Reunion for Keio Alumni of 51 Years or More at the First School Building

2018/05/01

Image: Held in three classrooms on the second floor of the First School Building, it was well-received.

The photo shows the scene of the 2nd Reunion for Keio Alumni of 51 Years or More in 1987. The location is the second floor of the Mita First School Building, completed in 1937. This is the site where a wooden school building stood when the attendees were students. Approximately 800 people attended. This reunion, which began the previous year, has been held annually to this day. While many universities now invite graduates back under names like "Homecoming Day," the history of such events at the Juku is long.

In 1953, Keio University alumni of 25 and 50 years post-graduation were first invited to the graduation ceremony. Currently, alumni of 25 years are invited to the graduation ceremony, and alumni of 50 years are invited to the entrance ceremony. For Keio University alumni of 51 years or more, a Reunion for Keio Alumni is held during a season with pleasant weather. However, due to the increasing number of attendees, the venue has undergone significant changes. The first event was held in the West School Building cafeteria, but the following year it moved to the First School Building due to more attendees. As it became even more cramped, it returned to the West School Building cafeteria and was held twice a day. Various efforts were made, such as using two venues simultaneously with Yamashoku, but eventually, it could no longer fit, and the venue was changed to Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall in 1999. At Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall, further measures were taken, such as simultaneous use with Hiyoshi Kaido "Hiyoshi Kaido" Senior High School Gymnasium or holding the event twice a day. Incidentally, the first female Keio University alumni, who graduated in 1949 after the war, attended in 2000. With the further increase in the number of Keio University alumni, even the Hiyoshi Campus eventually overflowed. Therefore, from the perspective of risk avoidance, the venue was moved to Pacifico Yokohama starting the year before last. There were concerns about whether people would come if it wasn't held at their alma mater, but in the end, those worries were unfounded. This is likely due to the strong bonds with old friends. Last year's attendance was approximately 4,200 people.

The aforementioned reunions likely stem from a tradition of the Juku that serves as a precursor. Yukichi Fukuzawa, who valued social interaction between people, reportedly held many social gatherings at his villa in Hiroo. He also established the Banraisha, which is open to all Keio Gijuku Shachu, on the Mita Hilltop Square, and founded the Kojunsha for general society. Furthermore, graduates have inherited the teachings of Yukichi Fukuzawa and established many Mita-kai to foster interaction. The post-war Reunion for Keio Alumni is likely an extension of these philosophies.

Looking at the photo again, the sight of senior alumni singing with their mouths wide open is heartwarming. This year, it will be held again at Pacifico Yokohama on May 19th.

(Yuichi Tomiyama, Honorary Participant of Keio University)