From August 21 to 23, the Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) 2023 course “Inazo Nitobe and His Time” was offered by the School of Humanities and Human Sciences. This course was offered in Japanese, primarily for working adults as part of the HSI extension/professional program, which was newly established this year. Hokkaido University students were also permitted to attend, having the opportunity to learn alongside working adults.
The course featured the guest speakers Professor Trent Maxey from Amherst College, USA, and Dr. Tsunao Oyama, the former president of Hokusei Gakuen. Leading the course in collaboration with them were Professor Kazuyori Yuhazu from the Laboratory of Sinology, Specially Appointed Professor Kei Sasaki from the Laboratory of Religious Studies and Indian Philosophy, and Professor Michelle La Fay, who specializes in international exchanges. The course was offered in a hybrid format combining on-campus and online work.
The course aimed not only to delve into Inazo Nitobe’s life and thought, but also to examine his contemporaries, such as Kanzo Uchimura and Jo Niijima. It also sought to uncover research findings that have tended to receive less attention, including evaluations of Inazo Nitobe by foreign scholars and his contributions to women’s education.
On Day 1, Professor Maxey delivered lectures. He explained the establishment of Amherst College, where he is a faculty member, as well as those of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Johns Hopkins University. He also explored the historical context in which Inazo Nitobe, Kanzo Uchimura, Jo Niijima, and Shosuke Sato studied, along with key figures who influenced their lives.Professor Maxey’s comprehensive evaluation of Nitobe spanned various aspects and included Nitobe’s perspective on Japan’s colonization of Asian countries—the perspective of a man who famously said, “I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific”—and the background of his seminal work entitled “Bushido: The Soul of Japan.” Professor Maxey also discussed Nitobe’s diplomatic career and contributions to education.
On Day 2, Dr. Oyama delivered lectures. He highlighted individuals who contributed to women’s education, including Sarah Clara Smith, who came to Japan as a missionary and founded Smith Girls’ School (now Hokusei Gakuen), and Michi Kawai, whose potential Nitobe recognized during his tenure as a professor at Sapporo Agricultural College.
In those days, Sapporo experienced the active advancement of women’s education. For example, at Smith Girls’ School, missionaries provided English lessons, and faculty members of Sapporo Agricultural College offered advanced instruction. The Enyu Night School, established by Inazo Nitobe and his wife Mary, welcomed both male and female students. Drawing from his experience of studying in the USA, his activities as a Quaker, and the influence of his wife Mary, Inazo Nitobe recognized the importance of women’s education and energetically pursued its advancement.
Day 3 featured a panel discussion by the five lecturers. Before the discussion, Professor La Fay shared behind-the-scenes stories from her stint as a reporter for the 2013 NHK program “What Were the Japanese Thinking? Episode 5: Bridging East and West–Kanzo Uchimura and Inazo Nitobe.” This program led Professor La Fay to meet Professor Maxey and Dr. Oyama. The panel discussion elicited numerous questions from various perspectives on the basis of the lectures from the preceding two days.
Lastly, each student shared their reasons for attending the course and the insights they gained from it. The course, attended by both working adults and Hokkaido University students, fostered exchanges of opinion among them based on their areas of expertise and professional experiences, creating a meaningful learning environment for both the lecturers and the students.
