Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum2026 Spring Special Exhibition on the 125th Anniversary of Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Death:
Fukuzawa’s Final Chapter: The Ongoing Pursuit of “Independence” (June 18–August 29)
What did Fukuzawa wish to leave behind in his final years? Is it still with us today?
“Turn the World Upside Down”
Fukuzawa Yukichi died exactly 125 years ago, on February 3, 1901. To commemorate this occasion, theFukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum will hold a special exhibition revisiting his final days.
When did Fukuzawa begin to acknowledge his advancing age? A close reading of his later writings and speeches reveals a growing awareness of the next generation. In one address, he described feeling “infinite anguish” as he pondered whether the pursuit of “civilization” would continue after his death. In another, he urged people to keep “turning the world upside down” until the very end. It was one year before his death that the phrase dokuritsu jison, or independence and self-respect, came to be clearly established as an expression of Fukuzawa’s spirit. Detailed records also remain of his struggle following a stroke, as well as the events leading to his passing.
Through a wealth of materials from his final years, this exhibition considers what Fukuzawa most wished to leave behind and whether his aspirations were ultimately realized.
1. Exhibition Details
Dates: June 18 (Thurs.)– August 29 (Sat.), 2026
Closed: Sundays, public holidays, June 24 (Wed.), and July 22 (Wed.)
Also closed for the summer break: August 10 (Mon.)–August 17 (Mon.)
Location: Keio History Museum Temporary Exhibition Room, Old University Library (2F)
Museum hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30)
Admission: Free and open to the public
Exhibition page: https://history.keio.ac.jp/?page_id=4731
*Please check the museum’s website for the latest information:
https://history.keio.ac.jp/en/
2. Featured Items
1) Miniature lighthouse model, gifted in celebration of Fukuzawa’s 60th birthday (1895)
2) Paper used by Fukuzawa for writing practice during post-stroke rehabilitation (1898)
3) Calligraphy by Fukuzawa, Greeting the New Century with Independence and Self-Respect (1901)
4) Japanese anise leaf used to decorate the altar at Fukuzawa’s funeral (1901)
5) Photograph of Fukuzawa’s funeral (1901)
(From the collection of the Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)
3. Related Events
(1) Symposium: “Fukuzawa Yukichi in His Final Years: Shūshin Yōryō (Fukuzawa’s moral code) in Focus”
Date and time: July 11 (Sat.), 2026 | 14:00–16:30 (doors open at 13:30)
Location: Classroom 517, West Building (Keio University Mita Campus)
Registration: Not required (maximum of 400 people on a first-come, first-served basis)
-Commemorative lecture: “Shūshin Yōryō: Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Last Dream” by Hiroshi Aramata (novelist)
-Panel session with Hiroshi Aramata, Mitsunori Yoneyama (advisor at the Fukuzawa Research Center and president of Den-en Chofu University), and Taiki Koyama (teacher at Keio Yochisha Elementary School and descendant of Fukuzawa Yukichi)
Moderator: Takeyuki Tokura (professor at the Fukuzawa Memorial Institute for Modern Japanese Studies)
(2) Gallery talks (free of charge)
Dates: June 26 (Fri.), July 16 (Thurs.), and August 7 (Fri.), 2026
Each talk begins at 14:00 and will last about 50 minutes.
Registration: Not required (maximum of 20 people on a first-come, first-served basis)
*Please direct any requests or inquiries to the contacts listed below in advance of any press coverage.
*This news release has been sent to the MEXT Press Club and the social, educational and cultural news departments of other media outlets.
・Contact information for inquiries about this exhibition
Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum
Tel: 03-5427-1604
Fax: 03-5427-1605
Email: info@history.keio.ac.jp
・Source of this release
Office of Communications and Public Relations (contact: Akiko Wakahara)
Tel: 03-5427-1541
Fax: 03-5441-7640
Email: m-pr@adst.keio.ac.jp
https://www.keio.ac.jp/