The 90th Anniversary Ceremony and the Equestrian Club

2022/01/26

The 90th Anniversary Ceremony of Keio University was held on May 24, 1947 (Showa 22) at Mita Hilltop Square, marking the first time a private school welcomed His Majesty the Emperor. Various departments of the Athletic Association provided security at Mita Hilltop Square. The Equestrian Club guarded His Majesty's imperial procession on horseback from the Imperial Palace.

Image: Equestrian Club members lined up on horseback beside the ceremonial platform at Mita Hilltop Square

The origins of the Athletic Association Equestrian Club date back to 1920 (Taisho 9), when it was known as the "Horse Riding Club." Practice involved borrowing military horses from the Army Cavalry. The first Waseda-Keio rivalry match was held in 1929 at the Army Artillery School.

The first stables and riding ground were built at the current location in Hiyoshi in 1941. Recently, to commemorate the 100-year history of the Equestrian Club, new stables and a riding ground were completed through donations from the Mita Riding Club (alumni), Keio University, parents, and benefactors. Students from Chutobu Junior High School, high school, girls' high school, the university, and the School of Medicine all practice hard at the same riding ground.

Of particular note is that in September 1951, a regular match between Keio High School and Gakushuin High School was held at the Hiyoshi riding ground, welcoming the then Crown Prince (now Emperor Emeritus). The Crown Prince, who served as the captain of Gakushuin High School, participated in numerous competitions. On one occasion, His Highness competed in the show jumping event of the 1952 Investiture of the Crown Prince Commemorative Equestrian Tournament held within the Imperial Palace. The previous rider, Keio's Morimura, fell and was killed instantly when pinned under the horse. At that time, former President Shinzo Koizumi, who was in charge of His Highness's education, reportedly said, "If you have entered, you should compete," which has become a legendary story within the Equestrian Club.

His Majesty was also well-versed in the affairs of the Equestrian Club alumni. When I welcomed His Majesty at a childhood cancer concert during my time as a reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun, he spoke to me, saying, "Your senior, Mr. T, has passed away, hasn't he?" Furthermore, my coach during my active years, Coach Keisuke Hamano, taught polo to the Crown Prince.

I graduated in 1966 (Showa 41), and my first assignment was at the Yokohama branch. I had a Keio colleague in the same year, and both of us were in charge of the police beat. As a rookie reporter, I struggled to get scoops from the police officers I interviewed. What proved useful was not my experience in the Faculty of Law, but in the Equestrian Club. This was because comparing the habits of each individual to those of horses allowed me to communicate more effectively. Another thing I realized is that if you only associate with Keio boys, you lose touch with the rest of the world.

(Akira Maeda, Vice Chairman of the Mita Riding Club)