Hello, everyone.
Today, I’m going to talk about Yukichi Fukuzawa.
Do you know who Yukichi Fukuzawa is?
He was an extremely important person who lived from 1835 to 1901.
Fukuzawa was a thinker, educator, and writer who helped modernize Japan.
He wrote a book called Gakumon no Susume (An Encouragement of Learning), teaching many people about the importance of freedom, equality, and studying.
He also founded the famous Keio University.
Today, let’s take a closer look at his life and the incredible things he accomplished.
1. Yukichi Fukuzawa’s Childhood and How He Became Interested in Learning
Fukuzawa was born in 1835 in Nakatsu Domain, which is in what is now Osaka Prefecture.
His father was a samurai, but the family wasn’t very wealthy.
Unfortunately, he lost his father when he was young, and life was hard for him and his mother. But Fukuzawa was a very curious child.
At that time, Japan limited its contact with foreign countries, making it difficult to learn about the outside world.
However, Fukuzawa came across a study called “Rangaku,” which involved learning about foreign countries through the Dutch, and he became very interested in it.
He studied diligently in Nagasaki and Osaka.
2. Surprising Things He Saw Abroad
What really fascinated Fukuzawa was his trip to America in 1860.
He went as part of the shogunate’s delegation and was amazed by American life and culture.
He thought, “It would be great if Japan could become like this.”
Two years later, he visited Europe, going to France, England, Germany, and other countries, and was even more shocked by what he saw.
This made him strongly believe, “Japan needs to change!”
3. The Founding of Keio University and His Educational Approach
After returning to Japan, Fukuzawa decided, “I want to teach young people what I’ve seen!” So, in 1868, he founded Keio University.
It started as a small school, but now it’s one of the most famous private universities in Japan.
Fukuzawa valued the idea of dokuritsu jison—which means “independence and self-respect.”
This idea encourages people to think and act on their own.
He believed that if individuals grew, the whole country would improve as well.
4. What Did He Want to Convey in Gakumon no Susume?
One of Fukuzawa’s most famous works is his book Gakumon no Susume.
Published in 1872, it was read by many people.
The book starts with the famous phrase, “Heaven does not create one person above or below another.”
This means, “Everyone is born equal. Study hard, grow through your own efforts, and strive for the good of society.”
At the time, Japan still had a class system, and people’s lives were often determined by the family they were born into.
But Fukuzawa wanted to say, “That doesn’t matter! Everyone can study and grow freely.”
5. Are Fukuzawa’s Ideas Still Important Today?
Fukuzawa passed away in 1901 at the age of 66, but his ideas still influence many people today.
The idea of dokuritsu jison is important not just at Keio University, but throughout Japan’s education system.
The values of freedom, equality, and independent thinking that he promoted have stayed in the hearts of many Japanese people from the Meiji Era to the present.
Even today, many people from Keio University go on to make a big impact in Japan and around the world.
6. Conclusion
As you can see, Yukichi Fukuzawa was a key figure in Japan’s modernization.
Thanks to his educational ideas and Gakumon no Susume, many people came to understand the importance of studying, and Japan began to aim for a society where everyone is equal and free.
Fukuzawa’s ideas continue to spread through Keio University and his writings, even today.
Do you feel like you understand Yukichi Fukuzawa better now?
There’s so much we can learn from his thoughts and actions.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Let’s continue to explore Fukuzawa’s life together!
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