[Feature: Ocean Sustainability / Mini-Feature: 150th Anniversary of Keio Yochisha Elementary School] Toshikazu Ohno: The Source of the Yochisha Family - The "Yochisha Shimbun" and "Ko'uma"

2024/06/24

Image: 150th Anniversary Ceremony of Keio Yochisha Elementary School (May 30, Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall)

The other day, while reading an NHK article, a sentence caught my eye: "Family is something you 'do.' It is no longer something you naturally 'become.'" It went on to say that efforts to deepen bonds, such as eating together and having conversations, are important. This made a lot of sense to me. When I reflect on what I try to keep in mind in my daily life, I certainly try to value conversation. In particular, knowing about each other by asking "What happened today?" is the first step for a family and is very important. Furthermore, I feel that bonds are deepened when conversations become lively through shared hobbies or topics.

The "Yochisha Shimbun" contains these elements. By publishing weekly, it quickly and accurately conveys what kind of daily lives Yochisha students are leading. It also includes special features as reading material. The Yochisha Shimbun plays the role of the conversation at the dinner table itself, conveying "what happened today" and providing topics like "here is an interesting story." Indeed, it might be said that the "Yochisha Shimbun" is the source of the Yochisha family.

Looking back at history, the "Yochisha Shimbun" was once discontinued during the war, but after the war ended, the then-Principal Kogoro Yoshida revived the "Yochisha Shimbun" in 1948, which continues to this day. Then, in 1961, it became the "weekly" newspaper that still continues now. The thoughts written in the words of the revival and the afterword of the first weekly issue are precisely about "conveying information quickly and accurately" and providing "reading material." I hope to inherit these values and further nurture the "Yochisha family" while having conversations through the newspaper.

Next, I would like to discuss the term "Yochisha family." Originally, "Yochisha family" was a term coined by Kogoro Yoshida. As the war intensified, Yochisha students at the time were evacuated in groups to Shuzenji in Shizuoka and Kizukuri in Aomori to escape the fires of war. Mr. Yoshida was the person in charge who protected the Yochisha students and became the Principal after the war. Also, because paper ran out due to the war, the newspapers and magazines ("Bun to Shi") published by Yochisha at the time were discontinued, but Mr. Yoshida decided to revive the newspaper and founded "Ko'uma" as a new magazine.

In the inaugural issue of "Ko'uma," Mr. Yoshida stated the following: "I want to call the whole entity formed by children, parents, and teachers the 'Yochisha family.' I pray that this magazine will be, for example, a laboratory, a salon, and a dining table for the 'Yochisha family.' I want everyone to discuss seriously and enjoy talking with each other. It goes without saying that the children are the center of everything." Mr. Yoshida also stated: "After the defeat in the war, I often used the term 'Yochisha family.' It refers to the current students as the center, along with teachers, staff, janitors, graduates, and parents all together. I wanted everyone to create a good home together. (Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press), January 1980 issue)"

It is clear that Mr. Yoshida hoped for as many people as possible to participate in the conversation. When I was in charge of "Ko'uma," I respected Mr. Yoshida's wishes and called for contributions from parents. To be honest, it was the same during Mr. Yoshida's own time, but both then and now, few parents respond to the call for contributions. However, on the other hand, I understand that parents are "good listeners." They are likely "good listeners" at their own dining tables at home as well. I believe that at the dining table of Ko'uma, they watch over the chatter of students and teachers with a warm gaze, understanding and quietly supporting the Yochisha family.

Now, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary and look back at the source of the Yochisha family, I must tell you about the state of Yochisha 150 years ago.

Going back 150 years, Yochisha was born on the hill of Mita. The first Principal was Yoshiro Wada. Yukichi Fukuzawa entrusted the education of the young children attending Keio University and his own children to Mr. Wada, in whom he had absolute trust. Mr. Wada had the children board at his home and, together with his wife Kisa and younger sister Hide, educated them as "Wada Juku (later Yochisha)." Mr. Wada was large in stature and skilled in jujutsu, but his personality was extremely gentle. At that time, it seems Mr. Wada would fix the futons of the sleeping children, and Kisa and Hide would take care of the meals. For Mr. and Mrs. Wada, who had no children of their own, the Yochisha students must have felt exactly like family. In other words, Yochisha was already a Yochisha family from the time Mr. and Mrs. Wada started it as Wada Juku. It can probably be said that this was the time in the 150-year history of Yochisha when it was most enveloped in the school spirit of the "Yochisha family." The source of the source of the Yochisha family may ultimately be traced back to Mr. Wada's character.