Our History

Before the Keio Yochisha Elementary School was established, there was the “Dōji ryō” (children’s dormitory) which housed students between the ages of 12 and 16. Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio, was himself blessed with four sons and five daughters. He realized that the children would need highly skilled teachers for their education and an institution other than the Dōji ryō to be entrusted with such a great task. In 1874, Yoshiro Wada, a one of Fukuzawa’s trusted disciples, took some of the youngest pupils from the dormitory to board at his home on the Keio campus in Mita. He and his wife educated them, starting the basis for what would eventually become the Keio Yochisha Elementary School.

Yoshiro Wada, a native of Kishu (modern day Wakayama Prefecture), excelled not only in his studies but also in jujitsu. He taught pupils even younger than those who had been in the old dormitory, ranging from elementary school to junior high school. This was to prepare the children for higher education at Keio and the school, which at the time was called the “Wada Juku.” In 1898, Keio underwent a major reform of its school system, establishing an integrated system which incorporated elementary through university-level education. Yochisha thus became the Keio’s elementary school. It was housed in an area under the west cliff of Keio University’s Mita Campus, with newly built classrooms and dormitories.

In 1937, due to the deterioration of Mita Campus, Yochisha was moved to Hiro-o, the site of Yukichi Fukuzawa’s country residence. The architect, Yoshirō Taniguchi, a recipient of the Japanese Order of Culture, believed that “education is not some afterthought, simply done inside any building; the design of school buildings themselves should reflect the purpose of education.” With this mindset, he asked many of the teachers for their input on the buildings. After 90 years, the main school building that he designed is still in use, providing well-lit classrooms and easy access to the school grounds. The new gymnasium (completed in 1987) and another large building—comprised of a dining hall and classrooms (completed in 2002)—were later designed by his son, Yoshio Taniguchi.

Keio Yochisha, one of the oldest private elementary schools in Japan, is celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2024. Moving forward, we hope to build on this legacy through the cooperative spirit that characterizes Keio, making history and leaving behind traditions for future generations.