Pierre Trudeau: A Foreigner Who Visited the Juku

2016/12/12

On October 22, 1976, Pierre Trudeau, the 20th and 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and father of Justin Trudeau, who became the 29th Prime Minister of Canada last year, visited the Juku. The evening edition of the Sankei Shimbun that day reported the visit in an article titled "Prime Minister Trudeau Visits Keio University, Receives Honorary Doctorate, Observes Lectures," as follows:

"Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, visiting Japan as an official guest of Prime Minister Miki, visited Keio University in Minato-ku, Tokyo, shortly after 10:00 a.m. on the 22nd. In addition to receiving an honorary doctorate, he observed the library—a symbol of Keio University—and the classroom scenes of the Canadian Studies course. (...) He then attended the degree conferral ceremony at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall). The honorary doctorate was awarded to Prime Minister Trudeau for his 34 years of contributions to politics and society. Along with the degree, he was presented with works such as 'The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi' by the founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa. Prime Minister Trudeau smiled throughout, expressing his gratitude by saying, 'I am honored.' Afterward, he observed the 'Canadian Studies' course in Room 107 of the First Building. He appeared satisfied to see the Keio students listening intently to the lecture on Canadian history given by Mr. Henry V. Nelles (Keio University lecturer)."

Lecturer Nelles was an associate professor at York University at the time. The evening edition of the Mainichi Shimbun reported as follows:

"Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, currently visiting Japan, visited Keio University in Mita, Tokyo, on the morning of the 22nd to receive an honorary degree. The university invited him on this day in response to the Canadian government's donation of a Canadian Studies course to the university. Prime Minister Trudeau, wearing a navy suit with a bright red rose, arrived at the university at 11:00 a.m. and was met by President Hiroshi Kuno and others. President Kuno greeted him, saying, 'The path Prime Minister Trudeau has walked aligns with our university's educational policies. We award this degree in prayer for the Prime Minister's further success.' In response, the Prime Minister encouraged the audience, saying, 'I hope that you will all strive for the advancement of learning.'"

The two articles use different spellings for the name, "Torudo" and "Toryudo," but this article will use "Trudeau" consistently. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 10:10 a.m., started without a hitch. Although not mentioned in the two articles, Prime Minister Trudeau gave a brief speech of thanks at the ceremony. The speech by Prime Minister Trudeau preserved in the Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press) is short and titled simply "Reflections."

By the way, why did Keio University award an honorary degree to Prime Minister Trudeau? It is a curious point, but it is not clear from the two articles. It remains ambiguous today.

The reasons for the conferral were clarified in the ceremony proceedings at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) by then-President Kuno as follows.

President Kuno first referred to the biography of Prime Minister Trudeau, born in 1919, noting that after graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Montreal, he studied law, economics, and political science at Harvard University in the U.S., Sciences Po in France, and the London School of Economics (LSE). After withdrawing from the Doctoral Programs at Harvard, he worked as a lawyer in Quebec, published his own magazine (Cité Libre) to lead public debate, and became an assistant professor at the University of Montreal Faculty of Law. Alongside his lectures and research, he was involved in labor union activities and political activities (such as serving as an advisor to federal politicians). He became a federal Member of Parliament at age 46, served as House Leader and Minister of Justice, and became Prime Minister at the young age of 49.

Next, expressing sympathy for the academic and political convictions that served as the philosophy for Prime Minister Trudeau's research, educational, and political activities as a lawyer and politician, Kuno stated: "When I trace Prime Minister Trudeau's career and the path he has walked, I feel there an idealism backed by positivism and an independent spirit of deeply caring for one's country. I cannot help but feel a strong sense of affinity, finding similarities with the academic traditions of Keio University. One of the educational policies of Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of our Keio University, was jitsugaku (science)—that is, learning based on empirical facts and permeated by a strictly demonstrative spirit—and the other is the spirit of independence and self-respect. In this sense, it is extremely significant for Keio University to award the title of Honorary Doctor to Prime Minister Trudeau."

However, President Kuno continued: "Furthermore, the Canadian government recently donated a Canadian Studies course to Keio University. As you are all well aware, this course opened this October with the arrival of the young and spirited Dr. Nelles. I am confident that this course will eventually bear great fruit, not only contributing significantly to the improvement of academic culture at Keio University and in our country but also serving as a major bridge to promote academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Canada. I would like to express my profound gratitude once again to the Canadian government and Prime Minister Trudeau."

