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The Ginkgos of Keio: Coloring the Seasons and Shaping Its History
May 28, 2024
Many in Japan will regard the ginkgo tree as a symbol of university campuses—Keio University is no exception. At Mita, a large ginkgo tree stands towering above the courtyard of the Mita Quad. At Hiyoshi, an avenue lined with dozens of ginkgos greets visitors as they make their way to the heart of campus. Here we focus on these mighty ginkgos, which have kept watch over Keio throughout its history as the school's closest companions since its campuses were founded well over a century ago.
Ginkgo in Mita Quad
a Sanctuary for Keio Students
As one passes through the front gate of Mita Campus and ascends the stairs of the South School Building, a large ginkgo tree appears, towering above the Mita Quad. The benches surrounding the tree, donated by the Keio University Iji-kai (Support Group), provide the students with a place to rest, the arching branches sheltering them from the elements.
It is unclear when the ginkgo tree in the quad was first planted, as it is not depicted in early Meiji illustrations. However, the tree appears to be in its infancy in a corner of a photograph, which is believed to have been taken on Mita Campus at some point during the Meiji period. The campus is also home to numerous other ginkgo trees, some of which have endured wind, rain, and disasters since the Edo period, when Mita was the residence of the Shimabara clan.
A Poetic Ode to the Ginkgos of Mita Campus
The ginkgos of Mita were a great source of inspiration for the literary figures of Keio. Among them was the poet Haruo Sato, who enrolled in the school in 1910. Sato left Keio a few years later, but twenty years after his departure, he published "Sake, Uta, Tabako, mata Onna" (lit. "Sake, Songs, Cigarettes, and Women"), featuring the subheading "Mita no Gakuseijidai wo Utaeru Uta" (lit. "Songs of My Student Days in Mita"). The poem features the lines: "A ginkgo leaf withers, Falling and blanketing the garden, Winter exams draw near, Not a single French verse grasped." While it is unclear whether the tree in reference is the ginkgo in the quad, Sato was undoubtedly aware of the tree as a symbol of Mita Campus.
In May 1949, Sato visited the campus to give a public lecture for the Mita Bungakukai (lit. "Mita Literature Society"), titled "Future Prospects of Modern Literature," and spoke of the lush and verdant ginkgos as follows: "...Long ago, I gazed up at the dense greenery of the ginkgo in the schoolyard, swaying in the fragrant breeze, its freshly fallen leaves underfoot. As I leaned in to touch the tree trunk, I said to this sturdy old companion: 'My great friend, your verdant green turns yellow with each passing year, only to become young again, while my hair grows whiter every year, never to regain its youthful hue.'"
Mizuho Aoyagi, who studied French literature at Keio University and later taught French at the school, was another poet who opined about the ginkgo. In 1928, he wrote the lyrics to the school song "Oka no Ue" (Up on the Hill). The lyrics contain the lines: "The sky is blue on the hill / the birds sing, sing, sing to the ginkgo trees." In the fall of the year when this song was completed, the Keio University Baseball Team achieved an outstanding victory, winning all ten games in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. "Oka no Ue" has since become the victory song at the Waseda-Keio baseball games, as it perfectly captures the spirit of students standing shoulder to shoulder and celebrating victory.
Hiyoshi's Ginkgo-Lined Promenade
at the Center of a Student Urban Legend
Rows of ginkgos stretch along the gentle slope from the entrance to Hiyoshi Campus leading up to the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. Dozens of ginkgos, trimmed in a conical shape as if reaching towards the sky, serve as the symbol of the campus. The trees were planted in 1935, a year after Hiyoshi Campus was established, making them almost 90 years old. Every year, these trees welcome new students making their way to the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall for their entrance ceremony. In the fall, the campus is adorned with magnificent yellow foliage.
Many Keio students are likely familiar with the campus urban legend that claims if a student doesn't have a sweetheart by the time the ginkgo leaves fall during their first year, they won't find one for the remainder of their four years on campus. Of course, this is just an urban legend, and its origins are unknown, but it continues to be whispered among Keio students to this day.
Aging Gracefully Under Careful Stewardship
The ginkgo trees on campus have grown with the history of Keio University, and in recent years, tree surveys and maintenance work have been carried out to protect them. The rows of ginkgos on Hiyoshi campus are routinely inspected for tree fall hazards. The school entrusts skilled tree experts to carry out pruning work, taking necessary precautions such as observing a tree's response to pruning for a year before trimming others to ensure safety and health.
At Mita Campus, efforts are made to maintain a pleasant campus environment surrounded by many trees, including the large ginkgo tree. During the fall season, the school works vigorously to keep the campus clean to prevent accidents caused by slipping on wet leaves.
The Keio Girls Senior High School Alumni Association, adjacent to Mita Campus, derives its name "Ginnan no Kai" (Ginkgo Association) from the lyrics of the aforementioned school song "Oka no Ue," which refers to the ginkgo trees atop Mita Campus. One hopes that these iconic campus trees, cherished through the centuries by the students of Keio University, will continue to grow together with the school for years to come.
*This article originally appeared in Stained Glass in the 2023 Autumn edition (No. 320) of Juku.
