Hoisting the Keio School Flag

2021/09/10

Perhaps the first thing new students entering Keio University see is the Keio School Flag hoisted on the roof of the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. After passing through the avenue of ginkgo trees, they must have been thrilled to look up at the Keio School Flag flying high in the sky, realizing they were now members of Keio University and about to start their university life.

Currently, the Keio School Flag is hoisted mainly for important annual events. These include the spring and fall entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, commencement, the Yukichi Fukuzawa-Francis Wayland Memorial Lecture, the Fukuzawa Award and Keio Award ceremonies, Yukichi Fukuzawa's birthday, Keio Foundation Day, and other special lectures, totaling about 10 times a year. It is not raised at night, and while it may be raised in light rain, no flag other than the Keio School Flag has ever been hoisted.

The Keio School Flag is hoisted at three locations on the Mita Campus: the Main Gate, the fourth-floor balcony of the East Research Building, and the roof of the Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration) building. When a lecture is held at the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), it is also displayed at the entrance of the hall. On the Hiyoshi Campus, it is usually hoisted at one location, the roof of the Commemorative Hall, but it can also be raised in front of the Hiyoshi Kaido "Hiyoshi Kaido" Senior High School Gymnasium, at the athletics stadium, and on the roof of the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex. On the Yagami Campus, it is hoisted at one location on the roof of the Sosokan building. At SFC, there are three locations: in front of the Main Building (Alpha Building), in front of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care Main Building, and in the courtyard of the Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School. On the Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus, a flagpole was recently installed in front of Building 1, and on the Shinanomachi Campus, there is a flagpole in the courtyard of Building 2.

In addition, there are many places at Athletic Association-related facilities where the flag can be raised, with flagpoles installed at various grounds such as the baseball field, the athletics stadium, tennis courts, and the equestrian field. At remote locations, flagpoles are also available to hoist the flag at places like Tateshina Lodge, the Tateyama Training Camp, and the Yamanaka Lodge.

The Keio School Flag, also known as the Sanshokuki (three-colored flag), features The Pen Mark on a design of navy blue, red, and navy blue stripes. Although a Keio School Flag has existed since the Meiji era, the standards for the flag were established in 1964, leading to its current design. The design is used not only for the flag but also for banners, curtains, armbands, and pennants.

The Keio School Flag hoisted on the roof of the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall measures 3.5m by 2.3m, the size of six tatami mats, making it the largest flag owned by Keio. When viewed from below, it does not seem that large, but it is quite sizable up close. This flag was a gift from the construction company to celebrate the completion of the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. The fluttering flag can be seen from as far away as Shin-Kawasaki Station, two kilometers away. Hoisting the flag also serves to inform the surrounding area that a celebratory event is taking place.

The flag is also an essential item for cheering at sporting events. The sight of everyone waving small flags to show their support is a familiar and cherished scene.

A flag is respected and treated with care as a symbol of its organization or group and a sign of unity, playing an important role as proof of identity.

(Hiroshi Watanabe, Office of Facilities and Property Management)