Celebrating a New Generation of Leaders at the September 2026 Degree Conferral Ceremony

The Frontier Spirit was in the air as NUCB Business School gathered to celebrate the September 2026 Degree Conferral Ceremony. Equipped with the knowledge, experiences, and friendships they gained along the way, our graduates stood ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.

This semester, 113 graduates received degrees in the MBA, Master in Management, and Master of Science programs, while 8 graduates completed certificate programs. The ceremony brought together graduates from across our programs, along with faculty, current students, alumni, and members of the wider community who came to celebrate their achievements and wish them well on the journeys ahead.

Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

Representing the graduating class, Viktoriia Tserkovnaia and Natsumi Hosoda, recognized as Frontier Scholars and representatives of their respective cohorts, addressed the Chancellor in English and Japanese, respectively. Both reflected on their experiences at NUCB Business School, speaking about meeting people from different backgrounds, learning alongside their classmates, and growing together as they pursued their dreams. Their speeches captured an important part of the experience at our institution: while each student arrives with their own goals, the people they meet and the perspectives they encounter along the way become part of the journey.

Joining Viktoriia and Natsumi at the head of the class were 20 students inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) honor society, having met the requirements for induction this semester.

A Final Framework From Dean Iwasawa

In his commencement address, Dean Professor Seiichiro Iwasawa reminded graduates that their degrees represent more than the completion of a program. They are a reflection of the hard work and commitment each student has invested in developing themselves as leaders in business.

Drawing on stories from graduates he had met throughout the week at case presentations and other events in Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya, Professor Iwasawa shared several examples of students who had come to NUCB Business School hoping to transform themselves and who had grown through their experiences.

• Yuki Naya, a Tokyo EMBA graduate, was encouraged to pursue his MBA by his wife, Saori, herself a graduate of the school. After delaying his application for years because of his demanding workload, he finally enrolled and immersed himself in the classes he could attend, ultimately joining his wife as an MBA graduate.
• Midori Ono first came to NUCB Business School in 2019 through the Women Leaders Development Program. Inspired to further develop and formally recognize her leadership through academic study, she went on to complete the PreMBA certificate program before enrolling in the MBA program. Over seven years, she became a familiar presence across the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya communities, building connections with classmates, including those in the English-speaking international cohorts.
• Ayano Asano, a Tokyo EMBA graduate, faced demanding expectations from her company and particularly challenging feedback on her case. She responded by repeatedly revising her work—eventually rewriting it 25 times—and graduated with her sights set on becoming her company's Chief Technology Officer.
• Minoru Goseki, a Tokyo EMBA graduate working in overseas sales, took advantage of an opportunity to study at partner school MDI Gurgaon in India. During his three-month stay, he expanded his professional network and returned with greater confidence and new opportunities for his company's business in India.

Though their circumstances were different, each story reflected the transformative experience that can come from stepping beyond familiar boundaries and committing to personal growth. Professor Iwasawa concluded by sharing one final lesson with the graduates: recognizing how we lead ourselves and grow as individuals helps us understand how to lead others as well.

A New Chapter Begins

As the ceremony came to a close, the atmosphere was one of gratitude and anticipation. Graduates celebrated the people who had shared their journeys, while current students and alumni gathered to offer congratulations and send them off toward whatever comes next.

The Frontier Spirit that has accompanied our graduates throughout their studies now goes with them beyond the classroom. Equipped with new knowledge, broader perspectives, and connections that reach across industries and borders, the September 2026 graduates begin the next chapter of their journeys.

Congratulations to all of our graduates, and best wishes for the road ahead.