KGU Welcomes More than 160 Exchange Students from 35 Countries and Regions for Spring Orientation
Kwansei Gakuin University welcomes international exchange students from overseas partner institutions twice a year, in the spring and fall. For Spring 2026, over 160 new exchange students from 35 countries and regions came to KGU; combined with the fall semester intake, approximately 250 exchange students are currently attending KGU, the most ever. On March 24, 2026, an orientation was held for newly arrived exchange students to discuss course registration, classes, and basic rules for day-to-day life in Japan.
At the outset, Vice President International Shizuka Narita gave an introductory address, saying “KGU accepting international exchange students and having you engage with our students, faculty, and staff is an extremely meaningful opportunity to bolster this university’s internationalization efforts. I would like to thank you all for choosing KGU as your study abroad school, and I hope that you will have a fulfilling time here.” After her speech, Associate Professor Yoriko Nishijima of the Japanese Language Education Center, who is also the coordinator of the Contemporary Japan Program, together with Associate Professor Matthias Hennings of the Center for International Exchange and Cooperation, greeted the new arrivals. The university’s cheerleaders and cheer squad then performed a dance and a rendition of the school song, “Sora no Tsubasa,” which was warmly received by the exchange students.
Afterwards, everyone moved to the Big Papa student cafeteria, where a welcome lunch was held to help the international students get to know one another better. Over lunch, the students enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere, getting to know each other through introductions and conversation. One student from Thailand shared her impressions of the campus, saying, “I’m delighted that Kwansei Gakuin University’s beautiful campus reminds me of my home university.” Another student from Finland said, “I chose KGU because my friend who studied here told me about the high-quality classes and the beautiful campus."
