From Wednesday, March 4 to Friday, March 6, the Student Comprehensive Center organized a three-day, two-night trip titled "Traveling to Places Associated with Yukichi Fukuzawa —Nakatsu and Oguni Town—." With Vice-President Keita Yamauchi and Professor Takeyuki Tokura of the Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies as lecturers, the group visited 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 medical sciences in Japan with the support of Yukichi Fukuzawa. Tadashi Shimura, Director of the Student Comprehensive Center, also participated alongside 14 Keio students from various campuses, undergraduate departments, and graduate schools, deepening interactions with the students.
Carrying old maps, the group took a thorough stroll through the town of Nakatsu, where the town layout from the Edo period remains. While observing historical buildings and the town structure, including road widths that remain unchanged from that time, participants felt as if they had slipped back in time to the Nakatsu where Yukichi Fukuzawa lived, deepening their learning. The town walk provided many opportunities to gain new knowledge, such as visiting the graves of individuals associated with Yukichi Fukuzawa and visiting Goganji Temple, which is home to interesting legends. Furthermore, on the second day, the Mayor of Nakatsu visited, providing a precious opportunity to hear firsthand about his passion for Nakatsu and the strong ties with Keio University.
On the third and final day, the group visited Yabakei, where Yukichi Fukuzawa invested his personal funds to purchase land for landscape preservation, and then visited the memorial hall of Dr. Kitasato, who served as the first Dean of the Keio University School of Medicine. Although the weather was unfortunately poor that day, the tour concluded after reflecting on Dr. Kitasato's legacy through his historic birthplace and the Kitasato Library.
By visiting places with deep connections to Yukichi Fukuzawa and approaching the origins of his thought formation, it became a valuable opportunity to reflect on the founding spirit of Keio University. During the program, participants were seen enthusiastically taking notes, asking questions to the lecturers, and discussing Yukichi Fukuzawa, making it truly a journey of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning."
The Student Comprehensive Center plans and holds events exclusively for Keio students every year. For those who could not participate this time, please look forward to the next project.