Hoisting the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag
The first thing new students entering ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ likely see is the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag flying atop the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. After passing through the row of ginkgo trees and looking up at the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag raised high toward the sky, they must have felt their hearts race with the realization that they were now members of the Juku and starting their university lives.
Currently, the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag is hoisted primarily when there are important annual events. This occurs about 10 times a year, including the spring and autumn entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, commencement, the Yukichi Fukuzawa-Francis Wayland Memorial Lecture, the Fukuzawa Award and ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Award ceremony, Yukichi Fukuzawa's Birthday, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Foundation Day, and other special lectures. It is never hoisted at night. In rainy weather, it may be flown if the rain is light, but no flag other than the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag has ever been hoisted.
On the Mita Campus, the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag is hoisted in three locations: the main gate, the 4th-floor balcony of the East Building, and the rooftop of the Jukukan-kyoku (ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Corporate Administration). However, when a lecture is held at the Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), it is also displayed at the entrance of the hall. On the Hiyoshi Campus, it is usually flown in one location on the rooftop of the Commemorative Hall, but it can also be hoisted in front of the Hiyoshi Kaido "Hiyoshi Kaido" Senior High School Gymnasium, the track and field stadium, and the rooftop of the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex. On the Yagami Campus, it is flown in one location on the rooftop of the Sosokan. At SFC, there are three locations: in front of the Main Building (Alpha Building), in front of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care Main Building, and in the courtyard of the Fujisawa Junior and Senior High School. At the Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus, a pole was recently installed in front of Building 1, and at the Shinanomachi Campus, there is a pole in the courtyard of Building 2.
Additionally, there are many locations at Athletic Association facilities where flags are hoisted, with poles installed at various grounds such as the baseball stadium, the track and field stadium, tennis courts, and the equestrian grounds. In remote locations, poles are also provided so that flags can be flown at the Tateshina Lodge, the Tateyama Camp, and the Yamanaka Villa.
The ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag is also known as the Sanshokuki, featuring blue-red-blue stripes adorned with The Pen Mark. While the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag has existed since the Meiji era, the standards for the flag were established in 1964, resulting in its current form. It is used not only for flags but also for the designs of banners, curtains, armbands, and pennants.
The ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ School Flag hoisted on the rooftop of the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall measures 3.5m x 2.3m, the size of six tatami mats, making it the largest flag owned by ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡. Looking up from below, it does not seem that large, but it is quite substantial when seen up close. This flag was a gift from the contractor to celebrate the completion of the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall. The fluttering flag can be seen from Shin-Kawasaki Station, two kilometers away. Hoisting the flag also serves the role of informing the surrounding community that a celebration or event is taking place.
Flags are also an essential item for cheering at sporting events. The sight of everyone waving small flags to cheer is a seasonal tradition.
A flag is respected and handled with care as a symbol of an organization or group and a sign of unity, playing an important role as a mark of identity.
(Hiroshi Watanabe, Office of Facilities and Property Management)
*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.