Yukichi Fukuzawa: His Birthday and Yukichiki (The Anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's Death)

1996/01/01

Published inJuku, 1996, No. 195

January 10 is the birthday of Yukichi Fukuzawa.
Every year on this day, Keio University celebrates with the "Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony."
Furthermore, the anniversary of his death on February 3 is called "Yukichiki (The Anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's Death)," and a long line of faculty, staff, Keio University alumni, and Keio students can be seen visiting his grave at Zenpuku-ji Temple in Azabu.
Ninety-five years after his passing, Yukichi Fukuzawa continues to live on in the hearts of every member of the Keio Gijuku Shachu.

The new year at Keio University begins with the "Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony" on January 10, when faculty, staff, Keio University alumni, and Keio students gather at Mita Hilltop Square. This is an event where the Keio Gijuku Shachu celebrates the birthday of Keio's founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, inviting members of the Fukuzawa family to honor his memory and legacy.

Fukuzawa was born at the Nakatsu domain's kurayashiki (warehouse-residence) in Osaka on the 12th day of the 12th month of the 5th year of the Tenpo era, which corresponds to January 10, 1835, in the solar calendar. After this was confirmed in 1911 (Meiji 44), the Fukuzawa family began celebrating his birthday on January 10 each year. Until then, Keio had commemorated the anniversary of Fukuzawa's death. Following the family's lead, the date was changed to January 10 in 1914 (Taisho 3), and the event has been held on this day ever since. Later, in 1929 (Showa 4), a bronze monument marking his birthplace was erected at the north end of Tamatsukuri-bashi Bridge in Dojima, Osaka, where the kurayashiki once stood. Although it was later requisitioned for its metal during the war, it was rebuilt in 1954 (Showa 29).

February 3 is the anniversary of his death, known as "Yukichiki (The Anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's Death)." On this day in 1901 (Meiji 34), Fukuzawa passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage at his home within Keio, located to the east of the current Mita Library (New Building). He was 68 years old. Respecting Fukuzawa's wishes, a Keio-sponsored funeral was not held. Instead, the funeral took place at Zenpuku-ji Temple, the Fukuzawa family's temple, and his coffin was carried to the cemetery in Kami-Osaki and carefully interred. This cemetery was originally the site of Shofuku-ji, a branch temple of Zojo-ji Temple in Shiba. However, around the time of Fukuzawa's death, the adjacent Hongan-ji Temple was managing the site after Shofuku-ji had been abandoned. Later, in 1909 (Meiji 42), Joko-ji, another branch temple of Zojo-ji located near Sengaku-ji Temple in Takanawa, acquired and relocated to this site. Since then, the location has been long known to those affiliated with Keio as the "Joko-ji Cemetery."

Incidentally, the reason Fukuzawa was buried at Joko-ji, a Jodo sect temple, despite his family being followers of the Jodo Shinshu sect, was that he had personally chosen this location for his grave during his lifetime. However, having the family temple and the gravesite be separate and of different sects was quite unusual. In 1977 (Showa 52), the Fukuzawa family had his remains moved to Zenpuku-ji Temple. At the former gravesite in Joko-ji, Keio erected a monument inscribed "The Final Resting Place of Yukichi Fukuzawa." Additionally, in 1971 (Showa 46), the 1921 Mita-kai, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation, erected the "Yukichi Fukuzawa Monument" on the site of his former residence on Mita Hilltop Square to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Keio's move to Mita.

As mentioned in the main text, this coming Saturday, February 3, is "Yukichiki (The Anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's Death)," the anniversary of the death of Keio's founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa. Every year on this day, many members of the Keio Gijuku Shachu, including Keio students from the Yochisha Elementary School to the graduate schools, visit his grave at Zenpuku-ji Temple in Azabu, forming a continuous line of visitors from early in the morning. This is partly due to a rumor passed down among Keio students that "visiting Yukichi Fukuzawa's grave on the anniversary of his death will prevent you from failing your classes." However, the fact that so many Keio students still voluntarily visit the founder's grave nearly 100 years after his passing is one of the wonderful traditions unique to Keio University.

As shown in the map, Zenpuku-ji Temple in Azabu is located within walking distance of Mita Campus. We encourage you to visit his grave.

● Zenpuku-ji Temple (1-6-2 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku): Approximately a 20-minute walk from Mita Campus.

Alternatively, take the bus bound for Shinjuku Station West Exit from Tamachi Station East Exit, get off at "Nino-hashi," and walk for 2 minutes.