“Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Keio Gijuku” postcard set, Keio University, Tokyo, 1907.

“Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Keio Gijuku” postcard set, Keio University, Tokyo, 1907. The central montage depicts Fukuzawa Yukichi at three different stages of his life — as a young samurai/scholar, in his middle-ages, and in his later years. Emerging at left from behind the montage are crossed pen nibs symbolizing the nobility of learning. It became the school’s official “mark” in 1888 and still used today on all official school regalia. (The school mascot, however, is a unicorn; not a pair of pen nibs.)

The Keio-Gijuku 50th Anniversary of Its Foundation

The Japan Times, April 12, 1907

“The Keio-gijuku, established in the 5th year of Ansei (1857), will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation on the 21st [of this month].

“There will be invited some 6000 of prominent personages, both official and private, members of the Imperial Diet, presidents of the eminent government and private schools and journalists as well as the members of the institution, members of the association for its support, contributors to the school funds and the library construction funds.

“On the occasion the opening address will be given by Mr. Kamada, President of the institution, and speeches will be delivered by the American Ambassador, Marquis Saionji, the Premier, Mr. Makino, Minister of Education, Mr. Hamao, President of the Imperial University of Tokyo, and Count Okuma, President of the Waseda University.

“After the ceremony there will be a grand garden party and each guest will be presented with a souvenir consisting of a copy of the history of the Keio-gijuku and a set of pictorial post-cards.

“On the same day the students of the school will attend to the thanksgiving held upon the dedication of the bronze statue of the founder Mr. Fukuzawa, fondly called the “Sage of Mita”.

“After receiving memorial medals and pictorial cards the students will hold a celebration in the evening while marching through the city in a torch-light procession.”

: “Main Building of Keio Gijuku”, 1907. The original brick Keio University Main Building pictured here was completed in 1887 but would not survive the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. It was the first Western building erected on the Mita campus to which the school moved in 1871. In a corner are crossed pen nibs, Keio University’s “mark”, designed by two students in 1888 and still used on all official university regalia.

: “The Purpose of Keio University”, Mission Statement of Keio University, 1907, (Keiō Gijuku no Kumi) formulated and brushed in his hand by school founder Fukuzawa Yukichi in November 1896: “Keio University is not merely a place for academic learning. Its purpose is to make the individual a model of noble character and intellect, to lead society, and to clarify the principles of independence and self-respect.”