The asteroid known as 'Meizen', discovered in 1993, has been officially named to honor Kurume's prestigious Meizen High School. A naming ceremony took place on the 24th, where Kazuo Watanabe, the amateur astronomer responsible for the discovery, shared the challenges he faced during his research. The asteroid, which orbits between Mars and Jupiter, has an estimated diameter of 3.3 kilometers and had remained unnamed for many years since its discovery.

Watanabe's connection to the school stems from a request made by an alumnus of the school's Earth and Planetary Sciences Club, who sought permission to name the asteroid after the institution. Watanabe expressed his willingness to proceed with the naming, which was recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This event interestingly highlights the rarity of Japanese high schools having asteroids named in their honor, making this achievement particularly significant.

During the naming ceremony, Watanabe presented a plaque commemorating the naming of the asteroid to the school, further establishing the bond between the institution and the astronomical community. Meizen High School, with a rich historical legacy tracing back to the Kurume clan school, has added another prestigious milestone to its name through this unique connection to space explorations and discoveries.