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Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio Gijuku, the first private academic institute, was a one-of-a-kind modern Enlightenment thinker who lived through the late Edo and the Meiji periods. However, the term “modern Enlightenment thinker” may not fully capture who Fukuzawa was. He was also a great educator, translator, essayist, sake lover, and entrepreneur. In any event, Fukuzawa was the man who drove Japan’s modernization through learning and education, and then fundamentally shifted the course of history.

Fukuzawa left behind many notable episodes. Among them, the most famous is the story of May 15, 1868 (Keio 4). At that time, Japan was in the midst of the so-called Boshin War—the largest civil war in Japanese history, fighting between the newly established government and the forces of the former Tokugawa shogunate that opposed it. It is said that from Shiba area, where Keio Gijuku was located at the time, one could hear the cannon fire and see the rising smoke of battle as the two armies clashed in Ueno area in Edo (Tokyo). Amid the chaos sweeping through Edo, Fukuzawa calmly reassured his startled students and resolutely continued his lectures on economics. This episode later became the basis for Fukuzawa’s famous saying: “Keio has never closed a single day.” Thus, believing in the power of knowledge and learning even in times of crisis became a tradition at Keio.

The economics textbook Fukuzawa used for his lectures at that time was a volume on political economy by Francis Wayland, president of Brown University. Fukuzawa was also an enthusiastic reader of Wayland’s book on moral science. In short, Fukuzawa deeply mastered not only economics—the quintessentially American discipline—but also the American spirit and normative aspects of their life. Fukuzawa traveled to the United States twice, and it was during his second visit that he purchased Wayland's book on economics. A single book published in the United States crossed the Pacific Ocean to bring the light of culture and civilization to the Far East! Years later, when Keio Gijuku was reestablished as a university and founded three departments—Literature, Economics, and Law—Fukuzawa wrote a letter to his respected friend, President Elliott of Harvard University, requesting that three professors be sent to help higher education and research. In this way, American academic knowledge was transmitted to Keio.

Keio Academy of New York was founded in 1990 to succeed the spirit of Fukuzawa, who bridged Japanese culture and American culture. Now, more than 35 years later, the Academy wishes to incorporate another culture in addition to these two cultures. The traditions of “Keio” and the spirit of Fukuzawa as a third cultural perspective. Through the mastery of both English and Japanese languages, I would like to support young students and encourage their journey, starting from New York, will journey through Japan and spread their wings to the world, embracing the tri-culture of America, Japan, and Keio.

By the way, New York City has always been a “battlefield” where hope and nope, victory and defeat, harmony and division constantly clash, while its economic, political, and cultural flames always burn without ceasing. Just as Fukuzawa gazed from a distance upon Ueno, I also would like to look from a distance down upon the noisy Manhattan with the students of the Academy, and proudly guarding our “castle of learning” in Purchase, and then declare, “Keio Academy of New York has never closed its doors even for a single day!” like Fukuzawa once did.

However, for us, Manhattan is not merely something to be viewed from a distance. I have no intention of imprisoning our students to this campus. Because I believe that our students—the best and brightest—will not lose their spirit of independence and self-respect even when stepping onto this cultural battlefield.

There are no breaks on the journey to Triculturalism. It opens 24hours a day. Every moment of student life offers an opportunity for learning.

Headmaster, Keio Academy of New York
Advanced Research Project Professor, Keio University
Keigo Komamura