While the former was the primary reason, this appears to be the second reason for the honorary doctorate conferral.

Trudeau was the third national leader to receive an honorary degree from the Juku, following Prime Minister Nehru of India and Chancellor Adenauer of West Germany. Later, degrees were also awarded to Chancellor Kohl of Germany and Prime Minister (later President) Chirac of France. Compared to these politicians, and compared to other recipients who were great scholars or famous literary figures, the conferral upon Prime Minister Trudeau—who had relatively short experience as a scholar and shallow experience as a federal politician—was unusual.

Rather, the main reason for the conferral may have been a gesture of thanks for the donation of the Canadian Studies course. At the time, acting on the wishes of Prime Minister Trudeau, who wanted to reform the Canadian economy and reduce its heavy reliance on the U.S. economy, the Canadian government may have donated the Canadian Studies course to the Juku as a first step toward strengthening relations with Japan, leading to the conferral of an honorary doctorate upon Prime Minister Trudeau in return.

One might wonder why the donation of a Canadian Studies course would be a reason for awarding an honorary doctorate. At the time, it was likely considered that important. In particular, it is significant that Professor Taira, a constitutional scholar who could correctly evaluate Mr. Trudeau as a scholar, initiated this matter, and Professor Tadao Ishikawa, then Dean of the Faculty of Law, recommended the conferral of the honorary doctorate to the Juku authorities on behalf of the faculty. Professor Tadao Ishikawa was a figure who, after serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law, served as President for a long time, not only encouraging the further post-war development of Keio University but also successfully increasing the value of the Department of Political Science by developing regional studies and international political research within the department alongside the creation of new faculties.

At that time, in addition to the enhancement of regional studies, it was an era of great innovation. In the fields of politics and sociology, a shift from normative political science to empirical political science was taking place, centered on Professors Keizo Yoneyama and Tadashi Horie. Simultaneously, entrance exam reforms led by Professor Isumi Totoki were proceeding alongside the restructuring of the political science curriculum.

Professor Ishikawa himself left great achievements in Chinese regional studies. By the time Prime Minister Trudeau visited Japan, Ishikawa had effectively utilized the talented individuals under his tutelage to establish regional studies for China, the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, North America (USA), Central and South America, the Soviet Union, and Africa, in addition to the studies of European countries that had existed since before the war. The only major regions remaining were Oceania, the Indian subcontinent, and Canada in North America.

Since the offer of a course donation from the Canadian government came during this period of expansion for regional studies, Professor Ishikawa was likely very pleased. He may have thought the existence of the course would provide a good foundation for training Canadian studies researchers in the future. To coincide with the start of the Canadian Studies course and Prime Minister Trudeau's visit, the honorary doctorate was likely awarded to Prime Minister Trudeau after also evaluating his achievements prior to becoming a federal politician.

So, did Prime Minister Trudeau not have great achievements worthy of an honorary doctorate? At the time, it does not seem that Prime Minister Trudeau's great achievements were fully understood in Japan.

Looking back now, regardless of his achievements as a scholar, he left great achievements as a Prime Minister. This lies in his leading of a major political innovation: the introduction of "multiculturalism." In Quebec, where there are many French-Canadians, a sense of restriction had been felt for a long time within a Canada heavily influenced by Britain before and after the war. Consequently, momentum for separation and independence grew from the 1960s, and extremism promoting independence emerged, leading to the kidnapping and killing of federal and provincial ministers in 1970 (the October Crisis). Trudeau, who became Prime Minister during an era when the crisis of Canadian disintegration was being shouted, was from Quebec but opposed Quebec independence. Instead, he introduced multiculturalism based on bilingualism in 1971, guaranteeing the maintenance of the culture and language of French-speaking Quebecers. He navigated the crisis of Canadian disintegration represented by the October Crisis. Furthermore, he is a person of note for spreading multiculturalism to the world as a new principle of social integration for nation-states becoming multicultural societies in the subsequent era of international migration. His visit to Japan and the conferral of the honorary doctorate occurred immediately after these events, though it seems the award was not made with a full awareness of that significance. However, in retrospect, it can be said to have been a wonderful honorary doctorate conferral.

Perhaps stimulated by the donation of the Canadian Studies course and the conferral of the honorary doctorate upon the Canadian Prime Minister, it was shortly after this that the Australian government donated an Australian Studies course and books to the International Center and simultaneously lobbied the author to establish an Australian Studies course in the Faculty of Law.