Doshisha's 140th Anniversary

　My university, Doshisha, which was originally Doshisha English School established by Joh Niijima, is going to have its 140th anniversary this year. Since its foundation, Doshisha has had the ideas of Christianity, liberalism and internationalism and it has  cultivated "conscience education". Now, "2025 Doshisha Visions" is being developed for the coming 150th anniversary in ten years. As for 2025 Visions, the spirit of founder Joh Niijima is breathing with the motto, " The will of Doshisha Way-for 2025”. “ I often reflect upon the extraordinary power from foreign countries throughout history, such as the black ship of the Bakumatsu, late Tokugawa period, and the times of Niijima. I think about whether the modernization of Japan was necessary and how the globalization of current Japan resembles it. I also consider the origin of Doshisha, and the contemporary vision must reflect Niijima’s firm will now. It is natural that education and study are the big pillars of the university. Doshisha is a mammoth-sized school having 29,000 students and 380,000 alumni. Verbal intercourse and networking with the alumni are important for a private university and should be encouraged more. In addition, the university is no longer considered a so-called ivory tower. We must not forget its relationships with community, the local government and NPOs, as well as collaborations with various outside institutions including other universities. The contribution to society will be a big mission pursued by the university.” President Koji Murata wrote in the Asahi Shimbun.　

　Joh Niijima, who founded Doshisha, was born in 1843 ( Tenpo Era, 14^th year ) and he was a Japanese teacher of religion, a school teacher and educator and a person who is counted as one of the Meiji Era’s six largest educators. He died in 1890. In 1866, he arrived in Boston, America after stowing away on a steamer in 1865. He entered Philips Academy and graduated from Amherst College and he was baptized in Andover Theological College in 1870. Niijima took a class of chemistry from vice-principal William Smith Clark at Sapporo Agricultural School after coming back and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. The social title of stowaway was changed to that of official foreign student by the first Japanese United States Minister Ambassador Aritsune Mori.　In 1872, Niijima, who met the Iwakura mission during a visit to America in 1872, was adopted as an interpreter for Koin Kido. He also visited European countries with the mission and edited the report "理事功程 Riji-Kotei". This had a big influence on the  education system of the new Meiji government. After that mission, he returned to Japan and founded Doshisha English School in 1875 in Kyoto. He thought that the thing supporting European and American civilization was Christian faith. Niijima also thought human beings with independence and self-respect acquired democracy by experience. Therefore, he was convinced that he could modernize Japan if he could educate people about such concepts in his country. In the United States, he noticed that the man whose intellect, virtue and body are in harmony becomes a local and state leader and guides American cultural education of politics and economics through Christian-based education and liberal education for all the people. He wanted to send people into society who could see the big picture of humanity and society. Two of Niijima’s favorite phrases to share with his students were “ live for the people” and “ To live for social work is the trust business with God.” With his educational policy of "conscience of one country", he sent out many able people.　

　Time ticks away to Doshsha’s turning point of the 140^th anniversary this year. Have 　we graduates been brought up to be people "full of conscience" like Joh Niijima’s students or as President Murata expects?