Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku

2018/01/01

The Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku was launched as part of Keio University's 150th anniversary project. With the aim of cultivating leaders who aspire to contribute to the future by returning to the origins of the private school (juku), it has provided a forum for "dialogue and discussion" by bringing together students and working adults of different ages and backgrounds. An important concept decided upon during the program's planning was to *not teach* the participants. Under the spirit of `learning while teaching, teaching while learning`, participants are expected to learn for themselves and be able to contribute something themselves. For this reason, we only collect a 35,000 yen fee from participants to cover actual program operating costs and do not charge a so-called tuition fee. Participants are expected to give back by contributing to the program and by engaging in social contribution after completion.

The greatest appeal of the Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku lies not only in the content of its programs but also in the "people" who gather there. Keio students from almost all faculties, students from other national, public, and private universities such as the University of Tokyo and Waseda University, and a diverse group of people including central government officials, lawyers, accountants, trading company employees, artists, and homemakers all come together to spend an intensive three-month program sharing their experiences and ideas and inspiring one another. Furthermore, at the Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku, which advocates for contributing to the future, activities continue across different cohorts even after the program is completed, allowing for the development of deep and broad personal networks.

The Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku has key concepts quoted from Fukuzawa's words. These are the three concepts: "individuals with high aspirations (subjects of `independence and self-respect`)" who "strive together with 50 peers (`learning while teaching, teaching while learning`)" and eventually "become the driving force for 1,000 people (leading by example)." The aspirations of the founding members are also embedded in these concepts. Jiro Tamura, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the program coordinator since its establishment, says the following: "I believe that Fukuzawa built very flat relationships at the time of Keio University's founding. This idea of flat relationships is something that modern Japanese people need to study more. A seniority-based system where people cannot speak their minds is a detriment to society. Therefore, at the Fukuzawa Bunmeijuku, by using polite language in conversation and addressing each other with the suffix '-san,' we intentionally create a space where people of different ages can interact as equals, hoping that creative things will emerge from this mutual stimulation."

Until the 2017 academic year, we offered an educational program (capacity: approx. 50 people) twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters, each lasting about three months. Since 2008, we have run the Core Program 18 times and the special Environmental Education Program three times, producing 1,012 graduates to date. In the fall semester of the 2018 academic year, we will launch a new program to commemorate the 10th anniversary of our founding, aimed at providing recurrent education for our graduates and leadership education for high school students.

(Takashi Watabe, Administrative Director, Office of Community and Regional Affairs)