[Special Feature: Keio 4—150 Years Since the Naming of the Juku] "Wayland" in 1945

On May 15, Keio 4 (1868), while the Shogitai were fighting the New Government Army in Ueno, Yukichi Fukuzawa continued his lecture on Wayland's economics textbook exactly as scheduled. This episode has been remembered as a symbolic scene of the historical figure Fukuzawa—much like the image of Ninomiya Kinjiro reading while carrying firewood or Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a thunderstorm—and has been recalled by people from time to time. Most recently, it was revived within Keio in March 2011 during the Great East Japan Earthquake, when discussions arose regarding when to start classes for the new academic year. While other universities announced one after another that they would wait for the chaos to subside and start classes in May, and a mood filled the air as if delaying the start demonstrated an educator's morality, voices within the Juku argued that the new semester should begin as usual. On that occasion, this historical anecdote was brought up. I remember hearing the proponents of this position being referred to, somewhat ironically, as the "Wayland faction."

At that time, there was instability as the radiation issues following the nuclear accident remained unpredictable, but Keio University has faced many states of emergency. Long ago, around the 10th year of Meiji (1877), the number of students entering the Juku plummeted, and management became unsustainable. In a petition submitted to the Minister of Education in Meiji 11 (1878), Fukuzawa emphasized that it was a school where the sound of reading never ceased even amidst a rain of bullets, seeking assistance for its maintenance: "The old systems have been abolished and the new administration is not yet in effect; universities are not yet established, and the Ministry of Education is not yet set up. In such a dark age for civilization, Keio University alone gathered dozens of scholars to read books in peace, never ceasing the sound of recitation (igo) even amidst a rain of bullets."

The death of Yukichi Fukuzawa in February, Meiji 34 (1901), was also a crisis, so to speak. "Yukichi Fukuzawa has passed away; should Keio University be buried with him? No, we cannot bear to bury it. ... The history of Keio University is very old... at a time when the world was in chaos and not a single person in the whole country spoke of literary matters, Keio University alone calmly lectured on learning and did not allow the lifeblood of our literature to be cut off for even a single day..." These words are from the prospectus for the establishment of The Iji-kai (Support Group), which was launched that month.

So, what about wartime crises? In the late autumn of Showa 18 (1943), when the deferment of conscription for students was suspended and the so-called "student mobilization" was decided, Sei'ichiro Takahashi wrote in the "Mita Shimbun" after seeing students attending classes until just before their induction into the Army and Navy in early December.

The students of Keio University, inheriting the spirit of the late teacher, are now bravely standing up to clear the national crisis and realize the ideal of establishing the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, yet they have not lost their calm attitude and refuse to leave the lecture halls. Such a sight should truly be called the reappearance, 76 years later, of the Keio University spirit that quietly finished its lectures while hearing the sound of cannons and seeing the smoke on the day in May, Meiji 1, when the imperial army's bombardment set the temples of Ueno ablaze. ("Mita Shimbun," November 10, Showa 18)

However, during the war, Yukichi Fukuzawa became a figure who had to be spoken of in hushed tones, much like faith in mission schools during wartime. This is symbolized by Tokutomi Soho's criticism of Fukuzawa. Soho, who was the president of the Association of Patriotic Writers and Speakers of Great Japan, wrote the following in a series of reminiscences in its journal, fiercely criticizing Fukuzawa and implicitly condemning the existence of Keio University.

At any rate, Yukichi Fukuzawa was the greatest presence against the Satsuma-Choshu government. In this respect, I think he was truly great, but in terms of recklessly importing Western things, he is beyond the likes of Ito or Mutsu. He is more than that. ... I believe Yukichi Fukuzawa bears a truly grave responsibility for causing Japan's traditional good customs to be swept away. ... I think his disciples have fallen to a level considerably lower than their teacher. This utilitarianism has become extremely prevalent. And Yukichi Fukuzawa's final conclusion ended up being independence and self-respect. Independence is, in short, an explanation of individualism in different words. ... For example, even in great matters of the state, they have no concern for themselves. Even in today's war, who is fighting? It is as if someone else entirely is fighting... as long as they continue with independence and self-respect, the result is that they cannot help but become distant from things like patriotism. ("So-o Mandan," Genron Hokoku, Vol. 2, No. 3)

This was March, Showa 19 (1944). In September of the same year, a book was published containing the following.

In May of this year [Keio 4], a war to suppress the Shogitai broke out in Ueno. At Keio University in Shiba Shinsenza, Wayland's economics was lectured upon despite the war. Fukuzawa, proceeding with the lecture while hearing the sound of cannons, seemed to feel a kind of pride and joy that could be considered sublime. However, in the end, that could only be the attitude of a bloodless and frivolous advocate of enlightenment who looks upon the great affairs of the state as someone else's business. For Fukuzawa, the way of increasing wealth was more important than the cause of justice (sic). It was considered more valuable to be absorbed in business than to throw away one's life for the country. This is why Master Masuda could not help but rise up to strike down Fukuzawa. (Kazuma Takeda, "Masuda Sotaro Kashu," Showa 19)

"Master Masuda" refers to Sotaro Masuda, a scholar of Japanese classics and a second cousin of Fukuzawa, who is known for attempting to assassinate Fukuzawa around the time of the Restoration. However, he was a man of passion who later entered the Juku and eventually died in battle following Saigo in the Satsuma Rebellion.

