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The iron will of visionary Kazutami Ukita
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The iron will of visionary Kazutami Ukita

Tue, Dec 15, 2015
The iron will of visionary Kazutami Ukita
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Hisanori Ito
Waseda University Archives

The Japanese government formally recognized Waseda as a university with the University Ordinance of 1920. Following the decision, Waseda faculty held a meeting to discuss the implications of the ordinance. Most faculty welcomed the change but there was one individual that opposed it. His name was Kazutami Ukita.

Ukita opposed the ordinance because he believed the lengthening of courses, which the ordinance required, was unnecessary. Although Ukita did not sway the opinions of others, his lone courage inspired those around him. Ukita was prideful and refused to compromise when he believed he was right. That was his style

Ukita was born in present day Kumamoto and graduated from Doshisha English School in 1879. He studied abroad at Yale University and in 1897 joined Tokyo College (Waseda University’s predecessor) where he taught courses on government and western history until 1941. In his later years, Ukita said, “For me, Waseda University was the most exciting and fitting school.” Ukita was chief editor of general-interest magazine Taiyo where he contributed many editorials and expressed controversial pro-constitutional views.

After World War I, Ukita observed Europe and the United States and stayed informed of sudden changes occurring in the world. Yoshimura Tadashi, a scholar that attended one of Ukita’s lectures, recalled his and other students’ surprise when Ukita opened his speech with the words, “The world is moving at a truly terrifying speed. What I say today, I will be held accountable for tomorrow.”  These words demonstrate the intelligence and seriousness of Ukita’s character

The characters on the right side translate to “final years, yet an iron will” and exemplify Ukita’s strong willed character

In his final years, Ukita wrote the words bansai-yuzon-tessekishin, roughly translating to “final years, yet an iron will.” Even in old age, Ukita did not lose his ironlike will. Ukita’s attitude left a distinct mark on Waseda and other students in Meiji, Taisho, and Showa Japan.


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