2025/03/27
From Wednesday, March 5 to Friday, March 7, the Student Affairs Center held a three-day, two-night event titled "A Journey to Places Associated with Yukichi Fukuzawa—Nakatsu and Oguni Town." With Vice-President Keita Yamauchi and Associate Professor Takayuki Tokura of the Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies as lecturers, the group toured Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture, where Yukichi Fukuzawa spent his childhood, on the first and second days. On the third day, they visited Oguni Town in Kumamoto Prefecture, the birthplace of Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato, who contributed to the development of Japan's medical sciences with the support of Yukichi Fukuzawa. Vice-President Akie Okuda also participated alongside 25 Keio students from various campuses, faculties, and graduate schools, ranging from undergraduates to graduate students, and deepened her interactions with them.
From the afternoon of the first day through the second day, the group toured Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture. Starting from the Former Residence of Yukichi Fukuzawa and the Fukuzawa Memorial Museum, they walked through the town of Nakatsu, which still retains its Edo-period layout, using an old map. They experienced the Nakatsu in which Yukichi Fukuzawa lived by observing the town's structure, including buildings that retain their historical atmosphere and streets with the same width as in his time. Additionally, on the second day, the mayor of Nakatsu visited, providing a valuable opportunity to hear directly about initiatives centered on the "Declaration for the Promotion of Nakatsu, the Village of Learning" ordinance. This ordinance, based on the city-wide "Fukuzawa Immortal Project," was established in September 2024 to pass on Yukichi Fukuzawa's ideas and achievements to future generations.
On the third day, they visited Yabakei, where Yukichi Fukuzawa used his personal funds to purchase land for landscape preservation. Afterward, they visited the Kitasato Shibasaburo Memorial Museum, dedicated to Dr. Kitasato, who served as the first Dean of the Keio University School of Medicine. The weather was beautiful that day, and at Daikanbo, where they stopped on the way back, they took in the magnificent view of the Aso mountains. The tour concluded as participants reflected on Dr. Kitasato, who was born and raised amidst this rich nature.
Visiting these places so deeply connected to Yukichi Fukuzawa and exploring the origins of his philosophical development provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the founding principles of Keio University. Notably, after dinner, participants and lecturers were seen passionately discussing Yukichi Fukuzawa, making the trip a true embodiment of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning."
The Student Affairs Center annually plans and holds events exclusively for Keio students. For those who were unable to participate this time, please look forward to our next event.