Pre-war Keio University and Dormitories of Old-System High Schools

Tattered hats and damaged clothes—the so-called "heii-habo" style—paired with cloaks and hakama; futons left unrolled in Japanese-style rooms as permanent beds; torn shoji paper and graffiti from successive residents on the walls. Iwanami Bunko paperbacks and general-interest magazines scattered about, while residents warmed themselves by hibachi braziers against the drafts. They would blow clouds of tobacco smoke while debating national affairs, and occasionally relieve themselves out the window. With unique customs and orders, such as the "storm" where they would march into town singing the Dekansho-bushi, these were considered sacred spaces where teachers were not permitted to intervene—this was the typical dormitory life of pre-war old-system high schools.

The Keio University dormitories stood at the opposite extreme. They turned their backs on the "bankara" culture, viewing it as a distorted authoritarianism that ostentatiously feigned poverty while actually flaunting elite status. Since the era of Fukuzawa, Keio prioritized hygiene in clean architectural designs, early on introducing Western-style rooms and steam heating. Living spaces were separated from study rooms, and faculty members lived alongside Keio students. At mealtimes, everyone from the President down would gather harmoniously in the large dining hall to socialize. Takuzo Itakura, a resident during the time such dormitories existed on the Mita Hilltop Square and who later became the Dean of the Faculty of Law, wrote, "The Keio University dormitory is Keio University itself." For the Juku, the dormitory was a space for living in a rational environment conducive to study, fostering a bright sense of social common sense.

The Hiyoshi Kishukusha (designed by Yoshiro Taniguchi), completed in 1937, followed in that tradition. It featured fully private Western-style rooms and underfloor heating throughout the building. Its thorough facilities, including flush toilets and a bathhouse with a grand view, were hailed as the best in the Orient, producing Keio students described as sociable and smart. The "Keio-ness" that the public often labeled as soft was, in fact, a reflection of a robust spirit of defiance.

Of these two models, the old-system high school one is a room created by consolidating features from many dormitory photo collections—a scene where six people gather in a double room to talk (bottom photo). The Hiyoshi one was meticulously crafted after numerous visits to the existing Kishukusha building—a scene where a friend visits a resident's private room (top photo). Though they may not stand out, they are among the most elaborate exhibits within the Keio History Museum.

(Takeyuki Tokura, Associate Professor, Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)