Celebrating New Talents: 229 Graduates from Toyota's Technical Skills Academy Prepared to Soar in Their Careers
**At the Toyota Technical Skills Academy Graduation Ceremony**
Under a clear blue sky on February 17, 2025, the Toyota Technical Skills Academy held its annual graduation ceremony, where Chairman Akio Toyoda's presence held deep significance. Toyoda, who considers the graduates as his children, reinforced his commitment to nurturing talent within Toyota.
A total of 229 graduates, including 11 female high school students, participated in the ceremony, with their parental guardians and junior students present. The speaker, an instructor at the Academy, felt a mix of emotions as he addressed the graduating class. He had been with the class since they enrolled and felt a sense of pride in their achievements.
The speaker was not the only one expressing gratitude. Many graduates wrote letters to their families before the ceremony to express their thanks. One of these letters was delivered by Yuito Sakai, the student council president, who gave the speech on behalf of graduates this year. Sakai, who enrolled at the Academy to become more independent and reduce the burden on his parents, expressed his gratitude to them in his speech and expressed his readiness to leave school and take flight.
The graduation ceremony allotted about thirty minutes for graduates to express their gratitude to their families. Aoi Kudo, one of the female graduates, received a surprise gift of decorations from her mother, Satoko. The gifts were cups decorated with student portraits, intended to help the coaches remember the graduates.
Kazuyoshi Higashimoto and Yoshiki Matsui, members of the baseball team, also gave gifts to coach Yuki Futaba and advisor Yusuke Hisano before leaving the Academy. These small gestures highlighted the emotional bond that had developed between the students and their mentors.
Chairman Toyoda encouraged graduates to carry the feeling of being part of the Toyota family with them always. He emphasized the values of unity, mentorship, and support that are essential to Toyota’s culture of craftsmanship (monozukuri) and leadership development. By positioning himself as a "father" figure, Toyoda reinforced these values and personally acknowledged the graduates' achievements.
The speaker, who had initially felt uneasy about becoming an instructor due to lack of teaching experience, felt deeply moved by the ceremony. He decided to prioritize the trainees in all interactions, ensuring that they received the best possible education and support.
As the ceremony came to a close, the graduates left the Academy with a sense of purpose and a strong sense of belonging to the Toyota community. They were ready to take on the world, armed with the skills they had learned and the values they had internalized during their time at the Toyota Technical Skills Academy.
[1] This article is based on factual information provided in the bullet points. The opinions and interpretations are presented to enhance the readability and coherence of the article, but they do not represent the author's personal views or biases.
- The speakers and graduates at the Toyota Technical Skills Academy Graduation Ceremony expressed gratitude for the nurturing environment that facilitated their personal growth, education, and self-development.
- As Toyota's graduates embarked on their new lifestyle, they carried with them the values of unity, mentorship, and support instilled in them by Toyota's culture of craftsmanship, preparing them to build strong relationships in their future endeavors.
