Ceremony Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Naming of Keio University

2018/12/26

Image: Dignitaries entering the stage amidst thunderous applause. In the foreground, the large choir and orchestra of the Wagner Society await the performance of the ceremonial music.

Fifty years ago in 1968, I was appointed as the Chairman of the Student Executive Committee for the 100th Anniversary of the Naming. Starting with the memorial service at Yukichi Fukuzawa's grave (April 23) prior to the ceremony, I am grateful that we were able to hold an exhibition titled "Modern Japan and the Fukuzawa Network" at the Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in January of the following year, organized by the Student Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee for the 100th Anniversary of the Naming secured a meeting place at the Cultural Federation headquarters in Mita, gathered volunteers, and seriously considered what kind of commemorative projects we should undertake as Keio students. I remember it was a turbulent time, with student movements occurring everywhere and the following year's entrance exams for the University of Tokyo being canceled. In that environment, we discussed what kind of project could reflect on the past while providing insight into the future, and what could help push back against the gloomy atmosphere; the conclusions we reached were the "Modern Japan and the Fukuzawa Network" exhibition and a commemorative event at Hiyoshi.

The commemorative event at Hiyoshi held after the ceremony was a grand success with the cooperation of the Keio University Cheerleading Team, but we had to overcome many obstacles to get there. The brass band parade from the ginkgo tree-lined avenue to the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall was not permitted at first, but we were finally able to make it happen by persuading the senior alumni. There was also a Keio-Waseda rugby match that day, which Keio won convincingly. It was late at night by the time I finished the work of removing the cover sheets spread across the floor of that vast Commemorative Hall with the volunteers. After the cleanup, the realization that we were able to complete the task only because of the cooperation of the friends who gathered there became a source of strength for my later life.

In my congratulatory address at the ceremony, I stated that the lamp of truth, held high under the great banners of independence and self-respect, source of honorable character, and a paragon of intellect and morals for the entire nation as the highest seat of learning, remains our pride today. I said that we should inherit the academic attitude of Yukichi Fukuzawa, who told us to study for the sake of the next 50 or 100 years rather than taking up arms, and that we should take the first step into the new century. I also mentioned that our country seemed to be reaching a period of great transition, or perhaps even an era fraught with crisis.

Fifty years have passed since then, but many difficult problems still stand before us. I must say that maintaining the spirit of independence and self-respect and moving forward remains a challenge even now. On the 150th anniversary of the naming, I intend to move forward while reflecting deeply on each of the words left by Yukichi Fukuzawa.