July 1, 1996 / Published in "Juku" 1996, No. 199
In his youth, Yukichi Fukuzawa studied at Tekijuku, the school of the Osaka-based physician Koan Ogata, and became keenly aware of the importance of natural science education as *jitsugaku* (science).
The Keio Gijuku Igakusho (Keio Medical School), established in 1873 with Fukuzawa's disciple, the physician Toan Matsuyama, as its head, was a manifestation of this strong conviction.
Later, Fukuzawa's will was carried on by Shibasaburo Kitasato, with whom he had a deep friendship during his lifetime. In 1920, the School of Medicine and the University Hospital were established with Kitasato as the dean.
Thus, the natural science education at Keio that Fukuzawa had so eagerly desired began in earnest, with medical sciences as its first step.
At the time the Keio Gijuku Igakusho was established, public medical schools were also being opened in various regions. However, while most medical schools focused on German medical sciences, the Keio Gijuku Igakusho was unique in that it taught British and American medical sciences. Since its founding, the school produced over 300 graduates and left a significant mark on the development of the modern world of medical sciences, but it was forced to close in 1880 due to financial difficulties and other circumstances.
In the following era, although Keio University struggled to realize its goals for natural science education and research, Fukuzawa's passion bore fruit in the form of support for the bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato. In 1883, Kitasato joined the Central Sanitary Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs and specialized in bacteriology. The Officer at this time was Nagayo Sensai, who had been a fellow student of Fukuzawa's at Tekijuku. On Nagayo's recommendation, Kitasato studied in Germany for seven years, where he achieved numerous successes, including the first pure culture of the tetanus bacillus, and returned to Japan in 1892 with a worldwide reputation. However, the Japanese government at the time had no position that could make use of a person of Kitasato's caliber.
Upon hearing of Kitasato's plight from Nagayo, Fukuzawa immediately promised his support and poured his efforts into building the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases for Kitasato. In 1899, the institute was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs and flourished year after year under Kitasato's direction and supervision. However, Kitasato later resigned from his post in opposition to the government's unreasonable policy of transferring the institute to the Ministry of Education, and established the Kitasato Institute to conduct his own research without reservation. Here, too, Fukuzawa's assistance was of great significance to Kitasato. This close relationship between Fukuzawa and Kitasato would eventually lead to the founding of Keio medical sciences.
In 1917, to commemorate its 60th anniversary, Keio University established a preparatory course for the Department of Medicine as the long-awaited first step in its natural science education. The person welcomed as its first dean was none other than Kitasato. Although Fukuzawa was no longer alive, Kitasato, inspired to repay Fukuzawa's aspirations, poured his heart and soul into the development of medical education at Keio University in its early days.
In 1920, under the University Ordinance, it was elevated to a university School of Medicine, and at the same time, a dedicated school building and hospital were completed on the site of the current Shinanomachi Campus. The hospital had outpatient clinics for 11 departments and seven wards, and was a magnificent, large hospital equipped with the latest facilities for its time. On November 6 of the same year, an opening ceremony for the school and hospital was held on the School of Medicine campus, laying the foundation for the current School of Medicine and University Hospital.