My View of Fukuzawa Yukichi: The Yochisha School Song | Masaru Tomita (Dean, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)
2007.04.19
Our great teacher, Fukuzawa
Founded Keio University
We are all children of its Yochisha
Let's be good children, all together
Our great teacher, Fukuzawa
Left us the teaching of self-respect
Living by his guidance
Let's be good children, all together
Since I was six years old, I have stood and sung this song in unison at the opening and closing ceremonies of every school term. Reading the lyrics again now, they are quite something, and it seems they could have the effect of instilling in children the idea that "Fukuzawa = the great teacher."
However, in reality, for better or for worse, not a single one of my Yochisha classmates grew up to blindly worship Fukuzawa Yukichi. The reason for this is probably that when we started singing it at age six, we didn't understand the meaning, and after that, we just continued to sing it without thinking about it.
On the other hand, I am very fond of Fukuzawa Yukichi, and I often quote him in the Dean's Diary, but this is by no means because he was the "great teacher" who founded the Juku.
Mischievous, playful, and a heavy drinker. The coolness of saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done without flattering those in power. A master of "supiichi" (public speaking) and debate. A feminist who cherished women. And above all, a passionate teacher who deeply loved his Keio students.
I love the charm and dandyism of this man, Fukuzawa Yukichi.
(Date of publication: 2007/04/19)