[Book Review] "Fukuzawa Yukichi: On Education—Independent but Not Isolated" (Edited by Keita Yamauchi and Shunsaku Nishikawa)

2024/06/25

Recently, I received a copy of "Fukuzawa Yukichi: On Education" (Keio University Press, 2024; hereinafter referred to as the "New Edition"), edited by Keita Yamauchi. I had heard for some time that a revised and expanded edition of "The Collected Works of Fukuzawa Yukichi, Volume 5" (Keio University Press, 2002; hereinafter referred to as the "Old Edition"), which was published with the late Professor Shunsaku Nishikawa as co-editor, would be released, and it has finally been published.

Comparing the contents of the old and new editions immediately, several new documents have been added as supplements, and the commentary at the end of the book has been carefully revised, including references to these newly collected materials. Furthermore, although it is a voluminous book of nearly 500 pages including the main text and commentary, it has been redesigned with a softcover, making it flexible and handy.

The many discourses by Fukuzawa contained in this book—including speeches, editorials, letters, and memorial tributes to students—all have various contexts as their background. Since they are recorded in their original Meiji-era literary style rather than in modern Japanese translation, at first glance, they maintain the appearance of somewhat unapproachable "historical documents."

Based on this nature as a collection of historical materials, the Old Edition provided furigana for expressions that are somewhat difficult to understand or phrasings unique to Fukuzawa. Furthermore, short explanations regarding the meanings of those words, proper nouns such as personal names appearing in the text, and historical facts were noted in the margins of each odd-numbered page of the two-page spreads. The New Edition carries forward this editorial policy, which envisions a wide range of readers beyond historical researchers.

Let us turn our perspective slightly toward the content of this book. In fact, there have been several collections of materials themed on Fukuzawa's educational theory, such as "Selected Works of Fukuzawa Yukichi, Volume 3" (Iwanami Shoten, 1980; edited by Masafumi Tomita, with Masami Yamazumi as selector and commentator) and "Fukuzawa Yukichi's Collected Essays on Education" (Iwanami Bunko, 1991; edited by Yamazumi). This is because there was no thinker in Japan during the latter half of the 19th century who worked as passionately as Fukuzawa toward the creation and realization of a modern image of humanity.

However, while Fukuzawa's educational theory certainly guided Japan's modernization, there were many areas where it ended in vain. Mr. Yamauchi also clearly states in the "Preface" (described later) of this book: "Fukuzawa's educational theory... was a minority view not only in the Meiji era but even in the Showa era until the end of the war, and it never came to represent the mainstream of the times."

So, what is the aim of the editor of this collection? It can be found in the fact that the compiled materials are arranged not merely as subject matter for extracting Fukuzawa's educational theory ideologically and abstractly, but within an organic connection linked to the "place" of Keio University, where Fukuzawa himself practiced and attempted education.

Opening the table of contents, Part I is devoted to "Keio University" and Part II to "Learning and Education." Part I features themes such as "The Naming of Keio University," "The Reform and Maintenance of Keio University," "Establishment of the Integrated Education System," "The Beginning of Public Speaking," "Basic Policy on Education," "An Appeal to the Keio Gijuku Shachu," "Admonitions to Keio students," and "Mourning the Early Death of Students." Part II continues with "Independence of Learning," "The Aspirations and Pride of Scholars," "Educational Theory," "Home Education," "Specialized Education," "Independence of School Education," and "Social Education." In both Parts I and II, several documents are classified under each theme. Famous essays in Fukuzawa's educational theory, such as "On the Scholar's Peace of Mind" (1876), "On Moral Training" (1882), "The Independence of Learning" (1883), and "On Civilized Education" (1889), are all contained in Part II.

On the other hand, Part I contains documents calling upon the Keio Gijuku Shachu, Keio students, and former students, as well as reforms to the academic organization including integrated education. These convey that Fukuzawa's discourses related to education were issued while intersecting with the landscapes associated with Keio University. The structure of this book appeals to the reader that, in order to understand Fukuzawa's educational theory, one must not forget that his theories were forged through a constant back-and-forth with the site of their practice.

Beyond this, in the New Edition, Mr. Yamauchi contributes a preface titled "To Enjoy Reading This Book," and it is noteworthy that he newly recommends "reading aloud several materials as if you were Fukuzawa Yukichi, without worrying about the fine details of the meaning." He explains that by tasting the rhythm of Fukuzawa's literary style through the voice, it becomes "significantly easier to read."

Currently, Mr. Yamauchi holds the position of Vice-President in charge of the integrated schools within Keio. During ceremonies and commemorative lectures at various schools, he stands before the students alongside the President, encouraging them to form their identity as Keio students while tracing back the history of Fukuzawa and Keio University.

In the preface of this New Edition, which addresses the reader in a simple, polite tone, he proposes the recommendation of reading aloud as a way to directly "enjoy" and become familiar with Fukuzawa's original texts without going through modern translations. Here, I feel Mr. Yamauchi's passionate expectation to invite young Keio students into the research of Fukuzawa and the history of Keio University in the future.

"Fukuzawa Yukichi: On Education—Independent but Not Isolated" (Edited by Keita Yamauchi and Shunsaku Nishikawa)

Keio University Press

524 pages, 2,530 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.