The 7th Kyoto University Homecoming Day was held under the theme of "looking at the present and pondering the future." A total of 2,100 alumni (including graduates and former staff members), current staff members, and students participated in the event.
The opening ceremony was held at the Clock Tower Centennial Hall under the chairmanship of Executive Vice-President Hidetoshi Kotera (secretary general of Kyoto University Alumni). At the beginning, President Hiroshi Matsumoto (chair of the Kyoto University Alumni) gave a speech in which he expressed his desire "to make this event an opportunity to strengthen ties and ponder the future together with you all." Then, representing the executive officers of Kyoto University alumni associations, Mr. Ryuzo Yokouchi (chair of Kyoto University Hokkaido Alumni and a 1967 Faculty of Law graduate) delivered a speech.
Then Mr. Shuntaro Torigoe, a journalist and 1965 graduate from the Faculty of Letters, presented a lecture titled "The Power of Kyoto University" before a full-capacity audience.
After the lecture, participants headed over to the International Conference Hall to participate in a social gathering. Professor Tetsuji Atsuji (assistant to the executive vice-president) served as the master of ceremonies, and the party opened with a cheerleading performance by the student group TREVIS. Then Executive Vice-President Akihiko Akamatsu addressed the participants and gave a toast. Many students, including those from sports and cultural clubs, attended the party, which was marked by a celebratory mood. In addition, Mr. Hiroki Shibata, the cheering party sub-leader, led participants in the chorus of the first college cheer song, Shinsei no Ibuki ("Breath of New Life"), and the party ended on a happy note.
In the afternoon, fifty-one members of the Kyoto University Symphony Orchestra gave a concert in which they performed such works as Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Carmen. Later, seventy-five members of the Kyoto University Chorus Club alumni sang Gakka ("The School Song") and Furusato no Shiki ("The Four Seasons of My Homeland"). The concert was concluded with participants singing Biwako Shuko no Uta.
Other programs on the day of the event included a panel presentation, which commemorated the award of the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology to Professor Shinya Yamanaka (director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application [CiRA]) and introduced an aspect of his research, as well as an exhibition of the award-winning photos from the third Kyoto University Scenic Photo Contest. Both were held at the University Lounge (Kyodai Salon) in the Clock Tower Centennial Hall. There was also a lecture tour in which participants were able to attend lectures at the former Petroleum Chemistry Department’s amphitheater lecture room and at the former anatomy lecture room. In addition, 295 participants visited Seifuso Villa, whose buildings were registered as Important Cultural Properties in July of this year. In addition, many people visited Sonjodo; the University Library; and the Kyoto University Museum, which featured a special exhibition titled "Together with Kunimasu: From the Past to the Future."
Lecture sessions and social gatherings by faculty, department and regional alumni groups were also held at the Clock Tower Centennial Hall and Rakuyu Kaikan. Other programs on the day of the event included "Exchange Meeting between Graduates and Current Undergraduate/Graduate Students" at the International Conference Hall, where young graduates and current students eagerly exchanged views on job hunting, which added to the joyful mood of the day.
The next homecoming day is scheduled for November 2013. We welcome the participation of not only alumni members, but also current staff members, students and their families.
 From left, Executive Vice-President Kotera, President Matsumoto, Chair Yokouchi, Mr. Torigoe, Professor Atsuji, and Executive Vice-President Akamatsu | |
 Cheerleading performance |  Social gathering |
 Musical performance |  Chorus |
 Panel presentation |  Tour of the former anatomy lecture room |
 Seifuso Villa |  Exchange meeting between alumni and current undergraduate and graduate students |