of you to Oita Prefecture, whether you came from within Japan or from another country or region.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of your family members on this joyous occasion.

Since opening in April 2000, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) has built up a stellar track record as a leader in the globalization of higher education in Japan by producing numerous outstanding individuals who now contribute to international society and by acquiring several international accreditations.

With initiatives including the opening of the new College of Sustainability and Tourism last April, APU continues to develop as a center of knowledge that Oita Prefecture can be proud of both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, this January, APU presented its new Leap Beyond Global plan, and expectations are high for the university to pursue the development of diverse and inclusive human resources equipped with adaptability and receptiveness to diversity.

APU is also a university which is open to exchanging with the local community. By collaborating with companies to hold intercultural exchange events, hosting international conferences on its campus, assisting with the teaching of intercultural understanding and English at elementary and junior high schools, and participating in local festivals, APU has consistently worked to internationalize Oita Prefecture and invigorate its communities.

You have enrolled in a global university that is firmly rooted in the community, and I am certain that you will make lasting friendships and learn many things as you study on APU’s multicultural campus, a place that attracts students from 100 countries and regions and where you are always exposed to the latest trends in the world. Everything you learn and everyone you meet at APU will help you grow as a person and develop the ability to create the future.

As for Oita Prefecture, we are blessed with bountiful nature, a rich history and culture, and delicious food. During your time at APU, I hope you all enjoy what Oita has to offer and proactively interact with people from all parts of the prefecture. I also hope that Oita will become your second home and that, one day, you will serve as bridges between people and regions as well as between Oita and the wider world.

In closing, I would like to wish you all the best in your endeavors, and I pray for the continued prosperity of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

Kiichiro Sato
Governor of Oita Prefecture
April 1, 2024

On behalf of the citizens of Beppu, I would like to congratulate you and your guardians on your admission to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. It is a great pleasure to meet you all and join you in celebrating your admission.

Since olden times, Beppu has a culture of welcoming people from faraway to bathe in its healing hot spring waters. Many of our residents like to root for people who work hard, and could even be considered a little overbearing at times. For us, making sure that every visitor finds happiness in their own way is directly linked to our own emotional enrichment. I am certain that all of you will soon become captivated by this culture of Beppu.
I encourage you to get out into the community and interact with a diverse array of people. This will inspire you and contribute to personal growth over your lifetime.

This year, Beppu will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a city. Rather than a coincidence, I believe it is only fate that our 100th anniversary falls in a year in which we find ourselves emerging stronger and even more resilient from the pandemic, the greatest crisis we have ever faced.
I hope that you will join us in celebrating this historic moment in Beppu and act as a driving force behind our new leap forward.
The world faces a mountain of issues, including conflicts and climate change, but I am confident that you will become people with the power to change both Beppu City and the world by acting upon what you are about to learn at APU.
I am scheduled to teach some classes in the College of Sustainability and Tourism as an honorary visiting professor, so I am sure I will have the chance to meet many of you on campus. If you see me, please do not hesitate to say hello. I look forward to speaking with you as well as learning and growing together with you.

In closing, let me express my hope for the continued success of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and for the success and happiness of everyone here today.

NAGANO Yasuhiro
Mayor of Beppu City
April 2024