A Buddhist memorial service to mark the 120th anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa’s passing was held on Monday, February 3 at Azabu-san Zenpuku-ji, a temple in Moto-Azabu, Minato City. Many people associated with Keio University gathered to pay their respects before Fukuzawa’s grave on this day dedicated to his memory and referred to as "Yukichiki," including students from the affiliated schools and university, alumni, and faculty and staff members. The long line of visitors making their way to the temple on the warm and sunny day also included pupils from the Keio Yochisha and Keio Yokohama Elementary Schools alongside family members.
On February 3, 1901 (Meiji 34), Fukuzawa passed away of a stroke in his home which was located on Mita Campus. He was 66 years old. Originally, he was buried in a graveyard in Kami-Osaki (which later became the Joko-ji cemetery). However, in 1977 (Showa 52), his remains were moved to Azabu-san Zenpuku-ji. Fukuzawa's posthumous Buddhist name is "Daikan'in Dokuritsu Jison Koji," which roughly translates to "saint of independence and self-respect." This name was chosen by Tokujiro Obata, the eldest member of Keio University at the time, as he felt that something which incorporated the principle of "independence and self-respect" would be most suitable for the teacher who founded Keio. This name is engraved on Fukuzawa’s tombstone.