April, when many people start a new life, is a time when you can often see people commuting to work or school with faces mixed with expectation and tension.
In Kurashiki City, an event called Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates is held every April for those who have graduated from school and newly joined businesses in the Kurashiki area.
What exactly takes place during this event?
I will report on the Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates for the fiscal year 2025.
What is the Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates?
The Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates has been held every April since 1973 for new graduates who have joined businesses in the Kurashiki area (Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town). The purposes are as follows:
- Welcoming new graduates
- Fostering attachment to Kurashiki City among new graduates
- Ensuring job retention for new graduates
In 2025, it was held on April 8 (Tuesday) from 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM at Kurashiki Civic Hall.
The event is organized by the Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates Executive Committee.
Many organizations are involved, including Kurashiki City, Kurashiki Central Employment Development Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kurashiki City, the Kurashiki City Shopping District Federation, and the Kurashiki Central Public Employment Security Office.
In 2025, a total of 62 companies and 432 new graduates participated.
The Day's Events
The ceremony consists of two parts: Ceremony Section and Discovering Kurashiki's Charm Section.
Ceremony Section
First, let's look at the Ceremony Section.
As the city anthem plays, the stage curtain rises and the ceremony begins. All participants recite the city charter together, and their energetic voices resonate throughout the venue.
After the recitation, Mayor Ito Kaori, representing the organizers, sent a message of encouragement: "Kurashiki has had a spirit of manufacturing since the Edo period. I hope you will work hard as people who support manufacturing, those who support workers, and many people who spend time in Kurashiki."
Additionally, Matsumura Sora from Kurashiki Unyu Co., Ltd., representing senior employees, welcomed the participants.
He advised, "When things don't go well, don't try to handle it alone; rely on your seniors," and shared, "My next dream is to buy a house for my family with the money I earn," which was an impressive display of a realistic dream as a working individual.
Then, on behalf of the participants, Yamato Haruma from Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima Plant expressed his aspirations: "I want to send messages to the world from Kurashiki, where many people visit from around the world."
Discovering Kurashiki's Charm Section
In the Discovering Kurashiki's Charm Section, two activities were held: Actually, I am ○○ and Quiz! Kurashiki King.
In this section, free announcer Nakashima Chiaki and talent Sakamoto Daisuke, who are active in Okayama, served as hosts.
The activities involved participants physically engaging in the events. Throughout, Nakashima and Sakamoto interviewed participants and made light-hearted comments, creating a lively atmosphere.
An Opportunity to Learn About Each Other: "Actually, I am ○○"
The first activity in the Discovering Kurashiki's Charm Section was "Actually, I am ○○." In this activity, participants raise papers distributed in advance according to prompts such as "from Kurashiki" or "have a special skill."
One of the most exciting prompts was, "I am confident that I have the farthest hometown." As participants from distant places such as Kyushu and Tohoku voiced their hometowns, cheers erupted from all around. The farthest participant was actually someone from overseas.
Especially when just starting a job, people often don't know much about each other.
This activity served as a recreation that became a starting point for conversations based on newfound aspects of their peers.
Learning About Kurashiki's Charm: "Quiz! Kurashiki King"
The main event of the Discovering Kurashiki's Charm Section was Quiz! Kurashiki King.
In this activity, participants answer names related to Kurashiki's festivals, products, and people in a rapid-fire format.
Participants were divided into eight teams labeled A to H based on the numbers given at entry, and they took turns answering questions. Some teams consisted of participants from the same company, while others were made up of participants from different companies.
A key rule was to answer with the official name.
Participants particularly struggled with the third question.
A video of the "Koh Hachiman Shrine Grand Festival," a festival in Kojima, was shown, and the question was to answer the name of the festival. While answers for "Koh Hachiman Shrine" came quickly, it took a while for correct answers like "Koh Hachiman Shrine Festival" or "Koh Hachiman Shrine Danjiri Festival" to emerge.
The more familiar something is, the harder it is to remember the official name.
From the quiz, I was able to rediscover Kurashiki.
Get Prizes Related to Kurashiki
The prizes and participation gifts for teams that answered correctly in Quiz! Kurashiki King are related to Kurashiki. Most of them are prizes related to the quizzes that were asked.
Betty Smith denim tote bags and a set of Noda Hatsu egg products were among the diverse prizes prepared from various areas of Kurashiki.
Even for those who could not answer the quiz correctly, the participation gifts were quite luxurious, such as Furuichi's Bukkake udon for two servings.
I found them all to be items I would want.
But that's not all. Participants also received a commemorative gift of an original small item holder and tatami edge coaster from Takata Orimono. This small item holder is exclusive to the event.
Every time I use it, I will remember this event and it serves as a wonderful keepsake to return to my roots.
I Want You to Know More About Working in Kurashiki
What I felt at the Welcome Ceremony for New Graduates was not only the deepening of friendships among participants through the exchange activities but also the organizers' desire for participants to know more about working in Kurashiki City.
Before covering the event, I was unaware that such a gathering was being held, and I had imagined a formal event where guests and representatives would give speeches.
However, in reality, I saw participants enjoying quizzes not only with their colleagues from the same company but also with participants from different companies, and during breaks, the atmosphere was lively. I was able to learn about Kurashiki through the quizzes, and I enjoyed the event as a reporter.
I look forward to seeing the participants of this event thrive in Kurashiki.
Data for the Welcome Event for New Graduates of Schools in 2025
| Name | Welcome Event for New Graduates of Schools in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Date | From 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM |
| Location | Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki City, Honmachi 17-1, Kurashiki Civic Hall |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 1,500 yen per person 2,500 yen if using the shuttle bus |
