Josai University Educational Corporation

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Josai Holds Commemorative Ceremony and Celebration for 30th Anniversary of Josai Base College, 40th Anniversary of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

On October 5, 2013, Josai’s Sakado Campus held a commemorative ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Josai Base College and the 40th anniversary of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  Despite the rainy forecast, the event was well attended by His Excellency Ambassador Georgi Vassilev of the Bulgarian Embassy, Lower House member Taimei Yamaguchi, and Sakado mayor Kiyoshi Ishikawa, as well as members of the local community, alumni of Josai Base College and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and current students and faculty members.

While 48 years have passed since Josai University’s founding in 1965, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was the school’s third academic department, first opening in 1973―some eight years after the two original departments: the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Science. Josai Base College was established ten years after Josai’s founding under the direction of then Chancellor Seiko Mizuta for the purpose of fostering women’s education and professionalization. It has since blossomed into the community-based international multi-disciplinary university it is today.

At Seiko Hall, where the ceremony was held that morning, Chancellor Noriko Mizuta addressed the audience with the following words. “These two anniversaries―the 40th anniversary of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the 30th of Josai Base College―stand as watershed moments in terms of the educational accomplishments of Josai University and represent critical turning points in Josai’s groundbreaking history as it approaches its own 50th anniversary. The journey to this moment has certainly not been a smooth one, but the only way Josai University has continued to develop and prosper as an educational enterprise is through the unwavering support and effort of you―our faculty, community, alumni, parents’ association, and local government, schools, and enterprises. I would like to continue to work hard to realize the ideals and spirit of this school’s foundation in the areas of educational research and professionalization with the goal of becoming a leading university in the global age.”

The university entrance adorned with anniversary banner

The university entrance adorned with anniversary banner

A view of the commemoration ceremony

A view of the commemoration ceremony

Chancellor Mizuta greets the audience

Chancellor Mizuta greets the audience

Ambassador Vassilev receives a certificate of appreciation

Ambassador Vassilev receives a certificate of appreciation

A commemorative photo with ceremony participants

A commemorative photo with ceremony participants

Afterward, the campus held an opening ceremony for the Seiko Mizuta Memorial Rose Garden, which commemorates both the accomplishments of Josai Base College founder and honorary Josai chancellor Seiko Mizuta and the respective anniversaries of Josai Base College and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. At the ceremony, the college was presented with seedlings of the famous Nadia rose plant from Bulgaria. After Chancellor Mizuta, Ambassador Vassilev, Mayor Ishikawa, university President Yasunori Morimoto, and other participants cut the ribbon announcing the official opening of the garden, the Nadia seedlings were planted in a tree planting ceremony.

Ribbon cutting at the rose garden entrance

Ribbon cutting at the rose garden entrance

Planting the Nadia rose

Planting the Nadia rose

The festivities continued in the afternoon with a rousing celebration held at the university auditorium.
  This event began with greetings from alumni association president Fumio Suzuki and proceeded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and special merit awards for those who have contributed so much to the development of Josai Base College and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences over the years.
  The celebration then moved on to the performance portion of the program with Josai International University mascots J and I presenting an enormous two-meter-tall cake to Josai mascots Jo-kun and Koma-chan. Current and former students of Josai Base College and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences then took the stage along with Chancellor Mizuta and President Morimoto to light 40 candles on top of the cake. After singing “Happy Birthday to You” with the accompaniment of the school orchestra, the cake was cut with a packed auditorium audience joining in celebration.
  This was followed by a variety of performances by the school orchestra and faculty choir group, as well as a vocal performance from Hungarian exchange students, hula dancing, and cheerleading―all to commemorate the 30th and 40th year anniversaries.
  The celebration was concluded with the singing of the Josai University and Josai Base College school songs.

Ceremonial breaking of the sake barrel

Ceremonial breaking of the sake barrel

The colossal birthday cake from JIU

The colossal birthday cake from JIU

A view of the celebration

A view of the celebration

Vocal performance from Hungarian exchange students

Vocal performance from Hungarian exchange students

Cheerleading squad performs

Cheerleading squad performs

Bazaar held as part of festivities

Bazaar held as part of festivities

The Mizuta Museum of Art also commemorated these landmark anniversaries by holding a special exhibition of recently acquired artifacts donated by the Mizuta estate in 2013. The exhibition, which collected rare works such as ukiyo-e by Chōshun Miyagawa, attracted numerous visitors to the museum.

Newly donated museum artifacts

Newly donated museum artifacts

A view of the special exhibition

A view of the special exhibition


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