On February 17, 2025, the Toyota Technical Skills Academy held its graduation ceremony while a cool breeze blew beneath a clear blue sky. At the auditorium, 229 graduates put their school days behind them as their parental guardians and junior students celebrated.
Chairman Akio Toyoda attended the graduation again this year and asked the graduates, “What did you learn here? Was it not the kindness to care for someone other than yourself, and gratitude to the family that has raised you until now?”
With graduation before them, the students were overcome with strong feelings about their families. Chairman Toyoda shared his message to the graduates, who “To me, all 229 of the graduates here are a part of the Toyota family,” he said. Later he added, “I hope you will carry this feeling with you always.”
Read Chairman Toyoda’s full speech.
Until this year, the student council president has given the speech on behalf of graduates, but this year the speaker was selected from applicants responding to an open call. Chosen for the task was Yuito Sakai, who decided to enroll at the Academy out of a desire to be more independent and reduce the burden on his parents. Looking back on the past three years and the many times he wanted to give up but persevered, he said, “To my father and mother, please do not worry about me anymore.” As he spoke, his expression showed his readiness to leave school and take flight.
This week’s video also covers life at the Academy in the days leading up to graduation, all the way to the students moving out of the dormitories the day following the ceremony.
See the tears and smiles revealing the deep feelings welling up in 229 graduates in this week’s episode.