Sophia University Junior College Division Holds Closing Ceremony, Marking the End of 53 Years of Education
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Sophia University’s Junior College Division held its closing ceremony at the Hadano Campus, marking the end of 53 and a half years of educational history. The final degree conferral ceremony for the Division’s students had taken place on Thursday, September 10, bringing its educational activities to a close.
Approximately 140 people attended the ceremony, including alumnae, former faculty and staff members, and representatives of the local community and the Sophia School Corporation. Together, they reflected on the Division’s history since its founding in 1973 and expressed their gratitude to all those who had supported it over the years.
A Mass of Thanksgiving
Prior to the closing ceremony, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in Classroom 111.
The Mass offered an opportunity to give thanks for the blessings the Junior College Division had received throughout its history and for the contributions of the faculty and staff, students, alumnae, and members of the local community who had supported its educational mission.
Prayers were also offered that the learning and human connections nurtured at the Division would continue to flourish in the lives of those who had been part of its community.
An Educational Spirit That Lives On
The ceremony opened with a reading of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, delivered by Sister Hiroko Kobayashi, a member of the Company of Mary, Our Lady, and a former associate professor at the Junior College Division.
The passage was chosen for its connection to Sophia’s educational spirit, “For Others, With Others.”
In his address, President Hiroshi Yamamoto reflected on the Division’s longstanding commitment to education that recognizes and responds to the needs of each individual.
He highlighted its distinctive approach to education, which combined small-group instruction, an advisor system, and seminar-based learning with service-learning initiatives.
These included providing Japanese-language and academic support to children from foreign-rooted backgrounds.
Through these experiences, students learned to engage with others, apply their knowledge beyond the classroom, and grow through their involvement in the wider community.
Reflecting on 53 and a Half Years of Memories
The ceremony featured addresses by Masakazu Takahashi, Mayor of Hadano, and Yukiko Hirano, President of the Sophia University Junior College Division Alumnae Association.
These were followed by performances of the Division’s songs, Eichi no Oka and Midori no Oka. Before the latter was performed, Professor Emerita Sachiko Kondo, who wrote its lyrics, shared the thoughts and sentiments behind the song.
Representing the alumnae, Saera Mishina, a recipient of the 2024 Gerald Barry Award who is currently studying at Sophia University’s Faculty of Theology, delivered an address reflecting on her experiences at the Junior College Division.
A slideshow then traced the Division’s 53-and-a-half-year history through photographs, offering a glimpse into student life across different eras and the changing landscape of the Hadano Campus.
In his message of appreciation, Augustine Sali, Chancellor of the Sophia School Corporation, highlighted the Division’s achievements, including educating approximately 13,000 alumnae, fostering longstanding ties with Hadano City, and advancing educational and community engagement initiatives, particularly through service-learning.
He emphasized that the Division’s educational philosophy would continue to be carried forward by its alumnae and within Sophia’s educational community.
The ceremony concluded with the return of the Junior College Division’s flag.
Having represented the Division since its founding in 1973, the flag was handed by President Yamamoto to Chancellor Sali, marking the end of the ceremony amid warm applause from those in attendance.
Following the ceremony, a reception brought together alumnae, former faculty and staff members, and other guests.
Participants warmly greeted one another after many years apart and reminisced about their time at the Junior College.
The gathering provided an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the enduring bonds formed through their shared experiences at the Junior College Division.
