A Buddhist memorial service to mark the 121st anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's passing was held on Wednesday, February 3 at Azabu-san Zenpuku-ji, a temple in Moto-Azabu, Minato City. Normally, many people associated with Keio University visit the temple every year 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. Although the long line of people that would usually form on the memorial day did not materialize this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the visitors who came to pay their respects quietly prayed in front of Fukuzawa's grave in accordance with measures to prevent infections.
On February 3, 1901 (Meiji 34), Fukuzawa passed away of a stroke in his home 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.