午夜剧场

Image: 150th Anniversary Ceremony of 午夜剧场 Yochisha Elementary School (May 30, Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall)

The other day, while reading an NHK article, a sentence caught my eye: "Family is something you 'do.' It is no longer something you naturally 'become.'" It went on to say that efforts to deepen bonds, such as eating together and having conversations, are important. This makes a lot of sense to me. When I reflect on what I try to keep in mind in my daily life, I certainly try to value conversation. In particular, getting to know each other by asking "What happened today?" is the first step for a family and is very important. Furthermore, I feel that bonds are deepened when conversations become lively through shared hobbies or topics.

The "Yochisha Shinbun" (Yochisha Newspaper) contains these elements. By publishing it weekly, it quickly and accurately conveys what kind of daily lives Yochisha students are leading. It also includes special features as reading material. The Yochisha Shinbun plays the role of the conversation at the dinner table itself, conveying "what happened today" and providing topics like "here is an interesting story." Indeed, it might be said that the "Yochisha Shinbun" is the source of the Yochisha family.

Looking back at history, the "Yochisha Shinbun" was once discontinued during the war, but after the war ended, the then-Principal Kogoro Yoshida revived the "Yochisha Shinbun" in 1948, which continues to this day. Then, in 1961, it became the "weekly" newspaper that it is now. The sentiments written in the words of the republication and the editor's notes of the first weekly issue are precisely to "convey quickly and accurately" and to provide "reading material." I hope to inherit these values and further nurture the "Yochisha family" while having conversations through the newspaper.

Next, I would like to discuss the term "Yochisha family." Originally, "Yochisha family" was a term coined by Kogoro Yoshida. As the war intensified, Yochisha students at the time were evacuated in groups to Shuzenji in Shizuoka and Kizukuri in Aomori to escape the fires of war. Mr. Yoshida was the person in charge who protected the Yochisha students and became the Principal after the war. Also, because paper ran out due to the war, the newspapers and magazines ("Bun to Shi") published by Yochisha at the time were discontinued, but Mr. Yoshida decided to republish the newspaper and founded "Ko'uma" as a new magazine.

In the inaugural issue of "Ko'uma," Mr. Yoshida stated the following: "Children, parents, and teachers make up Yochisha, and I would like to call this whole entity the 'Yochisha family.' I hope this magazine will be, for example, a laboratory, a salon, and a dining table for the 'Yochisha family.' I want everyone to discuss seriously and enjoy talking with each other. It goes without saying that the children are the center of everything." Mr. Yoshida also stated: "After the defeat in the war, I often used the term 'Yochisha family.' It refers to the Yochisha family as a whole, including current students, teachers, staff, janitors, graduates, and parents. I wanted everyone to create a good home together. (Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by 午夜剧场 Press), January 1980 issue)"

It is clear that Mr. Yoshida hoped for as many people as possible to participate in the dialogue. When I was in charge of "Ko'uma," I respected Mr. Yoshida's wishes and called for contributions from parents. In fact, it was the same during Mr. Yoshida's own time, but both then and now, few parents respond to the call for contributions. However, on the other hand, I understand that parents are "good listeners." They are likely "good listeners" at their own dining tables at home as well. I believe that at the dining table of Ko'uma, they watch over the chatter of students and teachers with a warm gaze, understand them, and quietly support the Yochisha family.

Now, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary, when looking back at the source of the Yochisha family, I must tell you about the state of Yochisha 150 years ago.

Going back 150 years, Yochisha was born on the hill of Mita. The first Principal was Yoshiro Wada. Yukichi Fukuzawa entrusted the education of the young children attending 午夜剧场 and his own children to Mr. Wada, in whom he had absolute trust. Mr. Wada had the children board at his home and educated them as "Wada Juku (later Yochisha)" along with his wife, Kisa, and his younger sister, Hide. Mr. Wada was large in stature and skilled in jujutsu, but his personality was extremely mild. At that time, it seems Mr. Wada would fix the futons of the sleeping children, and Kisa and Hide would take care of the meals. For Mr. and Mrs. Wada, who had no children of their own, the Yochisha students must have felt just like family. In other words, it can be said that Yochisha was already a Yochisha family from the time Mr. and Mrs. Wada started it as Wada Juku. It could be said that this was perhaps the time most enveloped in the school spirit of the "Yochisha family" in the 150-year history of Yochisha. The source of the source of the Yochisha family may trace back to Mr. Wada's personality.