Former Jukukan-kyoku (Rengakodo (Auditorium))

2023/10/31

The site of the Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration) in Mita was formerly occupied by the brick-built Former Jukukan-kyoku. This building was half-destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (Taisho 12), demolished the following year, and replaced by the current Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration) in 1926.

The Former Jukukan-kyoku was completed in August 1887 (Meiji 20). It was a magnificent, two-story brick building of approximately 900 square meters, with fourteen rooms of 40–50 square meters and one room of 100 square meters, capable of accommodating 400–500 students. At the time, the former residence of the Shimabara Domain, the Former Jukukan-kyoku, and the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) stood side by side. The Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) was relocated to its current site in 1924, as the Jukukan-kyoku had to be rebuilt due to the Great Kanto Earthquake.

The architect of the Former Jukukan-kyoku was Hisakichi Fujimoto, the second son of Gentai Fujimoto, who was a cousin of Yukichi Fukuzawa. After studying at the Juku, he graduated from the Department of Architecture at the Imperial College of Engineering as a member of the second graduating class. The Imperial College of Engineering was the predecessor of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, and he studied under Josiah Conder. Incidentally, Tatsuzo Sone of Sone & Chujo Architects, who designed the new Jukukan-kyoku, was a member of the first graduating class of the Imperial College of Engineering, one year senior to Fujimoto. The Former Jukukan-kyoku was Keio University's first brick building. Around this time, the main gate (Kuromon) was on the side of the Maboroshi no Mon (East Gate), and it was the first building to catch the eye as one walked up the slope. For the young people of that era, this Western-style school building must have been an object of aspiration and ideals.

The Former Jukukan-kyoku was in use for 36 years until its demolition, ending its short life as a building. "Jukukan-kyoku" is a term unique to Keio. During the Meiji period, the Juku's affairs were managed primarily by three officials: the head teacher, the Jukukan (dormitory supervisor/general affairs manager), and the chief accountant. The Jukukan's role at the time mainly involved handling general affairs and overseeing the dormitories. Eventually, the job title of Jukukan was abolished, and in the 1900s (late Meiji 40s), the term Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration) came to be widely used to refer to the entire administrative organization. This name was then used for the building itself. When the Former Jukukan-kyoku was first completed, it was called the "Kodo" (Lecture Hall). It also seems to have been known by other names such as the Dai-ichi Kodo (First Lecture Hall) and the Rengakodo (Auditorium). Originally, it was a building for classrooms and did not house administrative departments. At the time of its completion, parts of the middle residence of the former Shimabara Domain were still being extended and used as classrooms, and the administrative department (Jukukan-kyoku) was located within them.

When the Former Jukukan-kyoku was built, Keio University was only about 30 years old. Starting around 1884 (Meiji 17), academic affairs were gradually organized through curriculum reforms, and momentum was building for the establishment of a college. In 1890, the long-awaited college was established. A commercial school was also founded in 1891. Enrollment at Keio University steadily increased along with the Juku's growth and development. As the student population grew, school buildings were gradually expanded and improved, and the Former Jukukan-kyoku was the first building that spurred this development.

(Hirofumi Watanabe, Office of Facilities and Property Management)