Afterward, the students remaining on campus were scattered across the country for labor mobilization, and the Yochisha Elementary School students were evacuated in groups. I have been continuing research on the Juku during the war years for about five years now, and I once became curious and investigated whether the Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony on January 10 was held even during those times. I found records up to Showa 19 (1944), but none for Showa 20 (1945). Even looking at the chronological biography in the complete works of the then President Shinzo Koizumi, the description skips from December 9, Showa 19, to January 23, Showa 20. Was it really not held?

"Illustration of Yukichi Fukuzawa Lecturing on Wayland" by Yukihiko Yasuda (Collection of Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)

Later, while leafing through Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press), I found the following description in an article by Washichi Konno titled "Two Contrasting Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremonies" (May 1958 issue).

In the ceremonial records of Keio University, not a single line is written about the events of the Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony on January 10, Showa 20. There are records for Meiji-setsu on November 3 of the previous year and the grave visit on the anniversary of the teacher's death on February 3 of this year, but the entry for January 10 is missing. I fear that someone researching the history of the Juku later might conclude that this commemoration ceremony was canceled only once during the war because there is no record. Far from being canceled once, a solemn ceremony was actually held.

According to Konno, in Showa 20 (1945), there was an air raid on Tokyo starting from midnight on New Year's Day, and enemy planes attacked daily thereafter. Neither faculty nor students were in Mita due to mobilization.

The day of the January 10 commemoration ceremony arrived at such a time. The then President Dr. Shinzo Koizumi said, "There is no need to worry about the number of people at the gathering," and held the meeting at the scheduled time as in previous years. On that day, twelve or thirteen people gathered...

Konno's memory is quite vivid and detailed.

President Koizumi's public speaking was solemn. He prefaced it by saying, "On May 15, Keio 4, while hearing the sound of cannons from the Ueno War, Yukichi Fukuzawa continued his scheduled lecture before the few remaining students. I now speak of Yukichi Fukuzawa at this time when enemy planes may attack," and discussed Yukichi Fukuzawa as a patriot, citing the anecdote of the philosopher Fichte, who gave a lecture titled 'Addresses to the German Nation' while hearing the sound of military boots in Germany occupied by Napoleon's army. And President Koizumi concluded like this: "We have now held a commemoration ceremony here with a dozen or so friends who share the same aspirations. We take pride in the fact that we met and did not interrupt the teacher's commemoration ceremony even during air raids. In later years, this will surely become a story to be told."

Konno also records an anecdote where Masafumi Tomita, who was then the head of the General Affairs Section of the Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration), said, "When we were in trouble because there were no tea or sweets after the commemoration ceremony, sweet potatoes arrived from the student farm in Hiyoshi, so we steamed them and everyone ate them." Tomita himself recalled this day on another occasion, writing that President Koizumi gave that speech before people who were "shivering in the cold, wrapped in overcoats, with little fuel to warm the venue, a small group of a dozen or so who had gathered despite the difficulties" ("Keio University Almanac (January)," Mita-hyoron, January 1963 issue).

Showa 20. For Keio University, the mere act of gathering to remember Fukuzawa had become an act that overlapped with the "Wayland" anecdote.

I started this draft intending to introduce Konno's reminiscence mentioned above, but I decided to look through the materials at the Fukuzawa Memorial Center again. Before reaching the thick volumes titled "Ceremony Related Files" that I had opened before and that Konno likely investigated as well, a thick document titled "Annual Event Documents" caught my eye. It contained drafts of New Year's greetings in the President's name from the early Showa era, invitation letters for regular events, and approval documents for mailing lists. As the years progressed into the war, the records took on a heavy atmosphere along with the deterioration of the paper quality. Before I knew it, the title became "Recipients of Bombing Sympathy Letters, November 30, Showa 19," and leafing further, an approval document for "New Year's Day and January 10 Events" appeared, stamped with the date "December 19, Showa 19." In the "President" column on the far right was the pencil signature "Koizumi." In the "Director" column was "Maki" (Tomohio) also in pencil, and a red pen circle likely belonging to Tomisaburo Nishimura. In the "Chief" column was the red stamp of "Yamamoto" (Toshio: later a professor in the Faculty of Letters) and a characteristic pen-written "Tomi" (Masafumi Tomita). And from there, documents for the schedule of events for January Showa 20 were bound over several pages. Transcribing the mimeographed notice titled "Notice to Students" yields the following:

The New Year's Greeting Ceremony and the Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony will be held at the Mita Main Juku next January as follows, as in previous years.

Attendance is requested.

December, Showa 19, Keio University

Note

New Year's Greeting Ceremony

1. Date and Time: New Year's Day, 9:30 AM

1. Venue: Mita Main Juku, Classroom 23

Yukichi Fukuzawa Commemoration Ceremony

1. Date and Time: January 10 (Wednesday), 1:30 PM

1. Venue: Classroom 22

1. Commemorative lecture will be held

Note: The event will be canceled if the air raid warning is not lifted two hours before the start of the day's events.

This mimeographed notice seems to have been sent to each faculty and school, and a draft of the cover letter is also bound. The record did exist. And what is surprising once again is that despite being announced so thoroughly, there were only "twelve or thirteen" attendees. Later in May, Mita would lose many buildings to war damage, and President Koizumi would also be injured. However, the "Annual Event Documents" say nothing of that, and as if nothing had happened, they were followed by a draft of an invitation for the Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Commemoration Ceremony for "this coming January 10," dated December 26, Showa 20, sent to Juku affiliates. It was in President Koizumi's name, but the handwriting was the characteristic hand of Masafumi Tomita.

The anecdote of "Wayland" has been recalled during every crisis as an opportunity to re-examine the meaning of Keio University's continued existence. Without raising one's voice, but without forgetting. It is best that "Wayland" be spoken of in that way.