Visiting the Grave at Jokoji Temple on Yukichi Fukuzawa Memorial Day

2019/02/04

Image: Keio students visiting the grave late at night aiming to be the first to arrive. They have posters ready in their hands (1976).

Standing before the gates of Jokoji Temple, I feel a slight sense of bewilderment at the silence of this place surrounded by houses. Even now, more than 60 years after my connection with the Juku began, I still cannot fathom the state of mind of Yukichi Fukuzawa—who spent his days surrounded by many people on the Mita Hilltop Square as a pioneer of our country—when he chose this quiet temple in Kami-Osaki as his final resting place.

At Jokoji Temple, which is usually quiet with few passersby, there was once a scene that unfolded late at night every February 3rd, where many Keio students, including those from Keio Futsubu School, would compete to line up for a grave visit. Even though they were young and high-spirited students, they naturally did not make a fuss near the grave of Yukichi Fukuzawa, and the posters were likely an expression of their energy. On February 8, 1901, the feelings for Yukichi Fukuzawa held by the mourners who walked from the Mita Hilltop Square to this temple with the casket, led by Keio Futsubu School students, were passed down here. At that time, his disciples were also buried around Yukichi Fukuzawa's grave, and for the Keio students, the grave visit on this day was a place where they could truly feel that they were one of his disciples.

I once heard from my mentor, Professor Tadao Mitsui of the School of Medicine (Anatomy), who was present when the casket was opened in 1977 to move the grave at the request of the Fukuzawa family, that "Yukichi Fukuzawa looked as if he were simply sleeping there." Even after his passing, once a year before his grave, Keio students were able to exchange words as teacher and student with Yukichi Fukuzawa, who was truly there.

Even after he was cremated and his remains were buried at Azabu-san Zenpukuji Temple, people never cease to visit on the anniversary of his death, but that late-night scene can no longer be seen. It seems that as Yukichi Fukuzawa moved to Zenpukuji, the consciousness of the Keio students also changed. Keio University has achieved great development as "Keio University (Educational Corporation)," but in exchange, the role of the Juku as a leader of society entrusted by Yukichi Fukuzawa seems to be becoming buried in a chaotic world overflowing with diverse values. It is now required for Keio University alumni and Keio students to return to their origins with simple honesty and to have the strong determination to properly learn and embody the philosophy of Yukichi Fukuzawa as his disciples.