Join the Laughter, Japan!
Exploring Fukuzawa Yukichi's Vision of Modernizing Japan through Manga
"Manga," a word that has become iconic around the world, was originally coined in a newspaper started by Fukuzawa Yukichi, Jiji Shimpō.
It was in this very newspaper that Kitazawa Rakuten (1876–1955), known as the founding father of modern manga, developed a popular manga column that became a hallmark of Jiji Shimpō.
While Rakuten's manga is often associated with political satire, its true distinctiveness lies in pioneering the genre as entertainment that could be enjoyed by anyone at home. At the heart of this lies Fukuzawa Yukichi and his vision of bringing laughter and camaraderie into the daily lives of Japanese people. By exploring the pioneering work of Kitazawa Rakuten, this exhibition sheds light on the unexpected relationship between Fukuzawa and manga.
Overview
・Dates: Thursday, October 16, 2025–Saturday, December 13, 2025
・Closed: November 20, November 25, Sundays and public holidays
・Special openings: November 23–24
・Venue: Temporary Exhibition Room, Keio History Museum
・Address: 2nd Floor, Old University Library, Keio University Mita Campus 2-15-45 Mita, Minato Ward, Tokyo 108-8345
・Open: 10:00―18:00
・Admission: Free and open to the public
・Exhibition page: https://history.keio.ac.jp/?page_id=4278(Japanese)
*For the latest information, please visit the exhibition website: https://history.keio.ac.jp/en/
