Mita Public Speaking Event

It was Fukuzawa Yukichi and the early students of Keio University who introduced the methods of public speaking and debate to Japan as a means of conveying one's thoughts to a large audience. In 1874, they organized the Mita Public Speaking Event and opened it to the public. They also published books and rules that provided instruction on how to give speeches and conduct debates, working to popularize these methods. Keio University has carried on this tradition, holding the Mita Public Speaking Event every year at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), Japan's first dedicated hall for public speaking.

Details about the next Mita Public Speaking Event will be posted as soon as they are finalized.

  For inquiries by email, please click here.  

The content of past Mita Public Speaking Events is published in the Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press).

*Back issues of the Mita-hyoron are available here (Also available in the libraries on each campus).  

Nozomu Hayashi (Author and Japanese Literature Scholar)

Akiko Ota (Professor Emeritus, Keio University)

Alberto Miyanmartin (Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University)

Hiroyoshi Hashiguchi (Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo / Visiting Professor, Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, Keio University)

Takao Takahashi (Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Keio University)

Jun Murai (Dean, Graduate School of Media and Governance / Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University)

Takuo Takinohana (Fellow, The Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo)

Masaya Takayama (Professor Emeritus, Keio University / Former Director General, National Archives of Japan)

Makoto Ida (Professor Emeritus, Keio University / Professor, Chuo Law School)

  Ryosei Kokubun (President, National Defense Academy of Japan)

"The National Defense Academy and Keio University"  

  Yuichiro Yamagata (President and CEO, Toyo Keizai Inc.)

"A Media Revolution for the First Time in 570 Years: An Encouragement of the 'Keio J-School'"  

Nobuyoshi Hirose (Guest Professor (Part-time), Center for Supercentenarian Medical Research, School of Medicine, Keio University)

"Hints for Health and Longevity from Episodes of Supercentenarians"  

Masaki Komuro (Professor Emeritus, Keio University)

"Fukuzawa Yukichi and Capitalism: Focusing on His Economic Thought After 'Jitsugyoron' (On Business)"  

Masaru Tomita (Director, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University)

"From 'Saliva-based Cancer Diagnosis' to 'Artificial Spider Silk': The Challenge of Keio's Tsuruoka Campus"  

Eisuke Wakamatsu (Critic, Thinker, Editor-in-Chief of "Mita Bungaku")

"The Metaphysics of Words: The Origins of Poet-Philosopher Toshihiko Izutsu"  

Kohei Ohnishi (Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University)

"New Technology for Transmitting Force: The Future Society Opened Up by Real-World Haptics"  

Noriyuki Kanao (Chairman, Mita Hosokai / Attorney at Law)

"Lawyers: Their Role and Professional Ethics"  

Yoshiki Hiki (Chairman, Sanshikai, School of Medicine, Keio University)

"Practicing 'Medicine' with Compassion: Not Yet Burned Out"  

Fumihiko Maki (Architect, Representative of Maki and Associates)

"Language, Landscape, and Gathering: Characteristics that Emerged in the Modernization of Japanese Cities and Architecture"  

Takao Suzuki (Professor Emeritus, Keio University)

"On Japan's Foreign Language Strategy: Linguistic Ability is the 'Weapon' that Protects Japan"  

Hajime Yamazaki (Professor Emeritus, Keio University)

"Sports Medicine at Keio University: A Role in Leading Society"  

Kenji Tsuchiya (Professor Emeritus, Ochanomizu University)

"A Monistic Way of Thinking Invites Unhappiness"  

Akira Hayami (Professor Emeritus, Keio University)

"Historical Demography: Encounters, Historical Materials, Observations, and Challenges"  

Hiroshi Sakagami (Author, Chairman of the Mita Bungakukai, Keio University alumni)

"Kafu and Ryutaro's 'Mita Bungaku': On the Centennial of the First Issue of 'Mita Bungaku' Next Year"  

Osamu Inumaru (Theater Critic, Keio University alumni)

"Sei'ichiro Takahashi as a Man of the Theater: As a Spectator and as a Leader"  

Makoto Sataka (Critic, Keio University alumni)

"Fukuzawa Yukichi, the Cool-Headed Thinker"  

Yoko Wake (Professor, Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University) "A Message from the Global Environment: From the Limits to Growth to the Source of Growth"