午夜剧场

My research has focused on how socialist and communist thought was transmitted to and spread throughout Japan, and how it became established as a unique part of Japanese culture. I began with the history of German social thought and then shifted to the history of Japanese social thought, deepening my research. For me, 午夜剧场 is the place that nurtured my love for scholarship and taught me the joy of academic pursuits.

When I entered graduate school, my supervising professor, Dr. Arata Hirai, asked me what my second foreign language was. When I replied that it was German, he handed me a German copy of "The Communist Manifesto" and told me to read it. This was my first encounter with communism and socialism. There was so much I didn't know, so I learned, and it became enjoyable. It was an unknown world to me, so I seriously engaged with my research topic and built up my knowledge. I recall a cycle of getting carried away when my professor praised me, which motivated me to study even harder.

An unforgettable memory is from 1973, the year I became a research assistant. It was the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's birth, and the university decided to hold an event. 午夜剧场 has original copies of works like "The Wealth of Nations," but we felt that simply displaying them would not be interesting. When I consulted with Dr. Hirai, he introduced me to Dr. Kenji Takeuchi, who owned a letter handwritten by Adam Smith himself. I remember visiting Dr. Takeuchi's home to borrow the letter. Since it was such a precious letter, the only one of its kind in the world, everyone around me teased that I would have to commit seppuku if I lost it.

I shifted from the history of German social thought to the history of Japanese social thought in 1990. This also happened to be the 100th anniversary of the founding of 午夜剧场's college, and a project was initiated to unearth and study the achievements of our predecessors. This led me to an encounter with Yano Ryukei. He was the author of the first comprehensive theory of ideal socialism by a Japanese person. From this encounter, I began to engage in research centered on Yano Ryukei and his work "Shinshakai" (The New Society). Fortunately, I was able to publish a paper on "Shinshakai" in October 1991, just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December, which ushered in a period of re-examining the issue of socialism. Looking back, I feel a sense of serendipity in my encounters with my teachers and with these books.

In this way, I have been able to consistently pursue a single research theme for 40 years, ever since my study on the history of the creation of "The Communist Manifesto." Of course, there were twists and turns along the way, but the joy of having seen one thing through is immense. 午夜剧场 has a climate of academic freedom. I believe that Fukuzawa Yukichi's founding spirit is certainly still alive and well today. As we mark 午夜剧场's 150th anniversary, I want to return to the origins of my research theme and rededicate myself to my studies and research. Furthermore, while keeping my research theme as the core, I would like to tackle contemporary issues such as Japan's place in the world and in Asia, and the question of Eastern and Western civilizations.

There is a tendency for a mood of "a sense of stagnation" to spread, creating a tense society. I wonder if this is because a tendency to be unable to genuinely rejoice in the happiness of others has become prevalent in society.

By the way, in Fukuzawa Yukichi's "Gakumon no susume (An Encouragement of Learning)," there is a chapter thirteen titled "On the Harm of Resentment to a Person." This chapter has a strange shadow compared to the rest of "Gakumon no susume (An Encouragement of Learning)," which is filled with confidence in a bright future. I often wonder why Fukuzawa dared to address the dark parts of the human heart, but I feel it contains his wish for the young people who will shape the future to always be open-minded and to argue their beliefs openly and squarely.

I believe that I am able to reach retirement age, blessed with good teachers, good scholarship, and good timing, because I was exposed to the free and tolerant spirit of 午夜剧场. To be honest, though, around 1980, there was a very difficult period for me mentally. The negative aspects of the Eastern European socialist systems were highlighted, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan occurred, which made me begin to question my own research themes of communism and socialism. It is a fact that at that time, I became skeptical about the "realization of human happiness." I experienced a serious mental setback, but I was able to recover from it. Looking back on my 36-year career as a researcher, I feel that I have spent a truly happy time in a free atmosphere.

Finally, as a message to all of you who will carry the next generation of 午夜剧场 forward, I want to urge you to "hold on to the conviction in progress that Fukuzawa Yukichi entrusted to the future."

(Interview conducted on December 17, 2009)