Goodbye, "Okashira's Diary," and Goodbye, Everyone | Keiichi Yoshino (Dean, Graduate School of Health Management)

2006.03.20

The time has finally come! Yes, the time for my retirement!

The editorial department gave me the theme "What will become of Japan!" for this issue, but as I expected, I was given a special version. Since I'm retiring, they said I could also write freely about "memories of SFC, thoughts, wishes, and words of encouragement or criticism for SFC upon my retirement," so I'll go with the latter as planned.

My first memory of SFC is how the nearest station, Shonandai, was so far from the city center, and the bus ride from there was quite long, making it far more rustic than I had imagined. The Tanzawa mountains loom near SFC, and at the "Keio Daigaku Mae" intersection, which marks the entrance to SFC, there's a signpost for a hiking trail. Considering that a Northern Goshawk, a designated natural monument, nests in the forest right next to the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care Building, terms likesatoyama(village-vicinity mountain) andyato(valley) are a perfect fit for this place.

Three years after my life at SFC began, just as I was getting used to it, this "Okashira's Diary" was launched. Since then, I have meticulously written my impressions of the moment in this blog, so I would like to follow them below at my leisure.

" Well, a New Semester " (Title, and so on below. Many of these were assigned by the editorial department each time, but some were not.)

" The Fukuzawa Spirit Lives On—Moved by SFC Students " Around this time, as the dean of the newly established Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, I worked hard to promote the new faculty.

" Cheering Makes the Impossible Possible! (Or is that naive?) " Here, I told Keio students to go see the Waseda-Keio rivalry baseball game and experience the unique pleasure that only those affiliated with Waseda and Keio can enjoy.

" Tracking the Dean, 24 Hours " A real-life depiction of myself as the Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, a university trustee, and a concurrently appointed professor in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine, hopping between the SFC, Mita, and Shinanomachi campuses on a minute-by-minute basis.

[For this issue, we have asked each dean to write about "The Dean's Summer Vacation" in a language they are proficient in. This is an editor's note. I think it would be easier to convey the content if this were included in every issue, so I recommend bringing it back.] " 3 Tagen Golf Urlaub nach Hokkaido im Mittelsommer, der erste Tag (A 3-Day Midsummer Golf Vacation in Hokkaido, Day 1)" Remembering about 30 years ago, in German.

" My Bookshelf " [This issue's theme is "The Dean's Bookshelf." We've asked them to share stories related to books.] With a photo of the wooden bookshelf I made as a DIY project (one of my hobbies) during the summer vacation, painted in the three BRB colors (Blue, Red, and Blue: the school colors of Keio University). This bookshelf was placed in the dean's office for a long time, offending the eyes of those passing by in the connecting corridor.

" Effort " This was about my personal creed: "Those who make an effort may be blessed with luck, but luck never comes to those who don't."

" Human Nature (Saga) "

" ORF for Me "

" New Year's Day 2005: To the Endo District West Neighborhood Association New Year's Party " This summarized the annual New Year's Day party. This New Year's event seems likely to continue for a long time. To the deans of the SFC faculties, graduate school deans, and Administrative Directors, I wish you the best in the future.

" Random Thoughts on Entrance Exams for the New Faculty and Graduate School " In addition to the general entrance exams after the New Year, there were AO (Admissions Office) exams, transfer exams for bachelor's degree holders, and so on, creating a situation where I was swamped with entrance exams from fall through winter.

" Graduation " Just before the first graduating class of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care was about to leave, and during a business trip to the Keio Academy of New York, I sent the manuscript to the editorial department as an email attachment from the airport lounge at Narita before boarding the plane. For a brief moment, I fully enjoyed the feeling of being a popular writer.

" The New SFC Faculty Club " A travelogue. Later, I received a thank-you letter from a madam, one of the Keio University alumni, who had read this diary entry.

" My Bag History " Based on this article, I was later featured prominently in "Sarai" (a bi-monthly travel magazine from Shogakukan with a circulation of over 200,000 copies per issue). The ones who were most pleased by this were my patients. I was astonished by the immense power of such media. This incident also taught me that "Okashira's Diary" is famous in the blogosphere. I have felt that "Okashira's Diary" is famous in the blogosphere on other occasions as well, and I wish it continued success and development.

" Random Thoughts on 'Cool Biz' " I managed to write this one in an interesting way.

" If I Were Reborn, I'd Be a 'Dermatologist' " A monologue that only I, a surgeon, could write, and one that I wouldn't even think of writing if I weren't a humble surgeon.

" My Favorite Place at SFC " Reading this makes you want to visit SFC on a nice day and stay at the Seminar Guesthouse.

" The Appeal of 'Ken-Ma' " Until now, my title was "Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care," but from here on, it's "Dean of the Graduate School of Health Management."

" The Smartness of Our Juku as Seen in the Creation of the Core Concept for the 150th Anniversary Project " I'm proud of this as a fine piece of writing that touches on something quite essential for the Juku, but the response was zero. I guess that's just how blogs are.

" The Ultimate, Awkwardly Earnest Gift from My Grandfather: An Abacus " Things like this really do happen.

"Goodbye, 'Okashira's Diary,' and Goodbye, Everyone" This is the one. With 11 days left until retirement, this is literally the final round.

The other day, the green and orange Shonan train that I loved so much disappeared. And now, it's my turn to disappear. In just a few days, the Yoshino cherry blossoms, which I also love, will begin to bloom. Now, upon my retirement, I especially feel that it was truly wonderful for the farewell season to be in this lively spring, rather than autumn. A farewell in autumn, watching the last leaves fall, as is common in the West, would be too lonely, wouldn't it? Speaking of the West, the ego of the Americans I saw in the World Baseball Classic was staggering, almost beyond imagination. And yet, they were defeated. And still, they pride themselves on being the world's police officers, don't they?

Writing this blog, while often quite painful, has given me great pleasure. Not only that, but I believe it has also helped to clean and lubricate my aging brain and improve my writing skills. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ms. Eriko Igarashi of the SFC General Affairs Office (Public Relations), who served as my editor and supported me throughout this time. Also, to my readers for their considerable encouragement, and to my beloved wife and daughters for all their proofreading.

I will continue to provide clinical care and research guidance at the university hospital as a Part-time Lecturer in the Department of Surgery at the Juku's School of Medicine. Also, my position as Vice President of the Juku School of Medicine Alumni Association and my current SFC email address will continue.

Stay well, everyone. And thank you. And goodbye.

I'm sorry this has been so long. (Tears, and the end)

(Date of publication: 2006/03/20)

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