December 16, 2024
Keio University
As a customary New Year's event, the Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies will introduce materials newly acquired in 2024. For over 100 years, since the end of the Meiji era, Keio University has had a tradition of holding a commemorative gathering on January 10, the birthday of Yukichi Fukuzawa. The origin of this exhibition was the practice of decorating the venue with calligraphic scrolls handwritten by Fukuzawa and other items to celebrate the New Year. After the war, it became an annual event to unveil materials newly acquired by Keio University. Previously, the exhibition was open to the public for only one day on January 10, but since the opening of the Keio History Museum, it has been available for viewing over a longer period.
This year's exhibition will feature newly discovered letters by Yukichi Fukuzawa that have never been shown before, in addition to calligraphy by Shibasaburo Kitasato, the first Dean of the School of Medicine, and Taichi Kitajima, the second Dean of the School of Medicine; materials from the personal collection of Mikio Hiramatsu, an English literature scholar and editor of "Mita Bungaku"; letters from Shozo Abe (Takitaro Minakami) and Shinzo Koizumi to their friend Kakichi Kajiwara; and an album belonging to a member of the gymnastics club who participated in the International Universities Games (the predecessor to the Universiade), among other materials related to Keio University.
Dates: Friday, January 10–Saturday, February 8, 2025
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
Venue: Special Exhibition Room, Keio History Museum, 2nd floor of the Old University Library
Hours: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Admission: Open to all
*Please check the Keio History Museum website for the latest information.
Please see below for the full press release.