February 7, 2024
A Buddhist memorial service to mark the 124th anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's passing was held on Saturday, February 3 at Azabu-san Zenpuku-ji, a temple in Moto-Azabu, Minato City. Under a clear blue sky, many Keio students, alumni, faculty and staff members, as well as Keio affiliated school students accompanied by their families visited his grave to pay their respects.
On February 3, 1901, Fukuzawa passed away of a stroke in his home that was located on Mita Campus. He was 66 years old. Respecting the wishes of the Fukuzawa family, the funeral service, held on February 8th, was not a Keio-sponsoredjuku-sō(Keio memorial procession). It was instead sponsored privately by his family members who hold that no amount of university funds, however little, should be expended for the funeral, which they considered a private family matter. This belief is thought to be based upon the late Fukuzawa's teachings that the university belongs to the community of peers which it encompasses.
Photo: Takeshi Kishi