April 18, 2023
Keio University
On May 15, the fourth year of the Keio era (July 4, 1868), in the midst of the Boshin War, while the battle between the imperial army and the Shogitai corps raged in Ueno and the roar of cannons echoed throughout the city of Edo, Yukichi Fukuzawa calmly continued his regular Saturday lecture on "The Elements of Political Economy" (1866) by Wayland* at Keio University in Shiba-Shinzenza.
To carry on the spirit of Fukuzawa, who respected scholarship and education no matter what changes occurred in the world, Keio University has designated May 15 as the "Yukichi Fukuzawa-Francis Wayland Lecture Day" and has held a commemorative lecture annually since 1956.
This year, Professor Yusaku Matsuzawa of the Faculty of Economics at Keio University will give a lecture on Monday, May 15, titled "War, Success, and Gender: The Foundational Process of Meiji Japan." We kindly request that you list this event in your publication and provide media coverage on the day of the lecture.
*Francis Wayland (1796–1865, 4th President of Brown University, USA)
Please see below for the full press release.