Sei'ichiro Takahashi: A Contributor to Post-War Japanese Education Who Loved Juku for Over 80 Years

October 26, 2009

Published in "Juku" No. 264, 2009

From his enrollment in the Keio Futsubu School at the age of 14 on May 1, 1898 (Meiji 31), until his passing as a Professor Emeritus at the age of 97 on February 9, 1982 (Showa 57), Sei'ichiro Takahashi was involved with and loved Juku for over 80 years. Even while serving in various positions after the war, such as Minister of Education and President of the Japan Art Academy, he continued to lecture on economics for Keio students until the age of 92.

The late Professor Emeritus Sei'ichiro Takahashi was one of the last people to have been in close contact with Yukichi Fukuzawa, having heard him speak directly, walked with him, and fervently prayed for his recovery from nearby during his final moments.

"The first time I saw Yukichi Fukuzawa was at the Mita Public Speaking Event on September 24, Meiji 31... Slightly stooped, he walked briskly to the podium, placed both hands on the table, and began to speak fluently... He was articulate, but by no means a powerful orator." (From "Watashi no Rirekisho" [My Personal History], edited by Nikkei Inc.)

This might seem like just a story of a middle school student hearing the professor's last public speaking. However, two days after this public speaking, Fukuzawa suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. After about a year of recovery, he began taking walks and happened to speak to the young Takahashi, who was washing his face at a well in front of the dormitory. This encounter led to Takahashi accompanying him on his walks every morning. His relationship with the family also deepened, to the point that he said, "I became close friends with the young people of the Fukuzawa family, such as his third son, Sampachi, his fourth son, Daishiro, and his eldest grandson, Aisaku Nakamura, and I would visit the Fukuzawa residence two or three times a day." (ibid.)

Around that time, he joined the "Jison-to" (Self-Respect Party), which had been formed by the three individuals mentioned above and several others who were boarding at the Fukuzawa residence. The party members were deeply devoted to the philosophy of "independence and self-respect" and had unilaterally appointed Fukuzawa as their "leader." This paints a vivid picture of the spirited young men of the Meiji era. Takahashi himself was so passionate that during his later years as a student in the Department of Political Science, he became an editor and writer for the student journal "Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press)," advocating for university reform from a student's perspective to revitalize a stagnant Juku (this is different from the current official Keio University journal, "Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press)").

In January 1901 (Meiji 34), when Fukuzawa collapsed again, Takahashi was at the Fukuzawa residence and spent several days and nights praying for his recovery until his death.

In 1908 (Meiji 41), after graduating from the Department of Political Science, he became a teacher at the Keio Futsubu School. The following year, he moved to teach in the preparatory course for the college, and two years later, he went to the UK to study economic theory and the history of economics. However, he did not attend a university; instead, he spent his time reading materials and working on translations in libraries. During this time, he began coughing up blood and, after a period of convalescence in a sanatorium, returned to Japan in 1912 (Taisho 1). His condition was not severe, and after three years of recovery, he returned to the classroom as a professor in the department of political economy, teaching "Principles of Economics" and "History of Economics."

After becoming a Professor Emeritus, his lectures were gentle, with even a touch of refined simplicity, but he was quite strict during his time as an active professor.

"One day, when a friend of mine was looking away and chatting, the professor strode down from the podium, grabbed him by the collar, and threw him out of the classroom as if lifting him up... The professor didn't say much loudly, but there was something intimidating about him, and we were always tense during his class." (Kichitaro Hagiwara, "Talking about Professor Sei'ichiro Takahashi," "Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press)," January 1980 issue)

However, his lectures, delivered in a beautiful voice and with a masterful tone, were highly regarded, and many Keio students said they were so captivated that they forgot to take notes.

As an economist, he authored books such as "Keizaigaku Zenshi" (A Prehistory of Economics), "Jushoshugi Keizai Gakusetsu Kenkyu" (A Study of Mercantilist Economic Theory), and "Kohan Seiyo Keizaisho Kaidai" (An Annotated Bibliography of Old Western Economic Books). His research on British mercantilist theory was particularly highly acclaimed and was cited as a reason for his being awarded the Order of Culture in 1979.

After the war, he served as Acting President from April 1946 to January of the following year, filling in for President Shinzo Koizumi, who had been severely burned in an air raid. He navigated the difficult period of the government's anti-inflation measures, which involved freezing the old yen and switching to the new yen, and prepared for the reconstruction of Juku. His contributions were not limited to within Keio; he went on to become the Minister of Education in the Shigeru Yoshida cabinet, where he was instrumental in establishing the "Fundamental Law of Education" and the "School Education Act."

In his inaugural address as Minister of Education, Takahashi stated that "the greatest source of trouble for pre-war Japan was the absence of an era of strong personal awareness in its history." He continued by expressing his regret that "the principle of independence and self-respect, which the great Meiji pioneer Yukichi Fukuzawa had advocated for many years, was not widely accepted by society." He concluded by saying that he accepted the great responsibility, "as someone who studied at Keio University, graduated from Keio University, and taught at Keio University, I am now convinced that the time has come for the education of independence and self-respect, which this academic institution has long advocated, to be put into practice." (From the aforementioned "Watashi no Rirekisho")

This inaugural address is a wonderful speech that not only shows his own enthusiasm but also gives great courage and pride to all Keio students and Keio University alumni, transcending time.

Subsequently, he held important positions such as President of the Japan Art Academy for 30 years, Chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Properties, President of the Japanese Classical Dance Association, and Chairman of the National Theatre of Japan. Some may wonder why an economist would have such a career, but there is a reason. Takahashi was a leading collector and researcher of ukiyo-e, and he also had a deep knowledge of arts and entertainment, from Kabuki to Rakugo, making him a foremost connoisseur of the arts. His collection of 1,500 items is now housed at Juku as the "Sei'ichiro Takahashi Ukiyo-e Collection." This year marks the 125th anniversary of Sei'ichiro Takahashi's birth. And from September 19 to November 23, the Mitsui Memorial Museum is holding the "Edo in Dreams and Memories—Masterpieces from the Sei'ichiro Takahashi Ukiyo-e Collection" exhibition to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Keio University.