2010/08/09
Published in "Juku" No. 267, 2010
It was Yukichi Fukuzawa and the members of the Mita Public Speaking Event who first introduced “public speaking” to Japan, a country that lacked the custom of expressing opinions orally. The Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), built as a dedicated hall for the Mita Public Speaking Event, was the cradle that nurtured the nascent period of public speaking in our country. It is an Important Cultural Property that preserves the Japanese-Western eclectic style of the early Meiji period to this day.
A Building Modeled on American Halls, Blending Namako Walls and Western-Style Windows
The Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), located on the Mita Campus, is Japan's first public speaking hall. This historic building, constructed in 1875 (Meiji 8), was designated a historic site by the Tokyo prefectural government during the Taisho period and became a national Important Cultural Property in 1967 (Showa 42). At the time of its construction, it was located roughly between the current Old University Library and the Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration). It has since been relocated to a small hill (Inariyama) to the left of the main gate, though it is a bit hard to find now.
Visible as you pass by the graduate school building from in front of the Great Ginkgo Tree, the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) is beautiful, with its gray namako walls featuring a white diagonal lattice pattern standing out against the green undergrowth. As a historic building, its atmosphere is somewhat different from the dignified presence of the Old University Library, which is also designated as an Important Cultural Property. Perhaps due to its Japanese-Western eclectic design or its relatively small size, the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) evokes a sense of charm rather than imposing grandeur.
This two-story, wooden, pseudo-Western-style building with a hipped, tiled roof was designed based on materials of various American halls sent by Tetsunosuke Tomita, who was then the vice-consul in New York and later became the governor of the Bank of Japan. Despite relocations and restoration work, its Japanese-style namako walls and tiled roof blend seamlessly with its Western-style entrance porch and sash windows, even after 135 years.
Upon entering the hall, a speaker's platform is directly ahead. In the center of the rounded white wall behind the platform hangs a full-length portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa, a copy by Kikumaro Matsumura of an original painting by Eisaku Wada. A second-floor gallery is also situated on the left, right, and rear sides.
Speech Became Enzetsu (Public Speaking), Debate Became Tōron: Yukichi Fukuzawa Coined the Japanese Terms
As mentioned at the beginning, this is "Japan's first public speaking hall," but it was Yukichi Fukuzawa and the early Keio students, Keio University alumni, and faculty who first started public speaking in Japan. Before that, Japan had no custom of public speaking; the only way to present one's opinions to others and gain their approval was to put them in writing.
However, without the ability to convey opinions orally, not only is parliamentary politics impossible, but fair trials are also difficult. Therefore, Keio began activities to establish public speaking as a method of social education.
It was also Yukichi Fukuzawa who translated the English word 'speech' as *enzetsu* (public speaking) and 'debate' as *benron* or *tōron* (discussion/debate). Starting in the summer of 1873 (Meiji 6), they practiced public speaking and debate at his home and the homes of other faculty members. The following year, Yukichi Fukuzawa, Tokujirō Obata, Hikojiro Nakamigawa, Iwagusuri Morishita, Nobukichi Koizumi, and nine others organized the Mita Public Speaking Event. Then, in May 1875, the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) was opened as a dedicated hall for the Mita Public Speaking Event. In other words, the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) was the first and only stage that nurtured the nascent period of public speaking and debate in our country.
Looking around the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) again with this in mind, one can vividly imagine the figures of Keio University's founders delivering passionate speeches from the platform, and Yukichi Fukuzawa watching over them, himself giving speeches that would lead the future of a nation embracing civilization and enlightenment. The audience, composed of the intellectual class of the time, must have listened intently to the speeches and offered fervent applause. This place can be described as a "cradle" that nurtured the Keio spirit, represented by independence and self-respect, through the new method of public speaking.
The Wayland's "Elements of Political Economy" Commemorative Lecture Held at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall)
Today, it is used as the venue for the Mita Public Speaking Event, which has already been held 689 times, and for the "Yukichi Fukuzawa Wayland's 'Elements of Political Economy' Commemorative Lecture," held annually on May 15 (the date is subject to change if it falls on a weekend or public holiday).
This lecture commemorates the day of May 15, 1868 (Keio 4), during the Boshin War, when Yukichi Fukuzawa, completely unperturbed by the cannon fire echoing through Edo from the battle between imperial forces and the Shogitai in Ueno, calmly delivered a lecture on "Wayland's 'Elements of Political Economy'" at Keio in Shiba-Shinzenza. The lecture is held annually on this anniversary, May 15.
This year, on May 14, a lecture titled "On the Making of 'The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa'—The Later Years of Yukichi Fukuzawa" was given by Mr. Kin'ichi Matsuzaki, Professor Emeritus of Keio University.
Currently, the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) has a seating capacity of 144 (it is said that at the time, it could accommodate 400–500 people standing). Yukichi Fukuzawa once said, "Though small in scale, it is the very first building of its kind since the dawn of Japan, a thing to be remembered by the nation. If it can be fortunately preserved, in five hundred years there may be people who come to see it as a kind of historic site" ("Foreword to the Collected Works of Fukuzawa"). However, it was designated an Important Cultural Property long before 500 years had passed. Many people visit it as a building that tells the history not only of Keio but also of the early Meiji period. For Keio students and Keio University alumni, it is a place they should visit at least once to connect with Keio's history. (*Note: The interior can only be viewed on very limited days, such as for the lectures mentioned above.)