Keiichi Inamine: Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary of Reversion to Japan—Keio University and Okinawa

2022/05/13

In 1881 (Meiji 14), Mochiaki Uesugi, the last lord of the Yonezawa Domain, arrived in Okinawa as the second Governor of Okinawa Prefecture. This was two years after the transition from "Ryukyu" to Okinawa Prefecture.

Because he challenged the government's policy of preserving old customs and pushed for policies aimed at reforming prefectural administration and breaking down old traditions, he was dismissed in 1883, only two years after taking office. The only policy adopted from Mochiaki, who was called the "Tragic Lord," was the system for prefectural-funded study abroad students.

Mochiaki selected five outstanding students and sent them to Gakushuin. Four of them transferred to Keio University. Except for Zenzutsu Yamaguchi, who pursued a career in the judiciary, the other three returned to Okinawa and were active in many fields, spanning the worlds of politics, finance, and the media.

Chofu Ota served as president of the Ryukyu Shimpo after founding it, president of the Okinawa Sugar Company, and Mayor of Shuri. Chokyo Takamine joined Ota in founding the Ryukyu Shimpo and served as president of the Bank of Okinawa, the first chairman of the prefectural assembly, Okinawa's first member of the House of Representatives, and Mayor of Shuri. Gasho Kishimoto served as a member of the House of Representatives, president of the Okinawa Mainichi Shimpo, president of the Bank of Okinawa, and Mayor of Naha.

They are truly models of human resource development. Having learned the spirit of Yukichi Fukuzawa, they played a major role in the modernization of Okinawa.

However, the study abroad system was discontinued after the first round. After that, there were almost no admissions to Keio from Okinawa, and Keio University alumni appeared only sporadically.

After the war, Okinawa was placed under U.S. administration. While systems for studying in the U.S. and mainland government-funded study abroad programs began, the number of students entering the Juku remained small. Meanwhile, Waseda University, through the consideration of President Nobumoto Ohama from Yaeyama, held local entrance exams in Okinawa and secured 30 successful applicants per year. Feeling a sense of crisis at the momentum of the Waseda group, four Keio University alumni—Masao Minei, Yoshiaki Miyagi, Nobuo Kinjo, and Shigehiko Toma—went to Mita to request the "realization of an Okinawa quota." In response, they reportedly received a cold reply: "Keio targets the entire world, so we cannot treat Okinawa as special."

Although discouraged for a time, they were moved by the scene at the 1963 Juku graduation ceremony where Hiroshi Makiya from Miyako was chosen as the valedictorian of the School of Medicine. Deciding to start with what they could do, they moved to form the Okinawa Mita-kai under Chairman Masao Minei. Since then, it has been held every year, albeit with a small group of about a dozen people.

After the reversion in 1972, although the number of students from within the prefecture did not increase that much, many mainland companies established branches and sales offices in the prefecture. There were many Keio University alumni among those members, and the Okinawa Mita-kai began to show signs of liveliness.

For those from the mainland, it was a place where they could suddenly gain human networks and information in a new land, so they participated actively. However, personnel changes at mainland companies were frequent, and the membership was fluid.

Because there were few students entering the Juku, in order to revitalize the Okinawa Mita-kai, they actively recruited anyone related to the Juku, including the Okinawa Correspondence Mita-kai, those with experience in medical offices, and parents. Among them, the existence of the Okinawa Correspondence Mita-kai (Chairman Shin Izumikawa), established in 1970, two years before the reversion, stands out. Under U.S. administration, they traveled to Tokyo by connecting ships and night trains, experiencing schooling that lasted as long as a month and a half while worrying about their workplaces; some members took over ten years to graduate. Perhaps because of this, their school spirit was strong, and they also valued interaction with organizations in other prefectures. they continued to participate actively in the activities of the Okinawa Mita-kai.

Under U.S. military rule, the academic level in Okinawa was low, making it difficult to go directly to famous schools, and there were many cases of studying on the mainland starting from junior high or high school.

Fortunately, after the reversion to Japan, academic ability improved and preparatory schools emerged. Along with this, the number of high schools given recommendation quotas for Keio increased. Growth has been particularly rapid since the start of the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC).

During that time, many people associated with the Juku, including then-President Yasuhiko Torii, visited Okinawa and attended meetings of the Okinawa Mita-kai and the regional liaison meetings for families of university Keio students. Their sincere response can be said to have further accelerated this movement.

Accordingly, the membership of the Okinawa Mita-kai gradually increased, eventually surpassing the 200 mark, with local members outnumbering those from the mainland. As the situation reached a point where it could transition from traditional social club activities to organized activities, I also stepped down from the position of chairman, which I had held for about 40 years following Chairman Masao Minei. With the promotion of Hiroyuki Motonaga, Vice President of Okinawa Electric Power, to President, a new Okinawa Mita-kai started under the new Chairman Motonaga. Furthermore, both the new Chairman Motonaga and Director Takenobu Chibana were appointed as councilors of the Keio Rengo Mita-Kai, further boosting the mood of the Okinawa Mita-kai.

The Okinawa Mita-kai is a member of the Kyushu Mita-kai, but in the past, it had declined to host the rotating meetings due to an unready organizational structure. Under the new Motonaga administration, I hope that the day when the Kyushu Mita-kai can be held in Okinawa will come as soon as possible.