Hope College celebrated its 50-year friendship with Meiji Gakuin University of Japan with a series of events on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 3–4.

Meiji Gakuin University is a Christian university with campuses in both Tokyo and Yokohama. The relationship began in 1965 with a summer program that brought Meiji Gakuin students to Hope, and has since expanded to include a similar program for Hope students, long-term student study-abroad, faculty exchanges and more.

Read about the history of the relationship, and learn how one alumnus from both institutions is still connected to the Hope family.

  • A man in a dark suit and pink tie speaks at a podium against a black background.
  • A man in a suit and tie stands behind a podium, speaking at an event celebrating the 50-year friendship between Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University.
  • A presentation hall at Hope College with a projected image of Toru Matsumoto, a significant figure in the history of Meiji Gakuin University, displayed on a screen. A speaker sits on the stage next to an empty chair, addressing an audience seated in rows. Banners representing Hope College's 150th anniversary and Meiji Gakuin University are positioned on either side of the stage.
  • A person with short hair and glasses, wearing a beige jacket and a pearl necklace, speaking at an event.
  • Two women are on stage during an event. One woman is seated and the other is standing, holding a book and a blue gift bag. The background features a large projector screen and a banner with the logo of Meiji Gakuin University. Audience members are visible in the foreground.
  • A woman wearing glasses and a beige jacket over a maroon top is seated and holding a piece of paper, speaking during an event.
  • A group of people engage in conversation during an event celebrating the 50-year friendship between Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University. A man in a suit holds a piece of paper and speaks to two others, with a Pepsi vending machine visible in the background.
  • Two elderly individuals, a man and a woman, are engaged in conversation with a man in a suit and glasses. They are in a bright indoor setting with other people in the background. The man in the suit holds his hand to his chest, and the elderly woman is holding a drink.
  • Four men in suits are engaged in a conversation at Hope College, celebrating the 50-year friendship with Meiji Gakuin University of Japan. A Pepsi vending machine is visible in the background.
  • Three men in suits stand on a stage in front of a wooden podium and colorful stained glass windows. The man at the podium is holding a piece of paper and speaking, while the other two men stand on either side, listening. A drum set is partially visible behind them.
  • A man in a suit and red striped tie stands at a wooden podium, smiling, with a drum set and colorful stained glass windows in the background.
  • Three men in suits stand in front of a podium with a microphone, with one man speaking. Behind them are vibrant stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes.
  • Representatives from Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University sign documents at a table covered with a Hope College tablecloth. Two men are standing behind them, and a group of students is seated in the background. Banners for both institutions are displayed behind the table.
  • Two men in suits are seated at a table signing documents during a ceremony. The table is covered with a blue cloth that has the Hope College logo and text "Hope College, Holland, Michigan." Behind them are two banners, one with the Hope College logo and "150", and the other with "Meiji Gakuin University" written in Japanese and English. A young person sits in the background on the left side of the image.
  • Representatives from Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University shake hands at a table with a Hope College tablecloth, surrounded by a group of people smiling, celebrating their 50-year friendship.
  • A large group of people, including students and faculty from Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University, gather in a bright, spacious room with large windows. In the front, representatives from both institutions are seated at a table with a "Hope College, Holland, Michigan" tablecloth, shaking hands to celebrate their 50-year partnership. Banners for both institutions are displayed behind them.
  • A newly planted tree with two shovels in the ground beside it on the Hope College campus. In the background, there is a black bench, a trash can, and several bicycles parked near a brick building.
  • Two men in suits are standing on either side of a young tree with shovels, placing dirt around its base. They are participating in a tree-planting ceremony in front of a brick and glass building.
  • Two men in suits are planting a tree together outside a building at Hope College to celebrate the 50-year friendship with Meiji Gakuin University. The man on the left is using a shovel, and the man on the right is holding a watering can.
  • A group of people, including students and faculty from Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University, standing in front of the Martha Miller Center at Hope College. Two men in the front center hold shovels, suggesting a ceremonial event. The building's red brick exterior and arched entrance are visible in the background.
  • Six individuals, five men and one woman, are standing together dressed in business attire at an event celebrating the 50-year friendship between Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University.
  • A person in a suit stands at a podium with a microphone, speaking during an event. Behind them is a yellow banner with the text "Meiji Gakuin University."
  • A woman stands at a podium speaking into a microphone. She is wearing a colorful, patterned blouse and a pearl necklace. Behind her is a yellow banner with the text "Meiji Gakuin" and a logo.
  • Five men in suits stand on a stage, with two banners in the background displaying "Hope College" and "Meiji Gakuin University." One man is speaking into a microphone while holding a plaque with a relief image, and two others assist in displaying it.
  • Three men in suits stand together smiling, with one man holding a plaque featuring a relief sculpture and inscriptions. In the background, a banner reads "Hope College."
  • Several men in suits are standing together having a discussion. One man holds a microphone and a statuette while the others listen attentively. A yellow banner with "Meiji Gakuin University" is visible in the background.
  • A group of five men in suits stand together, smiling, with two of them holding bronze statues. They are in front of a yellow banner that reads "Meiji Gakuin University," celebrating the 50-year friendship between Hope College and Meiji Gakuin University. A table with golden wrapped items and a pot of white flowers are visible in the background.

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