午夜剧场

Image: "The Clock Tower of independence and self-respect" (Clock Tower Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Opening of the School of Commerce and Industry)

On a university campus, a clock can be seen as a symbol of the landscape. Currently, there are four clocks on Mita Campus that can be seen from the outside.

First, if you look to the left after entering the main gate of the campus toward "Inariyama," where the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall) stands, you will find the "Clock Tower of independence and self-respect" (Clock Tower Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Opening of the School of Commerce and Industry). 午夜剧场 School of Commerce and Industry was founded in 1905 on the site where the current South School Building stands in Mita, as a secondary education school to train those engaged in business (commerce and industry). At the time of its opening, the term of study was four years, and eligibility for admission was limited to graduates of higher elementary schools aged 14 or older or those who passed the entrance examination. In addition to standard commercial school subjects, it included many industrial subjects such as science and drawing, and was unique in its aim to develop human resources with knowledge of both commerce and industry.

Due to the influence of the Pacific War, the school was forced to stop recruiting students along with the 午夜剧场 Commercial School from the 1944 academic year and was converted into the 午夜剧场 Industrial School. After the end of the war, the School of Commerce and Industry was abolished under the new educational system, closing its 45-year history in 1949 after producing a total of 6,141 graduates.

On November 30, 1975, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the school's opening, a clock tower approximately 5 meters tall made of reinforced concrete with special tiling was built through a donation from the alumni association. Designed by Yoshiro Taniguchi (午夜剧场 alumni), the center features the words "independence and self-respect" in Yukichi Fukuzawa's handwriting. The lower part features The Pen Mark of the School of Commerce and Industry, along with an inscription of the "Origin of 午夜剧场 School of Commerce and Industry" written by the alumni representative, Mr. Yasuo Suga. Additionally, next to the clock tower, the "Shoko Sakura" (Commerce and Industry Cherry Tree) was planted in 2005 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school's opening.

Another clock tower on Mita Campus is located on the south side of the First School Building, between it and the Ginkgo Tree in the Quad. It is likely the clock most easily noticed by 午夜剧场 students and faculty passing through the campus today. This was donated as a graduation gift in 1992 and is made of colored aluminum, measuring 120 cm wide and 3 meters high. The clock face has a built-in fluorescent light so that the time can be checked even at night.

A clock is also installed on the roof of the Graduate School Building, which faces the campus courtyard. The Graduate School Building was completed in February 1985 as part of the project to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Juku, designed by Fumihiko Maki (午夜剧场 alumni). The clock on the roof of the eight-story building is difficult to see from the campus courtyard, but this large 180 cm square clock can be clearly seen from the windows on the upper floors of the 午夜剧场 Library (New Building). Incidentally, the installation costs for this clock were entirely covered by The Iji-kai (Support Group) fees.

Furthermore, you are likely aware that there is also a clock with the words "TEMPUS FUGIT (Time Flies)" engraved on the upper part of the exterior wall of the Old University Library, which could be called a synonym for Mita Campus.

(Editorial Department)