150th Anniversary of Keio University's Founding: What Would I Have Done If I Had Lived 150 Years Ago? | Kaeko Yamashita (Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care)

2008.11.20

The 150th anniversary ceremony was held on Saturday, November 8, at the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex and the athletic field on Hiyoshi Campus. In the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and according to a report from Keio University, a total of 12,600 to 12,700 people attended the ceremony, with 8,300 at the Hiyoshi venue, 3,100 at Mita Campus, 550 at SFC, and 662 at the Osaka River Campus. Representatives from 40 universities in Japan and abroad were also in attendance, and this milestone of the 150th anniversary was deeply understood and celebrated by all.

Although the day of the ceremony was unfortunately rainy and the temperature dropped, making for a less than comfortable environment, and despite the large crowd gathered, everything was orderly and quiet. It was noted that "everything was run smoothly," and afterward, the Juku authorities and alumni expressed great appreciation not only to the attendees but also for the dedicated efforts of the student volunteers and staff.

As one of the attendees, I wholeheartedly celebrated the 150th anniversary with everyone and reflected on our history. I was deeply moved by the profound insight, love for the Juku, and dedication of the Keio students who have studied at Keio University and the alumni who have supported it. It was a poignant ceremony that made me acutely aware of this "milestone." I found myself contemplating the next 150 years, praying for further development, and feeling a strong sense of responsibility for what I can do, both as a dean and as an individual, for the continuation and growth of Keio University, which renewed my determination.

When I consider the main topic, "What would I have done if I had lived 150 years ago?," I cannot help but realize it is a very difficult question. This is because it requires historical research.

When I consider the historical context from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji era, when Yukichi Fukuzawa started and developed the Juku at the young age of 23, I believe it was an era when the four-tiered class system of warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants (shi-no-ko-sho), as well as the social custom of male dominance, were still deeply rooted.

Even if I assume I was in my 20s 150 years ago, I would not have been an "Atsuhime" (Princess Atsu), and of course, the educational system for "nursing schools" did not exist, so I could not have become a "nurse." I probably would have become skilled at "sewing" while helping with housework, or perhaps spent my days "preparing meals." In the process, I might have devised some clever ways of doing things, thinking "this way works better..." and taken pride in my small innovations, but I believe it was not an era where women had laws like the "Equal Employment Opportunity Act" as we do today, let alone an age where one could "freely do what one wanted."

While exploring this theme by tracing back through history, I came across a sentence that I found very encouraging, which Masaki Hirota is said to have written about Yukichi Fukuzawa's enlightenment philosophy in his book "Yukichi Fukuzawa" (Asahi Shimbun, 1976): "Among Japan's enlightenment thinkers, only Fukuzawa continued to advocate for the liberation of women until the very end." Indeed, Yukichi Fukuzawa left behind numerous writings, such as "On Japanese Womanhood," "A Critique of the Greater Learning for Women," "The New Greater Learning for Women," and "On the Association of Men and Women," as well as commentaries in publications like the Jiji Shinpo. Even if not from 130 to 150 years ago, I am filled with admiration and deeply moved by his ideas expressed in these works.

Coincidentally, Keio University, as part of the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to undertake the "FY2008 Model Program for Supporting Female Researchers" as a university-wide initiative. I am also a member of the team promoting this project. In Japanese universities, female researchers are few, generally accounting for 12–13% (at Keio University, it is 19.1%). However, it is said that "to solve the difficult problems of the 21st century, research and initiatives involving a diverse workforce and interaction are necessary," and there is an urgent need to create an environment where talented female researchers can thrive in various fields.

A major source of support behind our promotion of this project is a quote from Yukichi Fukuzawa: "Men and women are equally human beings between heaven and earth; there is no reason for one to be valued over the other." As we reflect on 150 years of history and look toward the next 150, I am reminded of the need to more deeply understand the true meaning of the ideas and words of Keio University's founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, who experienced and expressed his thoughts during the transitional period from the Edo to the Meiji era.

By learning from these and connecting them to the "Support for Female Researchers to Foster Social Capital," I hope to contribute to the creation of a gender-equal society.

(Posted: 2008/11/20)