Zen-Kei-Ren

2020/02/28

Image: Scene of stalls by various prefectural student associations in the courtyard at the Mita Festival around 1990

At Keio University, prefectural associations formed by students from the same hometown are called "student associations," and the All Keio Student Federation (commonly known as Zen-Kei-Ren) is their collective organization. Its history is long, and it has been an autonomous organization of Keio students for over 70 years since its establishment in June 1948, with the President serving as its head. Furthermore, in the All Keio Student Council, which is the highest decision-making body for Keio students' autonomous activities, it is considered one of the seven upper organizations with voting rights, alongside the Athletic Association Headquarters and the Cultural Federation Headquarters, making it a group with strong influence on student autonomous activities. Currently, it oversees about 20 regional student associations, though the number of groups has fluctuated, and there was a time around the year 2000 when over 40 student associations participated. In recent years, it has also functioned as a place for international exchange, such as when a student association for those from China joined, and it remains a place that welcomes Keio students from various backgrounds and promotes interaction in every era.

Since its establishment, the organization has held three activity goals: "mutual friendship among Keio students," "improvement and exchange of regional culture," and "promotion of the Juku spirit." By deepening connections with Keio students from the same hometown and encouraging interaction with student associations from other regions, it expands the range of human relationships within Keio. It also aims to form relationships outside the university, including with Keio University alumni, by deepening interactions with people from their home regions and the Mita-kai to foster mutual understanding. The main purpose of its activities is to contribute independently to the free and cultural student life of Keio University.

To embody the above activity goals, the organization has a history of engaging in various activities alongside the transitions of over 70 years. There was a time when they reported on their activities by publishing the bulletin "All Keio" twice a year. As an activity that has continued uninterrupted from the past, each prefectural association has set up stalls at the Mita Festival to serve local cuisine (though this has not been implemented in the last few years) and sell specialty local sake, actively promoting their home regions both inside and outside the university.

Recent initiatives include university-linked activities such as participating as advisors in off-campus briefings like the "Waseda-Keio Joint Briefing" and "Academic Consultation Fair" organized by the university, as well as participating in consultation sessions and lectures for students from regional areas at on-campus admissions events. Additionally, Keio students have independently planned regional exchange programs, visiting regional high schools to deepen interactions with high school students and promoting the Juku spirit in person to prospective students who will be the Keio students of the future. On the other hand, there is a strong sense of enthusiasm to strengthen and revitalize connections online by actively incorporating social media outreach.

Zen-Kei-Ren can be described as a warm student organization, like a place of relaxation, where Keio students can recognize the unique "connections" of Keio—which many feel after graduation—from their time as students.

(Kazutaka Kubota, Office of Student Services, Faculty of Science and Technology)