by Ruura Fukunaga
Fukuzawa Yukichi is known as the author of “Gakumonn no Susume,” [Introduction to Learning]. He contributed to creation of the Japanese modern education system. In 1860, Mr. Fukuzawa studied in the United States when he was 25 years old.
He was very surprised at American culture. For example, he was shocked to find there was no classes in the U.S. society. Then he studied abroad in the U.S. again when he was 31 years old. He wanted to tell Japanese people what foreign countries were like.
So, he wrote a book Western affairs. Many Japanese people read this book at that time. In 1868, he established Keio University. The university is one of the most famous universities in Japan and have produced many great graduates.
He was involved in founding other universities, too. In 1872, he published “Gakumonn no Susume.” This book says all human beings have liberty and equality. The ideas in the book made Japanese people surprised because at that time there were difference social classes in Japan.
So, they bought and read this book. Many Japanese people know about this book even now. Fukuzawa Yukichi passed away in 1901, but he ideas contributed greatly to modernizing the Japanese society.
